Deep litter substrate type and other questions

[Motts]

Hi. Hoping to get some further advice besides what I have already read about

I have 4 chicks between 6 and 7 weeks old. Just finished the coop and enclosed run today. My coop is raised off the ground about 2 feet. In the coop, I plan on starting with shavings and maybe some coffee hulls (if i can get them.

The covered run is 12' X 5' feet. We put up a 4" border and I'm trying to decide on what to use as the "litter". If it helps, I live in the San fransisco bay area.

I have a giant magnolia that drops leaves all year round and is at its peak right now. Can I use these leaves plus something else like straw? What about wood chips versus bark? I read a thread about chips/bark that sounds good but have also heard bad things. I have also heard bad things about straw which is really starting to get me confused. Also do I need to add Diatomaceous Earth?

Also at least for now they will stay in this enclosrure. We have lots of hawk actively hunting for their own chicks and we don't have a lot of tree/bush cover....so do I have to put a dust bath in also? Can I use a large cat litter box?

And lastly, I am setting up an automatic watering system using nipples in the run. I plan on placing them at 18-21", is that right? Do I need to have water in the coop? I plan on having feed available in the coop.

Thanks, as you can tell I am a totally green newbie

Marci

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I like wood shavings in the coop.

We use sand in the run at the end near the coop, that doesn't have anything growing in it. It drains well in wet weather and can be raked to clean it, if needed. I think some people put other things down, with various results.

We have hawk problems here, especially during the migrations. That's when we lock them up temporarily. The run is covered. Even netting can keep hawks out. You can see how it goes, but you may have losses to hawks with an open run. It just depends on how aggressively your hawk population is hunting. Some people also crisscross runs with string and CDs that will reflect light.

I make sure my chickens always have access to at least one dry dust bath. We get a lot of rain here, so they have one in the run that's under cover, so it will stay dry. A litter box, large pan, kitty pool or just a hole in the dirt will work for them.

 

[chfite]

I keep food in the coop to keep it out of the weather. I keep water in the run so that any spills drain into the soil. I doubt chickens need either food or water at night, they are so somnolent.

I like sand in the run for drainage. Pine shavings in the coop for cleanliness.

Nipple height needs to be above the chicken's head so they can reach up to drink. As they grow, you will need to raise the nipples.

Chris

 

[Motts]

Thanks,

I have put a thin layer of the leaves down in the run for now and shavings in the coop. I am sorry if I didn't make it clear in my first post but I have a corrugated roofed run attached to the coop. The girls are spending their second night outside on their own. They don't seem to know what to do with themselves with such a bigger space compared to their brooder

Anybody out there using wood chips vs shavings in the outdoor run? Versus bark? Versus other stuff?

Thanks again,
Marci

 

[Motts]

Bump?

 

[Motts]

So, I'm running out of leaves (at least they are not dropping fast enough!) and need to put something else in the run. Any thoughts on straw vs hay vs alfalfa for an outdoor covered run? Thanks.