Hi there- I live in the Chicago suburbs, and this is the coop I have been using for over 10 years, made from the footprint of the kids’ swingset. The coop is 4 x 8’ and the run is 8 x 14’. I currently have two older hens (7-8 yrs) and 3 pullets at 16 weeks. The coop is lined with linoleum and has a single roost along the side opposite the windows. I use pine shavings as bedding. I put a plastic gutter under the roost which catches most of the poop, and I just slide it out and slide the contents into a compost bin on the far side of the coop. I have a few separate questions:
1. I have been reading about the deep litter method, and it’s something I’d like to try for the winter months of the year; however I’m not sure I can pull it off with this design. I realize I’d need to make modifications, but is it really possible?
2. I have a feeder in the coop and of course they make a mess with it. Does having food in the coop affect the effectiveness of the deep litter method?
2. A friend wants to give away her 4 hens, two are 5-6 and two are 2-3 years old. I LOVE these ladies and want to take them on. However, this would make 9, which is one too many for my coop. As I mentioned, two of mine are older and one just stopped laying altogether. I don’t want to take on too much and make my current flock or myself miserable, but I’m also afraid I will regret not taking the hens. Any thoughts?
Thank you!
1. I have been reading about the deep litter method, and it’s something I’d like to try for the winter months of the year; however I’m not sure I can pull it off with this design. I realize I’d need to make modifications, but is it really possible?
2. I have a feeder in the coop and of course they make a mess with it. Does having food in the coop affect the effectiveness of the deep litter method?
2. A friend wants to give away her 4 hens, two are 5-6 and two are 2-3 years old. I LOVE these ladies and want to take them on. However, this would make 9, which is one too many for my coop. As I mentioned, two of mine are older and one just stopped laying altogether. I don’t want to take on too much and make my current flock or myself miserable, but I’m also afraid I will regret not taking the hens. Any thoughts?
Thank you!
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