For the MINIMALISTS - those who think less is more in chicken keeping - Please help

[GetFitWithKrista]

Deep bedding, with shavings and dry plant material, and clean out once or twice yearly. Same in the covered run. Cleanout material is good to compost, or spread outside.
Roosts made from saplings or branches, 2" to 3" diameter, bark on. Or 2x 4" lumber, if you don't have branches. DO NOT use PVC!
For five birds, don't bother with poo boards, it's just extra work.
We use shavings or hay or straw in the nest boxes, with empty feed bags underneath, easy to change out as needed. Something comfortable and either cleanable or easy to replace.
Your grass run will be demolished, so add bedding, garden refuse, coop bedding, so it gives the birds a dry surface to dig into for bugs and worms.
Having the run roofed saves it from getting too wet (consider drainage!) and saves shoveling snow in winter. Those clear panels might make it too hot in summer, and do fail much faster than a conventional roof system. Consider snow load!!!
It's essential that you have a predator proof run/ coop combination! No openings larger than 1/2" anywhere, very secure latches, and consider adding 2"x 4" woven wire over that hardware cloth on the lower 3' or 4' of your run.
Mary

Thanks for your response, Mary.

No PVC, noted. No poo boards, got it.

We got zero snow this year. Normally we may get 1 or 2 snow falls but usually nothing major.

I'm so utterly confused about the deep bedding. I should do this in the run, also? I thought it was really only for the coop?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Oooh, I see @3KillerBs here, she has a good article on deep bedding she can link that will explain it all. It does seem too good to be true, but nope, it’s not! You are correct, I just put pine shavings in, turn it over every once in a while & clean it out completely twice a year. It takes me about 20 minutes to shovel it out & out and put a new bale of new shavings in. That really is it.

My run is very large at about 1200sf, all dirt, I get loads of wood chips from local tree trimming companies & just put a pile of the trimmings out & let the birds spread them. I leave the leaves in when they fall in the fall. I do no other maintenance there.

This is really helpful, thank you. I can do this. Thank you for simplifying it. I appreciate your help.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm so utterly confused about the deep bedding. I should do this in the run, also? I thought it was really only for the coop?

Deep Bedding -- a dry, non-composting system -- in the coop.

Deep Litter -- a moist, actively composting system -- in the run.

Unless your run is fully covered and stays absolutely dry -- in which case that's Deep Bedding too.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Lining the interior isn't a great idea if it includes space between the walls. Rodents will colonize this space! Ask me how I know this...
Having a skirt around everything, or a deep concrete foundation, to keep out digging predators.
Many of us start with a few birds, and then 'chicken math' hits, and our flocks expand, sometimes a lot! Build as big as you can.
Ventilation! How is your coop ventilated? More is always better.
Mary

Ah, brilliant. Thank you for the tip about the rodents. Can you tell I am a newbie? So it's okay to line the wood as long as the vinyl is completely attached.

The plans we bought call for digging down and putting in a skirt. Check.

Do you think this ventilation is enough (see the top area of the photo)?

I have reserved 5 hens and then went to my neighbors house an hour ago and he had an awesome silkie that I wanted but couldn't get. He told me he'd take me to the farm so I could get one to add. I'm trying to fight it. I can't add anymore!

Do you think our structure is large enough at:

Total: 11.5'w x 9'd x 8.5'h
Coop: 11.5'w x 3'd (34.5 sf)
Run (integrated/enclosed): 11.5'w x 6'd (102 sf)
Nesting boxes: 15.5"w x 12"d x 15"h
Total roost length: henhouse: 19' - run, 22.5'

Our plans say we can make the coop smaller and the run larger and vice versa. What are your thoughts?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Deep Bedding -- a dry, non-composting system -- in the coop.

Deep Litter -- a moist, actively composting system -- in the run.

Unless your run is fully covered and stays absolutely dry -- in which case that's Deep Bedding too.

I really need help understanding this. I know you have very informative page that you were very generous with your time and knowledge to share. I appreciate you responding to my inquiries, as well, thank you. I did start reading it the other night but got more confused. I need to read it again.

I have been doing hours upon hours upon hours of research and am going down a rabbit hole with what to use.

I thought course sand was the most sanitary. The bedding/litter system seems kind of gross because it is layers upon layers of poop. Doesn't that harbor bacteria? Doesn't it smell bad?

Then someone suggested this and I got excited:
"Pine pellets. The best thing ever. They are pellets, they almost look like feed for a larger animal) and they turn in to dust when they get wet. They absorb moisture and when the girls poop on them, you can see it really well (so for me great for scooping) and it keeps their feet clean. Even after they turn to dust (after a good horizontal rain) they dry out quickly and are so easy to clean. Also LOVE hemp for the coop. Smells so fresh and so easy to scoop (I am not a deep litter method person tho). "

My main need is something that requires minimal upkeep and is sanitary and clean. I don't care too much about composting.

What is one to do?

 

[RoyalChick]

My biggest efficiencies are:
- Deep bedding (others have commented) - parts of it are deep litter because they get wet from rain but mostly it is deep bedding. I don't clean it out very often (I am not going to confess how infrequently in case someone yells at me, but let's just say it isn't even once a year). I do raid it when I need it for shrubs etc. in the garden - I just go in and dig up a bucket load
- A predator secure run attached to the coop. That means I don't have to get up early to let them out because they can just go out on their own. I let them out to free range most days but I can do that on my own timetable
- Being able to access the nest boxes without needing to battle my way through chickens anxious for a treat - if in a rush I can just pop out and collect eggs

 

[RoyalChick]

I really need help understanding this. I know you have very informative page that you were very generous with your time and knowledge to share. I appreciate you responding to my inquiries, as well, thank you. I did start reading it the other night but got more confused. I need to read it again.

I have been doing hours upon hours upon hours of research and am going down a rabbit hole with what to use.

I thought course sand was the most sanitary. The bedding/litter system seems kind of gross because it is layers upon layers of poop. Doesn't that harbor bacteria? Doesn't it smell bad?

Then someone suggested this and I got excited:
"Pine pellets. The best thing ever. They are pellets, they almost look like feed for a larger animal) and they turn in to dust when they get wet. They absorb moisture and when the girls poop on them, you can see it really well (so for me great for scooping) and it keeps their feet clean. Even after they turn to dust (after a good horizontal rain) they dry out quickly and are so easy to clean. Also LOVE hemp for the coop. Smells so fresh and so easy to scoop (I am not a deep litter method person tho). "

My main need is something that requires minimal upkeep and is sanitary and clean. I don't care too much about composting.

What is one to do?

I use pine pellets in localized areas of heavy pooping.
There is one area under one spot on a roost which somehow gathers a lot of poop and I sprinkle those pellets there and then sometimes I rake that heap into the run where it rots down

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you think this ventilation is enough (see the top area of the photo)?

Did you read the article on ventilation that I linked in my first post?

I can't see the ventilation for the coop portion clearly in those photos to tell how much there is or where it's positioned. Compare the article to the plans and ask me any questions that you have afterward.

Do you think our structure is large enough at:

Total: 11.5'w x 9'd x 8.5'h

Coop: 11.5'w x 3'd (34.5 sf)

Run (integrated/enclosed): 11.5'w x 6'd (102 sf)

Nesting boxes: 15.5"w x 12"d x 15"h

Total roost length: henhouse: 19' - run, 22.5'

That's remarkably generous dimensions for a first coop and a proposed 5-6 chicken flock. WELL DONE!!!!

We're frequently having to gently inform people new to chickens that they need to double or triple the size of their coop but not this time. You're well above the recommended 4 square feet per bird coop space/10 square feet run space.

My only concern is that the long, skinny coop portion may be inconvenient to access and keep clean. Are there pop doors for the chickens at both ends? If not, a bully hen could trap one of the others in the depths of the coop and beat up the victim.

BTW, any interior space used by the nestboxes doesn't count when calculating the square footage.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

My biggest efficiencies are:
- Deep bedding (others have commented) - parts of it are deep litter because they get wet from rain but mostly it is deep bedding. I don't clean it out very often (I am not going to confess how infrequently in case someone yells at me, but let's just say it isn't even once a year). I do raid it when I need it for shrubs etc. in the garden - I just go in and dig up a bucket load
- A predator secure run attached to the coop. That means I don't have to get up early to let them out because they can just go out on their own. I let them out to free range most days but I can do that on my own timetable
- Being able to access the nest boxes without needing to battle my way through chickens anxious for a treat - if in a rush I can just pop out and collect eggs

Fabulous. This is great and feels good to me. How do you handle food and water? I read something intersting about using a large trash can with feeders for food, and the rainwater collection system. I haven't thorougly researched the rainwater deal yet.

 

[sdm111]

I don't know if it's been suggested but wheat straw (not hay) works well for me. Being in S.E. Louisiana I'm used to dealing with water. Straw is hollow and also you're waxy feeling so it repels water as opposed to soaking it up. It stays on top and allowa the water to drain and your birds feet stay clean. No need to remove it just layer after it packs down. I prefer 3 wire bales from a real feed and seed ad opposed to tractor supply which does sell it by me but it's in a plastic bag and cut up.