FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[crossgirl]

I tried placing on wood, didn't work. My little buggers have made it their daily challenge. I am no longer filling it halfway. If anything I just pour a cup full into the dish instead of unscrewinf the jar and filling it. I'll try hanging it and see if that helps.

I use a small, heavy square plastic, slope sided dog dish, the type they sell at Publix and such. I've found that they don't try to scratch in a small bowl and the wideness of the base makes it harder to tip. The bowl is on hardware cloth in the coop and whatever they spill out gets eaten by the birds hanging out underneath.

 

[Jadnils]

I use a small, heavy square plastic, slope sided dog dish, the type they sell at Publix and such. I've found that they don't try to scratch in a small bowl and the wideness of the base makes it harder to tip. The bowl is on hardware cloth in the coop and whatever they spill out gets eaten by the birds hanging out underneath.

I have not found anything mine won't scratch everything out of...I only have 5 but even with deterrants like popsicle sticks ( I make homemade feeders) sticking out everywhere, and putting the feeder up on cement or bricks they still scratch and spill and even knock the thing over and feed goes everywhere. Then the afternoon storms come and everything is soggy and sticky. Sigh....I have not tried hanging yet. Now, we have terrible flies and mosquitoes so I am on my way to get fly strips. I hope they don't try to eat those as well..seems they try to eat everything they see ! LOL

 

[itsjustjen]

I'll try that. I watched them scratch it today. Such little buggers!

 

[itsjustjen]

Mine are the same way!

 

[itsjustjen]

We have Buff Dewlap Toulouse geese and Silver Appleyard ducks have thought of adding a breed of chicken as well but so far just sticking with the chicken breeds we already have.

I haven't even started looking into duck breeds mainly because we don't have anywhere to put them. I got lucky and bought a pen for the chicks at the last swap and now am waiting to expand that pen first. DH loves ducks! He wants some for our future pond

 

[plantcityhomestead]

I'm in Brandon Fl & I happened on this post. I'm lookig for 3-4 young hens & a Rooster. Mine are an Australope , a Buff Orpington(sp) & New Hampshire Red.

They were hatched in October.
I had a White Americana & A Rhode Island Red Rooster that was supposed to be a hen LOL.
Got them at Hills. Cnty. Fair
Ideally looking for a Barred Plymouth Rock an Americana 1-2 a Speckled Plymouth Rock or are they called splashed (? on spelling & name), & or Rhode Island Red which could be a Rooster &/or Hen. I'm going to have them their natural life time so I'd like them to get along. I do want to replace my Americana!

Had a fox drop in for dinner...got my White Americana & my RIR Rooster ): I rewired my whole walk in coop; top, bottom, sides added flat slabs around the edges inside the pen & added flood lights. It's a nice size coop & my chickens are definately missing thier Rooster. I'd start over with chicks again but I have a friend in Ag. & raised chickens... he suggested I try & find some one locally that raises chickens & contact them. You look like you maybe the one

If you have anything that might fit the bill or know someone in this area Please email me or call me at my work... ph# is 813-685-1664 it's Video Exchange if I don't pick up you can leave a message & I'll call back.

Please let me know what if anything you maybe willing to part with & how much or if you know anyone else in the area.

Thanks
Gail Pierce

PS I got more specific on the hens but as long as there different & will get along with the ones I got I'm open but I do want variety.
Is the chicken meet this coming weekend or next & is it open on Sat. or Sunday?! How do I search I find the breeders in ths area...I found you by chance.

Gail, tigercreek has some really nice Barred Rocks. Last I heard he had some chicks available. He is down in Palmetto, but his birds are worth the drive. CloverdaleFarms has Ameraucanas and she is in Sefner. Hope this helps.

cindy

 

[K9Flier]

There is a big main thread on this question but I wanted to see what the Florida folks thought.

I had pine shavings in the hen house and even though I tried to keep it clean and add fresh shavings regularly, it was very hot and smelly in there. So much so that I propped their coop door open at night (their run is predator proof) for ventilation especially as hot as it has been.

So Tuesday I took it all out and replaced it with washed playground sand. The coop is staying much cooler and smells way better. I didn't dry the sand before I put it in there and it's still damp. I turned a fan on it today before the storm hit but it's still damp. I don't know if that will be a problem or not.

I do think the my girls like it more. Before when it rained they stayed out of their house. Today I checked and they were inside looking out the windows. They're so cute when they do that.

 

[welasharon]

There is a big main thread on this question but I wanted to see what the Florida folks thought.
I had pine shavings in the hen house and even though I tried to keep it clean and add fresh shavings regularly, it was very hot and smelly in there. So much so that I propped their coop door open at night (their run is predator proof) for ventilation especially as hot as it has been.
So Tuesday I took it all out and replaced it with washed playground sand. The coop is staying much cooler and smells way better. I didn't dry the sand before I put it in there and it's still damp. I turned a fan on it today before the storm hit but it's still damp. I don't know if that will be a problem or not.
I do think the my girls like it more. Before when it rained they stayed out of their house. Today I checked and they were inside looking out the windows. They're so cute when they do that.

I have open air pens instead of coops and they are covered. I sometimes wet the sand on purpose inside the pens and they like to lay on it to cool off.

 

[anderson8505]

There is a big main thread on this question but I wanted to see what the Florida folks thought.
I had pine shavings in the hen house and even though I tried to keep it clean and add fresh shavings regularly, it was very hot and smelly in there. So much so that I propped their coop door open at night (their run is predator proof) for ventilation especially as hot as it has been.
So Tuesday I took it all out and replaced it with washed playground sand. The coop is staying much cooler and smells way better. I didn't dry the sand before I put it in there and it's still damp. I turned a fan on it today before the storm hit but it's still damp. I don't know if that will be a problem or not.
I do think the my girls like it more. Before when it rained they stayed out of their house. Today I checked and they were inside looking out the windows. They're so cute when they do that.

That makes a lot of sense, good idea! Shavings decompose, give off heat in the process, so sand would be cooler! I have open air coops myself and no predator problems, but I may switch to sand the next time it's time to clean them out completely! I bet they will like to lay in it too, to cool off, like welasharon says.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I've had both and I also prefer sand. My chickens do to they love to scratch and dust bathe in it. The few short cold snaps we have down here really don't seem to bother them but the heat on the other had is a whole nother story. I will say you have to develop a different way of cleaning. I do have a few tips if your interested.