Coop Contents?

[LisaMarie81]

What should be in our "ideal" coop?
I've read on here - predator safety, fun things to put in the coop, etc.
What are my necessities?
Coop and run - check
Feeders- recommendations?
Waterers - recommendations?
Roosting areas - have some, but would love ideas
currently on a grassy surface which I've read will not last - so what do I put down in the coop? replace with anything?
What are these "dust/dirt" bath areas folks talk about. Do I need one? what is it?

 

[rosemarythyme]

With roost bars the most popular options are tree branches and 2x4s. What you go with is up to you. I feel tree branches are more "natural" to perch on (and they're free) so that's what I use. Some people like 2x4s as they allow the birds' feet to lie flat and get fully covered with feathers during winter to keep warm, but honestly I feel a good size branch (2" diameter or more) does the same, so it's your call.

Both coop and run should have some form of bedding, whether sand, deep litter, or some other form of bedding like wood shavings. The grass that you have will not be there long! There's a ton of threads on pros/cons of sand vs deep litter but you'll need to decide what will work for your schedule and in your environment. From what I've read it seems sand works in very dry environments, deep litter with wetter climates, but you'll find people advocating one or the other in all sorts of conditions. As I have a lot of rain deep litter works for me to provide drainage and to keep the run from turning into a mud puddle.

Dust bathing is how chickens keep their skin and feathers healthy and free of parasites. If you don't set one up the chickens will make their own by digging a hole in the dirt or the garden (and even if you set one up, they might still make their own!) If you want to make one you can use anything from an old tire to a sand box, and fill it with some combo of clean dirt, wood ash, sand, peat moss. I use a small raised garden bed filled with peat moss.