Doo Run, Run, Run..the Doo Doo Run...

[KettermanHillCoop]

1. Just rescued a flock on Monday/Tuesday of this week. My knowledge of chickens before that was...nothing. Except I like to eat eggs. So...chicken jargon is lost on me.

2. Built a quickie coop to give the rescue birds a home.

3. I just landed a sweet deal for a 10'Lx10'Wx6'H chain link fence enclosure with gate for $70. I do plan to put a roof over this new run.

4. It will be located in forest terrain under the canopy of oak trees. Shaded for the most part with patches of sunshine poking through.

5. How do I start this deep litter method from the bare bones? I will be using shavings in the coop...cleaning it daily with a cat litter scoop.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you can get a stash of fall leaves, that makes a good start. Your trees should provide plenty. I pick up bagged leaves. Also, a bagger for lawn mower provides plenty of grass clippings. round out the DL with shavings, (I use leaves and grass, and weeds in coop also) garden debris, wood chips if you can get them.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

If you can get a stash of fall leaves, that makes a good start. Your trees should provide plenty. I pick up bagged leaves. Also, a bagger for lawn mower provides plenty of grass clippings. round out the DL with shavings, (I use leaves and grass, and weeds in coop also) garden debris, wood chips if you can get them.

Do I have to prep the ground first or anything? Or...just start spreading stuff in the area? I have about 3 acres of grass and about the same in forest. Although...I don't bag my grass...just do about 45 mph around the place on the tractor/mower. Don't have all day to playing mow lady. lol

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Oh...acorns... The forest floor is covered in acorns...enough acorns to choke a mammoth...or break an ankle of a human trying to navigate over them. Do I need to rake them out of the area to be enclosed or is it okay to leave them?

 

[Parront]

Quick and easy way is to get a bale of straw, right now lots of people have them for fall decor for Halloween. Outside they scratch it up and mix it and it works into the dirt.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Quick and easy way is to get a bale of straw, right now lots of people have them for fall decor for Halloween. Outside they scratch it up and mix it and it works into the dirt.

What's your theory on hay? I'm surrounded by farms...I may be able to acquire a bale of hay.

 

[Parront]

Oh...acorns... The forest floor is covered in acorns...enough acorns to choke a mammoth...or break an ankle of a human trying to navigate over them. Do I need to rake them out of the area to be enclosed or is it okay to leave them?

They will do all the digging for you, and if they can get those acorns into their beaks, they will! If they are such big acorns you are afraid they might choke themselves, rake them up. Just run that big mower over where you are placing the chain link run, I bet that will leave a lot of grass and broken acorns which your new flock will love!

 

[Parront]

What's your theory on hay? I'm surrounded by farms...I may be able to acquire a bale of hay.

They like hay, just not moldy. Hay heats up, straw will absorb poop better. Straw and dry fallen leaves make good litter and bedding.
Hay is food, give nice hay a little at a time for them to eat. Even wet it down a little, the love the fine leaves mixed into wet feed.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

They will do all the digging for you, and if they can get those acorns into their beaks, they will! If they are such big acorns you are afraid they might choke themselves, rake them up. Just run that big mower over where you are placing the chain link run, I bet that will leave a lot of grass and broken acorns which your new flock will love!

Can't run the mower in there...that would be a costly adventure. lol

 

[Parront]

Can't run the mower in there...that would be a costly adventure. lol

I can guess that the bird area is more forest? There are guys who move their coops to fresh grass for the birds, I had something like that in my head. They tear up the ground fast, put lots of yard waste and you will have happy birds!