Eastern Washington

[NinetreesMom]

I use an old wire dog crate... Fast and easy, and you can sometimes find them cheap on Craigslist.

 

[Vickis Girls]

maggierose, Thank you! I believe as you do, about pets and Heaven. It's comforting for sure.

Thank you all for the advice on lining the chicken run. Still not sure as to what I'll do, maybe just let the chickens turn in into a dust pit this summer, and deal with each problem as it comes up. You guys are great!

Here's another question: If I later decide to fill in the run with pea gravel, but want to leave a spot for dust bathing, Would a 2x4(or2x6) frame made of cedar to fill with dirt be okay for the chickens? My question is the cedar. I'd rather not have any pressure treated wood for them to roll around with, but I know cedar shavings are toxic. Do you think cedar boards are too? Does this make any sense?

 

[Vickis Girls]

lovinchickypoos, were you the one who was injured by metal while mowing?

 

[chickengarden]

I have a broody, too. I have neve had one (I'm going on my second year with chickens) and so I am kind of excited. She didn't want to get off her nest last night when I was putting everyone to bed. We'll see if she's still on there today.

Vicki, when I had my smaller chicken coop and run in town I filled the run with a foot or more of wood chips. It was an entire pine tree. The neighbor was getting some trees removed and I went over and asked if the tree company had anywhere to dump the wood chips. They happily dumped 10 yards in my driveway for free.

I love to mulch everything really deep. All my flower beds got a deep layer and so did the chicken run. I found it worked really well to keep it low maintenance. The chickens scratched enough in it that they created their own dust bathing spots and kept all their droppings tilled in where they could decompose and not compact anywhere. There was no smell. I wasn't there long enough to ever have to clean it out but I was excited to do so. It had started to becoming compost after one season. Cleaning something once every year is way more up my alley than weekly

 

[chickengarden]

PS I did have to water it once in a while.

 

[maggierose]

vickie'sgirls... I think the cedar boards would be ok... I am using cedar boards for my chicken yard fence, and for their coop ladder. I think the issue with cedar is not to use cedar shavings for their bedding while they're chicks... the cedar dust/fumes is harmful to their little chick lungs. That's why pine shavings/pellets are recommended for their brooder bedding.

As far as the dust bath, I got some Dollar Store dish pans, and put in some DE (Diatomaceous Earth -- food grade) for them to dust bathe in... one chick already does her dust bathing in the wood shavings! The other chicks look at her like she has lost her mind... I put the DE in their coop, too, to keep out mites and fleas and other chicken varmits.

And *trumpets please* my three little maids learned to use their ladder yesterday so now happily zip up and down to their coop and their little yard! yay! tuck themselves in at sunset, and played down in their yard all day! such smart little girlies!!

 

[Vickis Girls]

I'm so excited you've helped me figure it out! I'll put down some pea gravel, with a few bales of pine shavings on top of that, except for a dirt/sand box for them to play in. Thank you so much! I don't know why I worry about stuff like I do. Thanks for your help.
Sure must have been nice to get the chipped pine tree, chickengarden!

 

[Cam-n-Sara]

Vicki,

We decided to go with the cat box full of dirt and diotomaceous earth. It is easy to remove( and refill) when we move the arc and the chickens get to flap around in it (usually four or five at a time silly girls) The dirt is garden dirt and has sand some small stone (pea sized) and a bit of compost. the ladies love it. Enjoy watching chick-o-vision when they are dusting or when one of the kids finds a worm or bug.

 

[Vickis Girls]

Cam-n-Sara, Hey thanks, that's another good idea. Now I have another question: Do you replace the dust bath dirt when you move the tractor? If so, why? Or do you just top it off? Do they poop in the dust bath? I just imagined them maybe spilling some. Thanks. I really am so ignorant when it comes to chickens, Mine will be here in a month! I'm getting really excited

 

[lovinchickypoos]

lovinchickypoos, were you the one who was injured by metal while mowing?

Yep that would be this gomer right here! It is finally close to being healed and just recently stopped itching