Coop Ideas ...

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Question: How many concreate forms do you think it would take ( just for the floor space ..) to have enought room for around 100 chickens, Standards and Bantams? ( Again, just the floor .. no walls or anything ..)?

 

[Rozzie]

How big are the concrete forms?

Would the birds also be going into an outdoor run, or would they only be in the coop that had the concrete forms for floors?

Those two things will make a difference on the answers that you get. They would need a lot more space inside if they won't be going outside or won't have much outside space.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
They would most likely have an large outside run, or they would be allowed to roam during the day.
I couldn't tell you how big they're? I could go measure them .. just a sec ..

 

[minister man]

The key that I have found to cleaning out a goat pen are; first of all I use a hay fork not a manure fork, because it tares the hay up in smaller pieces, Secondly, remember thier little tiny feet are just like a compactor. So instead of picking one spot and digging right to the bottom ( which in my opionion is impossilbe) keep in mind that the pen built up a little layer at a time. Goats spread out a bit of hay then some poop and then some more hay, walking around and packing it all down as they go. The only efficent way to clean out a pen that had goats in it, is one 3-6 inch layer at a time. The only layer that is going to be dusty is the top one, because the composting manure will make the lower levels more moist. It would make it heavier to clean out, but if it is too dusty to clean out, spray it with the garden hose to dampen the dust and then clean it out a tiny layer at a time.

That is just what I would do. maybe it would drowned the mites, I don't know, because I don't really know much about mites.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

The measurement was: 10 ft X 8 ft .... how many forms would it take?

 

[rancher hicks]

Sounds to me like you mom and dad don't share your dreams. Just like mine didn't.

I wouldn't use WD40 on your birds but I would get some vaseline if you can. Rub this on your birds legs for mites there. Mineral oil would work too. If you have a dollar store you can find it there.

If you can contact a female friend on CL and see if she can help or a friend at school. Have them come to your place where your parents can meet them.

Honestly though, I would downsize to something you can manage on your own. 12 healthy chickens is better than none and easier than more.

DE is of course fine for mites and after a good cleanout you can spread it into all the corners and crevices. "paint" your roosts with linseed oil if you can get it or something not toxic. The oil will smother the mites on the roosts where they hide.

It can be can be hard when your parents don't support your dream. If they'll let you try to fine a parttime job. I used to clean a neighbors house, shovel snow and anything that would give me a few dollars to take care of my rabbits and guinea pigs.

Keep things small and managable and when you get older and are independant you can "breakout" with you dream.

Your time will come, don't let anyone discourage you.

Rancher

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

I have told my mom over, and over again and she said I couldn't use that because it has too much toxic stuff in it.

If I were your mother that is what I would tell you- don't sacrifice your future health for your chickens PLEASE!

When you are 40-50 years old, you don't want to look back and see that you were inhaling toxic pesticides as a teen. I just have been through treating my about 80 chickens for mites, and let me tell you, I BREATHED in the Sevin and permethrin dust. And the Eprinex pour on got all over my skin-ugh. But I'm in my 40's. And have already had my kids.

And it has to be done over and over since they will keep getting mites from the songbirds.

You can try DE and that will have to be good enough (according to your mom), unless you are able to access some of the pour-on mite medications (like Eprinex). My Eprinex was I think about $45.

I hope you can get your chicken run done if that's what you want to do.

If I were in your shoes I think I would keep my favorites and sell the rest at auction (and I even made a thread about how horrible my auction experience was). Then I would make a manageable run and try to build a smaller coop within the chicken pen that you have (I mean fence in a section of it to make it predator proof, and put a top on it).

Presto! Smaller, predator-proof area including your roosts! And a outside small run so they can get the sunshine. The horses might knock it over again, though, right? I don't know what to do about that.

You'll find a way! If you want to keep all 100 of them, go ahead! Just go the nontoxic route and do the best you can!!!!

 

[Rozzie]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

The measurement was: 10 ft X 8 ft .... how many forms would it take?

The standard number usually given is to allow four square feet of space inside the coop for each bird and about ten square foot outside for each bird. It takes a bit less space for smaller types of chickens, like Banties. You would want a bit MORE space if you had the monstrous breeds that end up about being close to thirty inches tall (I forget what they are...)

So, if you have 100 birds, you would need 100 x 4 square foot = 400 square foot of inside space.

If each wooden form is 10 foot by 8 foot, then each of those is 80 square feet.

So, 400 divided by 80 = 5 of those forms for the floor area. Of course that doesn't allow for the sides or roof.

You would probably need to go with either 4 or 6 of the forms if you were building a chicken house with those as the floors. Otherwise, you'd have a very long narrow building that would cost more to build.

I do agree with one of the other posters, though. You might have fewer problems persuading your family to tolerate your hobby if you downsized it a bit. Perhaps if you had 25-40 birds they would not object so much. It might be something to sit down and talk with your parents about. I know it would be hard to give up the others but it might be easier on you in the long run.​

 

[BWKatz]

If ur coop has a concrete floor maybe ur mother may let u clean it if u wear a scarf over ur nose and mouth( like an old time bandit) First use the shovel to get out all the old dry 4 ft stuff. Then use either a presssure washer if u have one or a hose with lots of soap & bleach. Bleach will kill anything. If u have a pressure washer go ahead and pressure wash the walls , ceiling and roosts and wipe down with bleach too if u don't have a sprayer.Talk to ur Dad & brothers about how important it is to u. Save up ur money and start out with a gal of Kiltz paint Cover evry surface even if only a half a wall at a time. This will seal the wood and make it easier to get rid of the mites. WD40 is a lubricant made from petroleum and fish oil. Vaseline is made from petroleum also. Either can be applied to ur birds legs to seal the scales. Don't give up. Just keep trying new things to work with in ur parents rules. Ur mother really is just trying to protect ur health. She could care less about ur birds health. Ur the one that matters to her.

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[lilchick]

I do not think Sevin dust is so dangerous.. It is used on garden veggies which we then eat. If you are worried then a good quality mask will keep you safe from inhaling it.

To get rid of the mites on walls and even dirt floors just use a bottle of liquid sevin and mix it according to directions in a good sprayer. The liquid will penetrate wood and floors to kill those hiding critters.

And if your mom will not let you use sevin dust then purchase happy jack or other flea spray used for dogs and cats. Just spray a bit on their butt and 1 spray under each wing.

As far as leg mites I prefer to use baby oil. It works and is safe and cheap.