Expanded Run Build

[Ted Brown]

You, and the birds, will be darn glad to have that run once the snow starts falling!

This is from last winter, my first with chickens. Back then I had 12 birds, this year I have 25. For sure they will be happy!

 

[Ted Brown]

So day went pretty much as expected, finished up the strapping around 11am and then installed the roof tin finished around 2pm. Now on to hardware cloth to enclose the run.

I have both red primer and bright red top coat for the roof tin but that will be a spring task as it is too cold now.

 

[Ted Brown]

I picked up a load of mulch for the base of the run and then blew a bunch of leaves in on top. Next step will be to move bedding from the coop in on top of that. I should have close to 10" when I am finished.

 

[Ted Brown]

Coop bedding removed, some went into the expanded run the rest I spread around the property. I use a combo of pine shavings and straw for the new coop bedding, what I removed was well due to be exchanged - most shavings were close to dust. However, it was overall clean with no droppings visible; I use a drop board and clean everyday; absolutely no reason to change the regime, will plan on an annual clean out.

Some pictures show birds with mulch base topped with leaves, some with bedding from the coop, some show the inside of the coop when empty and after spraying:

 

[aart]

However, it was overall clean with no droppings visible

That's most of what the 'dust' was, pulverized poops

 

[Ted Brown]

New bedding added and a shot of adaptability (loader bucket with old bedding) when the real nest is empty. The flock is happy again.

 

[Ted Brown]

That's most of what the 'dust' was, pulverized poops

That makes sense but the shavings themselves had disappeared so perhaps a mix?

 

[aart]

That makes sense but the shavings themselves had disappeared so perhaps a mix?

Yep.
Wait...shavings totally disappeared?

 

[BleuSaphir]

Excellent job!

 

[Ted Brown]

Yep.
Wait...shavings totally disappeared?

I went back and looked more closely. No shavings have not disappeared, they are smaller and mixed in with so much "dust" that the predominate impression is dust. Yikes!

I put a bucket load into the droppings compost box and spread the rest around the property.