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

[RoyalChick]

Forgot to comment on the copper.
Yes copper inhibits algae.
Copper Sulphate is used to get rid of algae.
What I don’t know is if Copper or it’s salts are toxic to birds.
Worth some research.
I will look into it too and if it is safe will put a bit of copper pipe in my rain barrel.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Don't bother with the polyurethane, it's not worth it.
The real problem with fixed roosts is your fun experiences shoveling out bedding under them, and generally having to get under them at all.
Can you change them out for movable roosts?
Whatever you do now, it's all able to be changed later, when you find out what works, and what doesn't. Everyone I know has redone things in their coop and run, sometimes often.
Mary

Thanks for the info, Mary. We were hoping to:
(1) make removable roost bars so that we can easily wipe them down and to make it easier to clean the coop as you mentioned
(2) put some kind of "topcoat" on the wood in the coop so that we can easily wipe it down and also to help with lingering odors that sometimes absorb into wood.

We're planning to resin (see photo) the coop floor but we can't use the resin anywhere else, unfortunately. Do you have another suggestion for the walls and studs? We also thought about PVC or vinyl nailed or glued over the wood (not the roost though.)

With regard to the roost bars being mobile or removable, maybe we don't really need to do anything? It's not a very big coop. Might be okay as is See photos.

Yes, I'm sure we will change it. Just hoping to get some things in order now as we're building because everything is more accessible.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

My husband mentioned putting a heater in the rain barrel that will automatically turn on when the temp gets to a certain degree and likewise will shut off automatically.

I like that this would be automated so that the chickens are taken care of but also we are not wasting energy. Hopefully this will work and it won't give us too much trouble. We've got some time to decide.

I used an aquarium heater andit worked. Probably not the most efficient, but it was effective. I hung a 5gallon bucket with nipples on the bottom.

Copper is a fungicide, and I believe an algeacide as well, so I could see that possibly working.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Yeah, the bars themselves usually don’t get that dirty…the issue is hitting your head on them or not being able to reach past them easily to clean.

Could they be attached at the wall on a hinge and then fit into a bracket in the center? That would allow you to move them out of the way if there is enough ceiling height to fold them up . Even if you had to unscrew that middle support bracket, having the option might be nice.

I see, this makes sense. I'm not sure how this will work so I think it's better to wait until later to troubleshoot. I responded to Mary with photos. Do you think we'll have a hard time changing out the bedding under them?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Agree with Mary and Amelia - not worth the bother to paint or polyurethane the roost. But we’ll worth making it so you can get under it easily if you have to.
As you may have gathered I rarely clean out my coop because it in on earth and everything just deals with itself. But I have had to go under the roost to retrieve an egg or two and once because a chicken fell off the roost in her sleep and I needed to check she wasn’t injured.

So you think the wood around the coop doesn't get dirty enough to have to do anything to it? Less work for me, yay.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I see, this makes sense. I'm not sure how this will work so I think it's better to wait until later to troubleshoot. I responded to Mary with photos. Do you think we'll have a hard time changing out the bedding under them?

Once they are in place, see if you can easily reach with a rake and shovel underneath to all the corners. Then put a stuffed animal in all the corners and whatnot and see if you could pick up that “chicken” - keep in mind you probably need two hands to safely pick up a hen. And they might be moving. Oh and if you are having fun with this, you could test again with an easter egg to simulate the “you laid your egg HERE?!” scenario

That should give you an idea how annoying they may be for spreading/cleaning out bedding and if you need to reach a hen.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Forgot to comment on the copper.
Yes copper inhibits algae.
Copper Sulphate is used to get rid of algae.
What I don’t know is if Copper or it’s salts are toxic to birds.
Worth some research.
I will look into it too and if it is safe will put a bit of copper pipe in my rain barrel.

I only saw the suggestion in 1 video but it's definitely worth looking into. I will do that. Let's stay in touch about this. Seems like an easy way to prevent algae so if it's safe for them, I'd like to give it a go.

I also came across using apple cider vinegar (the kind with mother) to keep the water clean in the rain barrel. I know you have one, RoyalChick. Have you seen this? It's 1 tbsp per gallon or 2 1/2 cups diluted in 55 gallons.

Sidenote: We put a cap full of acv through our HVAC system every 3 months when we change the filter. It's good stuff

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I used an aquarium heater andit worked. Probably not the most efficient, but it was effective. I hung a 5gallon bucket with nipples on the bottom.

Copper is a fungicide, and I believe an algeacide as well, so I could see that possibly working.

Thanks for the info, ebunny. Did you ever have a problem with the heater breaking or is it pretty reliable?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Once they are in place, see if you can easily reach with a rake and shovel underneath to all the corners. Then put a stuffed animal in all the corners and whatnot and see if you could pick up that “chicken” - keep in mind you probably need two hands to safely pick up a hen. And they might be moving. Oh and if you are having fun with this, you could test again with an easter egg to simulate the “you laid your egg HERE?!” scenario

That should give you an idea how annoying they may be for spreading/cleaning out bedding and if you need to reach a hen.

Ahhhh, great great suggestions see - your resourcefulness again. I will do this!

 

[RoyalChick]

I only saw the suggestion in 1 video but it's definitely worth looking into. I will do that. Let's stay in touch about this. Seems like an easy way to prevent algae so if it's safe for them, I'd like to give it a go.

I also came across using apple cider vinegar (the kind with mother) to keep the water clean in the rain barrel. I know you have one, RoyalChick. Have you seen this? It's 1 tbsp per gallon or 2 1/2 cups diluted in 55 gallons.

Sidenote: We put a cap full of acv through our HVAC system every 3 months when we change the filter. It's good stuff

Vinegar is a good cleaning agent (even if it is the distilled kind with no mother). So if you wanted to clean your barrel, and like me don't have access to its inside, then sluicing it with vinegar is a good method.
Vinegar corrodes most metals - so if your barrel has a metal spigot (mine does) then keeping vinegar in the water all the time probably isn't a good idea.
I looked up copper and yes it will work, and yes it may be toxic to chickens. I need to read some more though because I haven't found how much would be toxic. There is a big difference between having a 2 inch length of copper pipe in 50 gallons of water, and a chicken munching its way through a bowl of copper filings!
I will keep looking and let you know what I find.