Hello from Ripton, Vermont

[Portalguy]

G'Day !

Writing is Rob in Ripton, Vermont; a mountain place with good soil but lots of rocks; good people but bad roads and no money.

We moved up here recently from the lowlands near Lake Champlain, and are very happy, the climate is better and the air cleaner.

Am converting the previous owner's 8'x10' prefab riding mower shed (palace) to a chicken coop. With the help of my six-year-old son, we have pulled up the oil-soaked plywood floor, added about a foot of rocks and gravel, and are now contemplating a thin concrete slab over that, for additional thermal mass and easy cleaning. Nothing is 'set in stone' yet, as there is a lot of excellent information on this forum. For example, after much reading I may decide to forget the concrete (what a relief) and simply add some more gravel and put deep litter on top of that.

I hope to help in some way; but as a newbie with chickens (and a former city slicker at that), it may be a while !

Cheers!
Rob

 

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

Welcome to BYC from down south in the Granite State!

I am Sara, living in Walpole, NH with my LH, Will; two AmStaf X's, 2 cats, 3 horses and 17 chickens (on the farm) just north of here.

This site is an incredible resource - please check out the coop design, brooder design and medical & emergency treatment pages. They are invaluable. The search can be quite helpful.

Soon you will be able to say, "Hi my name is Rob and I am a chickaholic." Don't worry it happens to the best of us....

 

[peepsnbunnies]

Welcome from Florida!! Glad you came on board!

Lisa

 

[Scoop]

Hi there from Pennsylvania! This is just a tidbit for you. I recently cleaned out my small coop thoroughly for the first time after a year in use. I was surprised that the wooden floor was all dry and no rot evident anywhere (and this was all used wood from old coops). I think it's because we clean out the poo several times a week and make sure there is always a tray to catch water that spills. I like the idea of concrete, it just isn't necessary if you keep after it. Plain stone is great, too, so drips should just drain. The litter in my coop was never more than 2 inches. Good luck with your coop, I just know you're gonna get that son of yours hooked!

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

and

from VT!

check out this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39326

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

from TN

 

[Portalguy]

Quote:
Thank you all for the warm welcome.

The little guy has been excited since I finished the portcullis-style chicken door. With any luck, opening and closing it will be one of his chores, as he enjoys it so much just today

I'm really not looking forward to the concrete; I would have to shlep the bags one by one through the garden. So I'll go now and search for info on stone or gravel floors...

Cheers!
Rob

 

[n-da-woods]

Hello and

from NC

 

[eaganchickens]

from MN!