From egg to chick!

[2ndTink]

They're looking great! Such a great breed mix too!

 

[TwoCrows]

The enclosure they are in is what the yard is like over there. Tree shade, pine needles, leaves, dirt. It doesn't get muddy muddy. Just gets wet. Like normal wet dirt type stuff.

Are pine chips cost efficient too? I want to change out the stuff every month or so (hopefully less but chickens poop like crazy) and not once a week like I did with the brooder shavings. They are going to have a run and coop style all in one until we can build a coop with wood. Like one half of the enclosure will be the coop half and other half the run. They already made them a dust bath corner too. The older pullets at least.

If it doesn't get flooding rains, grass hay will work well. I used it out in the open in this garden area for the first year, they ate some of it, some blew away, I found I only had to add to it once a week. I raked it up several times that first year. It's easy to maintain. A bale of 3 strand grass hay is huge, 1 lasted me about a year, I also used it in the coop and nest boxes. It runs about $25 to $35 a bale.

When we built a bigger coop I tried sand and HATED it. Switched over to mulch and fell in love with it. It smells good, it dries out quickly, it's light. I regularly clean poop up so it rarely gets raked, I add to it as needed. It's about $6 a bag at my plant nursery and 8 bags will do the coop, run and nest boxes.

 

[ElfenLied89]

What IS a good way to clean out chicken poop in the enclosures? My husband was saying maybe one of those kitty scooper rakes but I was skeptical if that would work. It has taken a few weeks but it is a little poody in there and I am sure glad pay day is tomorrow bc I really wanna lean it out and give them new bedding and all that.

 

[NagemTX]

@NagemTX LOOOOOOK! Nicodemus is gorgeous as all get out!

That wizard has a built-in hat!

 

[ElfenLied89]

They're looking great! Such a great breed mix too!

You think so? I am seeing alot of similarities in feather patterns and colors but still can't figure out what breeds for the life of me lmao.

 

[ElfenLied89]

That wizard has a built-in hat!

Isn't he gorgeous?!?!?

 

[ElfenLied89]

Let me tell you how easy it is to spot Charlene. She(he?) is the biggest floof out there. Like a little feathery poofball. She also likes sitting on the stick swing and rocking. None of the others use it.

 

[ElfenLied89]

If it doesn't get flooding rains, grass hay will work well. I used it out in the open in this garden area for the first year, they ate some of it, some blew away, I found I only had to add to it once a week. I raked it up several times that first year. It's easy to maintain. A bale of 3 strand grass hay is huge, 1 lasted me about a year, I also used it in the coop and nest boxes. It runs about $25 to $35 a bale.

View attachment 3699384

View attachment 3699385

When we built a bigger coop I tried sand and HATED it. Switched over to mulch and fell in love with it. It smells good, it dries out quickly, it's light. I regularly clean poop up so it rarely gets raked, I add to it as needed. It's about $6 a bag at my plant nursery and 8 bags will do the coop, run and nest boxes.

View attachment 3699399
View attachment 3699401

Btw you have gorgeous babies. <3

 

[2ndTink]

@2ndTink What do you think of Atropos?

Super adorable! Likely a blue satin.

Atropos is taking after their uncle Storm!

 

[NagemTX]

If it doesn't get flooding rains, grass hay will work well. I used it out in the open in this garden area for the first year, they ate some of it, some blew away, I found I only had to add to it once a week. I raked it up several times that first year. It's easy to maintain. A bale of 3 strand grass hay is huge, 1 lasted me about a year, I also used it in the coop and nest boxes. It runs about $25 to $35 a bale.

View attachment 3699384

View attachment 3699385

When we built a bigger coop I tried sand and HATED it. Switched over to mulch and fell in love with it. It smells good, it dries out quickly, it's light. I regularly clean poop up so it rarely gets raked, I add to it as needed. It's about $6 a bag at my plant nursery and 8 bags will do the coop, run and nest boxes.

View attachment 3699399
View attachment 3699401

Really wish my yard didn't go under water every time it rains hard for a day or two.