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Goblin Cock

In the Brooder
Apr 3, 2020
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howdy! i got 5 chix a few weex ago. 2 buff orps, a welsummer, a speckled sussex, and a turken. Ive always wanted chkns, and w the covid-19 pandemic/ stay at home situation, i just dove in hed 1st w/o knowing much of anythng. ive got em all in a big dog cage as the brooder. learned online that thin pine shavings can cause impacted gizzard, i put an old towel over them. wondering if i can ever use this big bag of thin shavings for them when theyre older? also been recently informed that all the chkn wire they sold me will not keep out predators. Ive been overthinkin the coop. im on the verge of transforming my kids swingset into a coop (even though they havent outgrown it!). one question is do y'all recommend putting hardware cloth on the bottom of the run? i read some folks do this to keep out predators, but it seems like it might prohibit the birds from their natural scratching for bugs...
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Hello and welcome to Backyard chickens. I would not suggest to put pine shavings in the coop when they are adults but this is a very controversial topic. I personally use straw. I've seen very good coops made out of old playhouses. I'm not the one to help give tips on that though. I also wouldn't put hardware cloth on the bottom of the run. I would suggest making a skirt on the outside of it to prevent predators.
 
Welcome, I would not put hardware cloth on the bottom. I would secure the outside edges . I used logs because I had cut logs. They can't dig close enough to get to my birds. But I live in town with fenced in backyard and my dogs. I have a light shining on the coop at night. I don't know the weather were you live. In Ohio that swing set isn't enough weather protections and by the time you buy all that extra wood you might as well built a whole new one. My husband built our coop that holds 6 chicken comfortably for about $150. Check out all the crazy innovative coop ideas here at BYC.
 

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