Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[piglett]

Thanks guys!!! Now, is there a specific reason to have sand in the run? Our run is grassy. Other than having to pull out all of the pokey plants (thistleweed), it hasn't seemed like a problem. Something I should know about, though? The flock spent their first night in the coop last night, not contained in the brood box. They were a bit confused, lol. But they seem to like it. Today, DH is going to install the door, so I don't have to carry birds out of the coop and drop them over the run fence. Been doing that for far too long and it's getting old. Especially now that the roos are getting peckish.

you can put sand down if you have a muddy run
we are on the side of a hill so any rain drains away quickly
how big is your grassy run?
unless it's huge like 100' square the birds will soon eat every blade of grass.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

The run is 38'X16'. Is that considered huge? LOL, I actually was thinking it was too small!! At least, it was smaller than I had wanted it to be...the chicken wire was too expensive to make it as large as I had wanted.

We have 8 birds in there, eventually dropping that down to 5, once three of the roosters mature enough for eatin's. So far, they have not destroyed the grass...in fact, in some spots, its a big tall.

Now, can you guys tell me about feeding and watering systems? We have your typical water and feed founts. Now that the coop is done, I'd like to suspend the water to avoid the sand being kicked into it. Plus, they sit on top of it. My other issue with the water fount is that it needs to be scrubbed pretty much daily, otherwise it gets green, even if you change the water. Is that normal? Am I pretty much going to have to scrub it daily? Those of you in cold climates, how do you manage your watering systems in the winter, when it's not so much fun to turn the hose on? I'd rather not be scrubbing a bird fount in my kitchen sink, kwim?

As for the food, I had mentioned before that I was surprised at how much they were eating. I think I mentioned that they were spilling quite a bit. I ended up placing their food fount inside of a tote bin, which was laid on its side. Only a few of the birds can fit in it at a time (though they certainly all try to fit at once), they can't knock it over (which was a problem), and most of the food that they spill lands in the tote. Plus, they have a really hard time pooping in their food.

Any other ideas for feeding, though?

 

[Bens-Hens]

Here is a DIY thread, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631861/diy-thread-lets-see-your-inventions/920#post_11885209 It has a stack of different home made feeder and waterer's to suit different size flocks and age birds.

That grass won't take long to be mowed down. We had grass, which seemed to be fine for a while and then it was like the nest day it was gone lol. Then it turned to mud in winter time, infused with poo. We topped it off with a few inches of river sand (as above) for better drainage and it has solved the mud and smell issues.

Check out that DIY thread, I am about to post a drinker in there now I finished yesterday.

Oz, I hope the packing has gone well

 

[hotrodflash]

The run is 38'X16'. Is that considered huge? LOL, I actually was thinking it was too small!! At least, it was smaller than I had wanted it to be...the chicken wire was too expensive to make it as large as I had wanted.

We have 8 birds in there, eventually dropping that down to 5, once three of the roosters mature enough for eatin's. So far, they have not destroyed the grass...in fact, in some spots, its a big tall.

Now, can you guys tell me about feeding and watering systems? We have your typical water and feed founts. Now that the coop is done, I'd like to suspend the water to avoid the sand being kicked into it. Plus, they sit on top of it. My other issue with the water fount is that it needs to be scrubbed pretty much daily, otherwise it gets green, even if you change the water. Is that normal? Am I pretty much going to have to scrub it daily? Those of you in cold climates, how do you manage your watering systems in the winter, when it's not so much fun to turn the hose on? I'd rather not be scrubbing a bird fount in my kitchen sink, kwim?

As for the food, I had mentioned before that I was surprised at how much they were eating. I think I mentioned that they were spilling quite a bit. I ended up placing their food fount inside of a tote bin, which was laid on its side. Only a few of the birds can fit in it at a time (though they certainly all try to fit at once), they can't knock it over (which was a problem), and most of the food that they spill lands in the tote. Plus, they have a really hard time pooping in their food.

Any other ideas for feeding, though?

My feeder hangs from a chain in the coop, very little wasted. They can't sit on the feeder since it hangs from the rafters of my shed style coop.

I have a large 5 gallon galvanized waterer that is on a cement block in their run. I also have a 1 gallon plastic waterer that is refilled twice a day. It is in the shade so it doesn't have to be washed but about once a week. And only that often when it is warm.

Don't really have the freezing issue here, we get a few mornings that are below freezing but very few in a row.

 

[dpenning]

This thread is epic! Took a week of reading every night to get caught up, now I have to wait for each post!

Well done OZ, on every level.

Back into the shadows.

 

[ozexpat]

Here is a DIY thread, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631861/diy-thread-lets-see-your-inventions/920#post_11885209 It has a stack of different home made feeder and waterer's to suit different size flocks and age birds. That grass won't take long to be mowed down. We had grass, which seemed to be fine for a while and then it was like the nest day it was gone lol. Then it turned to mud in winter time, infused with poo. We topped it off with a few inches of river sand (as above) for better drainage and it has solved the mud and smell issues. Check out that DIY thread, I am about to post a drinker in there now I finished yesterday. Oz, I hope the packing has gone well

I am about 125 miles into the egg run. Khaki Campbell duck, Swedish flower and banty barred rock eggs do far. Crème legbars to go.

 

[joannefiddler]

Made it. Feel like I've been pedaling uphill for quite a while, but made it to page 335!! Worth every minute. Oz, I pray for your safety, wisdom, and success in your adoption and flock development. It is obvious that you have been and will continue to be rewarded for your efforts.

Between you and Bens-Hens you Aussies are quite the story tellers! Thanks for sharing it all.

Life forced me away from my chickens for about 12 years, but one week from tomorrow I will be welcoming a new flock. My daughter will be returning from Japan a few days before that. Happy, happy.

Best of luck on your flight tomorrow and have a sweet reunion!

 

[piglett]

I am about 125 miles into the egg run. Khaki Campbell duck, Swedish flower and banty barred rock eggs do far. Crème legbars to go.

go OZ go load rite up on those eggs mate!

 

[piglett]

Made it. Feel like I've been pedaling uphill for quite a while, but made it to page 335!! Worth every minute. Oz, I pray for your safety, wisdom, and success in your adoption and flock development. It is obvious that you have been and will continue to be rewarded for your efforts.

Between you and Bens-Hens you Aussies are quite the story tellers! Thanks for sharing it all.

Life forced me away from my chickens for about 12 years, but one week from tomorrow I will be welcoming a new flock. My daughter will be returning from Japan a few days before that. Happy, happy.

Best of luck on your flight tomorrow and have a sweet reunion!

glad you have joined us
what breed of birds are you looking to get?

 

[piglett]

The run is 38'X16'. Is that considered huge? LOL, I actually was thinking it was too small!! At least, it was smaller than I had wanted it to be...the chicken wire was too expensive to make it as large as I had wanted.

We have 8 birds in there, eventually dropping that down to 5, once three of the roosters mature enough for eatin's. So far, they have not destroyed the grass...in fact, in some spots, its a big tall.

Now, can you guys tell me about feeding and watering systems? We have your typical water and feed founts. Now that the coop is done, I'd like to suspend the water to avoid the sand being kicked into it. Plus, they sit on top of it. My other issue with the water fount is that it needs to be scrubbed pretty much daily, otherwise it gets green, even if you change the water. Is that normal? Am I pretty much going to have to scrub it daily? Those of you in cold climates, how do you manage your watering systems in the winter, when it's not so much fun to turn the hose on? I'd rather not be scrubbing a bird fount in my kitchen sink, kwim?

As for the food, I had mentioned before that I was surprised at how much they were eating. I think I mentioned that they were spilling quite a bit. I ended up placing their food fount inside of a tote bin, which was laid on its side. Only a few of the birds can fit in it at a time (though they certainly all try to fit at once), they can't knock it over (which was a problem), and most of the food that they spill lands in the tote. Plus, they have a really hard time pooping in their food.

Any other ideas for feeding, though?

when you get a little more money buy another roll of fencing
just remember chicken wire is to keep chickens in
it isn't much good at keeping things with big teath out.
we use heavy wire fencing on the bottom then chicken wire up above that for a total height of 6 feet.



good luck
piglett