KodaBlue
Songster
- Jul 28, 2018
- 40
- 82
- 104
Hello fellow flock keepers!
I am coming here to get some opinions and TWO main questions regarding the coop I'm going to build.
First is location, I have just moved to the outskirts of town and I am now able to have chickens again! So my 1st question is the only space I can have my coop is under this very big and very beautiful deciduous tree but there are apples everywhere! We have about 15 apple trees on the property amongst pear, cherry, plum, and choke cherry. But for the run it would be surrounded by apple trees and I know the seeds contain cyanide and can be toxic to chickens in large quantities. And I would just like to know some ideas what I can do about that. I will trim branches as to not let so many fall into the enclosed run. But I will also be letting them free range. Would i just have to do heavy clean up as the apples fall? And i will be refraining from moving them because here in North Dakota it is very rare to have such an established and old set of trees around the property for those in Nodak you will understand but all in all there are some pictures to kinda get the idea of what is going on. The run is going to be 35'×45' forgive the mess as we have just ran power and a water line to the garden and where the coop is going to be eventually. The coop will be on that small concrete slab that use to be an old rundown garden shed.
Second question is wintering the coop. Living in North Dakota the weather can be brutal with highs being 15°F and lows being -20°F and wind chill can reach -35° (FREAKING COLD!) and I was wondering what method I should take for bedding/coverage of the coop. Maybe the deep litter method? What materials should I use? Shavings? Sand? I really dont want to use straw as it can get cakey and just down right Nasty. I use to live in Washington state and the climate is very temperate compared to the Bipolar Dakota's. Any help Information and ideas would much much appreciated.
Ty to all who help!
Ry.
I am coming here to get some opinions and TWO main questions regarding the coop I'm going to build.
First is location, I have just moved to the outskirts of town and I am now able to have chickens again! So my 1st question is the only space I can have my coop is under this very big and very beautiful deciduous tree but there are apples everywhere! We have about 15 apple trees on the property amongst pear, cherry, plum, and choke cherry. But for the run it would be surrounded by apple trees and I know the seeds contain cyanide and can be toxic to chickens in large quantities. And I would just like to know some ideas what I can do about that. I will trim branches as to not let so many fall into the enclosed run. But I will also be letting them free range. Would i just have to do heavy clean up as the apples fall? And i will be refraining from moving them because here in North Dakota it is very rare to have such an established and old set of trees around the property for those in Nodak you will understand but all in all there are some pictures to kinda get the idea of what is going on. The run is going to be 35'×45' forgive the mess as we have just ran power and a water line to the garden and where the coop is going to be eventually. The coop will be on that small concrete slab that use to be an old rundown garden shed.
Second question is wintering the coop. Living in North Dakota the weather can be brutal with highs being 15°F and lows being -20°F and wind chill can reach -35° (FREAKING COLD!) and I was wondering what method I should take for bedding/coverage of the coop. Maybe the deep litter method? What materials should I use? Shavings? Sand? I really dont want to use straw as it can get cakey and just down right Nasty. I use to live in Washington state and the climate is very temperate compared to the Bipolar Dakota's. Any help Information and ideas would much much appreciated.
Ty to all who help!
Ry.
