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

[GetFitWithKrista]

We added 2" to 4" rocks around the tree and shrubs next to our coop, and it's been fine to protect their roots.
Chickens will 'rearrange' any woody mulch you use around trees and shrubs. Don't look for a pristine landscape! They will eat hostas...
Mary

Great tips and thanks for giving me the size of the rocks. That's helpful info. I have a disdain for hostas so none of that over here.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

We added 2" to 4" rocks around the tree and shrubs next to our coop, and it's been fine to protect their roots.
Chickens will 'rearrange' any woody mulch you use around trees and shrubs. Don't look for a pristine landscape! They will eat hostas...
Mary

Ooo good tip. Forgot about the hostas.

If they are only out for half an hour, a short fence will probably suffice to keep them away from stuff like that. They will have plenty of bugs in the grass to eat for you. If you decide to “free range” them full time in the yard then you might need something more robust.

We have a few blueberry bushes and a simple chicken wire barrier worked to keep the chickens away. This year I am adding a bird net over a couple though since our local birds are evidently bad at sharing

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

We buy bagged shavings from TSC sometimes, it's convenient. Our best deal is at a 'fairly' local private feed store, where the bags are larger and best price. Bedding choices will depend at least in part on what's available locally, and how much storage space you have.
Straight hay or straw will mat down and are not as useful as other choices.
Mary

There are tons of nurseries here. I enjoy price shopping. What alternatives are there to straight hay or straw?

 

[Sally PB]

Time study so far:

Lock up took 4 minutes.
Open up this morning: 7 minutes.

 

[RoyalChick]

Time study so far:

Lock up took 4 minutes.
Open up this morning: 7 minutes.

Nice! Be honest though, some of the 7 minutes was chatting to the chickens and admiring how lovely they look. Right?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

We have a few blueberry bushes and a simple chicken wire barrier worked to keep the chickens away. This year I am adding a bird net over a couple though since our local birds are evidently bad at sharing

We have blueberry bushes too and had to completely contain them because of the birds. They are relentless sometimes.

 

[Sally PB]

Nice! Be honest though, some of the 7 minutes was chatting to the chickens and admiring how lovely they look. Right?

Well, yeah!

I also found out that it takes over a minute to fill a gallon milk jug with water at the kitchen sink! At the hose spigot, it's about 10 seconds!

It's also faster to dump stuff out than to fill stuff up.

In the morning, I do all the stuff in the run -- fill the water bowl and feeders -- before I open up the coop. That way I'm not moving around the chickens, or worrying about stepping on feet.

I sing the Good Morning Chickens song while I get everything ready.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Nice! Be honest though, some of the 7 minutes was chatting to the chickens and admiring how lovely they look. Right?

So funny. I was going to ask what was involved in the 7 minutes

 

[3KillerBs]

While we're on the top of bedding, any change you guys could send me links to the exact bedding that you use?

Anything reasonably priced and locally available is fine.

I have two dumptruck loads of woodchips from when the tree service did some work on our property.

I buy bags of large-flake shavings at the local feed store.

I buy bales of straw at the local feed store.

I use the lawnsweeper to rake up pine straw, fall leaves, and grass clippings from my yard. Or hand rake in the tight areas.

Now and then I rake up debris from the woods.

If ground corncob, rice hulls, or other such items *were* locally available and inexpensive I'd use them. But they aren't so I don't.

Any dry organic material is going to work -- but some need a little more management than others.

IMO, a mix of materials is better than -- and requires less management than -- one material used alone.

 

[Sally PB]

So funny. I was going to ask what was involved in the 7 minutes

Step by step:
Go get the chicken water jug (it's in the mudroom with the other chicken stuff)
Fill the jug. While it's filling, put on hoodie/windbreaker/whatever coat
Take jug to mudroom. Fill the 2 feed jars. Fill the bowl in the feed container, put the lid back on.
Put on coop shoes.
Take jug and feed container to the coop. [Feed container holds a rubber bowl, a small dish of grit and another of crushed egg shells. This is the feed container that will go inside the coop.]
Sing to chickens as I approach coop. Very important. This is how they know it's me making noise outside.
Pour water into the heated waterbowl. Plug it in if it will be cold enough to freeze. Not today.
Set out the other two feed bowls. Fill them with the two feed jars.
Open the pop door and the people door.
Put the feed container with the feed, grit, and egg shells in the coop.
Say hello to all the chickens. Sing to them.
Gather up the empty jug, the lid to the feed container, and the two empty jars.
Go back to the house.