Homesteaders

[KentuckyMom]

@Raech Chickens, yet? We re-purposed a large,old wooden cupboard left on the property as a chicken coop. It was supposed to be temporary, but we have used it for going on three years now. We built them a run out of chicken wire and just put them in the coop at night for safekeeping. We have since also used an old dog kennel and igloo as a "portable" coop that we move around the field. How many chickens are you getting?

 

[Raech]

They will be here in 2 weeks, building is starting next weekend. It was going to be 8 chickens, but the household dogs(2 houses on one property, one of the dogs switched houses) got 2 of them. I will have 4 bugg orpingtons and 2 silver laced wyonetts. We decided to extend the run that they currently have, it is only 4 feet long to 12-15 feet, using pallets across the lower half of the run as a fence, with mesh wiring inside to keep them in. Complete with a door at the end and either pvc hoop roof or 2x4 framed slanted roof, complete with more mesh over that. Going to plant small garden in the pallets so I can expand and hide them. With us being outside of city limits we dont have a limit, but just incase neighbors arent so friendly about the idea they will be more conceiled. And hopefully my dog wont try to get in there like she does with our bunny.

 

[Raech]

This is this mornings picture at 7:15, when I went out to feed the bunny and let the dog go piddle. So this is where the chickens will go. Coop is 4'x4' with an additional 18 inches in nest boxes on 2 sides. In order for the coop to fit where i would like we are going to remove the next boxes and put them inside on the big door. Like Elandale has for their coop, I saw it on Pintrest but followed it back to here. Then the run will extend 12-15 feet down the back fence, still debating on exactly how it is going to be fenced and roofed. When she comes down this next weekend we will start on the run. Hoping she brings down all the extras,her boyfriend might be back from ND by the time she brings chickens, coop and dirt down; at least I hope I hope he is. The coop alone is 8 feet tall, so the idea is to remove the sides, lay the frame in the truck then pack around it with chickens in the dog kennel.

 

[rancher hicks]

Just dropping in for a minute.

I like to use chicken wire to protect my plants. The chickens dig and dust bath in the soft mulch. Too is my "Chicken Run" compost. I of course use shavings, but also use hay/straw and add a bag of top soil and/or peat moss. I think because it's covered with plastic all winter it helps to break things down. This is of about year three I think. I will start cleaning this coop and toss the wood shavings and all into the run. I also toss scratch for them to "work" it for me. I'll also point out the antique mailbox that I use to hold garden tools so I don't have to walk back to the garage. I have another also near my vegetable garden. I like to post these so folks might get some ideas. Not everything works for everyone but you might think of a way to modify things.

 

[KlopKlop]

Does any one have a root cellar? I was planning to build one into my basement this year but now we are planning on building a new house next year so that is on hold.
Looking for some inspiration

 

[wyoDreamer]

I believe this place has 2 root cellars. One is an entire building and the other is a room in the basement.
This is a 12x20 building with all concrete walls. My guess is that this was the cold room for holding the milk until it was picked up by the dairy. definitely potential for root cellar storage.

 

[rancher hicks]

I wouldn't mind one but not possible here due to the water table being so high.

 

[Loc20chick]

@rancher hicks does your run stay looking so great during winter or heavy rains? The litter on picture 6 looks so ready for the garden

, after last winter my first with chickens the run gets hard, it's partially covered and the chickens don't scratch all of it loose. Sometimes I dig about for them. Any suggestions for this coming winter? So far I have put lots of grass clippings and weeds I pulled out around the house in there for them.

 

[rancher hicks]

@rancher hicks does your run stay looking so great during winter or heavy rains? The litter on picture 6 looks so ready for the garden

, after last winter my first with chickens the run gets hard, it's partially covered and the chickens don't scratch all of it loose. Sometimes I dig about for them. Any suggestions for this coming winter? So far I have put lots of grass clippings and weeds I pulled out around the house in there for them.

It's raining now. No it does get wet but I just add more shavings or break open a bale of hay/straw. I also add Grit for them and have broken it up in the past. Adding some peat moss/sand/topsoil does help too. When I clean the coop I'll be tossing the cleanings into the run. If I throw scratch in they dig about too.

I have about 9 chickens in the coop now but can and will put up to 12. Some days they're let out but some days if I won't be home they are kept in. My other runs get hard but I do take a pick or hoe and dig them up before I let them out or at the evening when I close up. I have white christmas lights in the run so I can see pretty good. I also take a wheelbarrow full of stuff out now and then and dump it in the compost piles I also keep.

What you see is about the third year. I also do not keep waterers in the coops but in the runs. Compost needs to "work" and building up the right bacteria and organisms takes time. Moisture from spilt water helps. It's been a very dry summer.

This is how things look during the rainy seasons. Spring and Fall. Right in front of the coop gets flooded. Not good but I'm working on it. Drainage is poor so I garden with raised beds.

 

[Loc20chick]

It's raining now. No it does get wet but I just add more shavings or break open a bale of hay/straw. I also add Grit for them and have broken it up in the past. Adding some peat moss/sand/topsoil does help too. When I clean the coop I'll be tossing the cleanings into the run. If I throw scratch in they dig about too. I have about 9 chickens in the coop now but can and will put up to 12. Some days they're let out but some days if I won't be home they are kept in. My other runs get hard but I do take a pick or hoe and dig them up before I let them out or at the evening when I close up. I have white christmas lights in the run so I can see pretty good. I also take a wheelbarrow full of stuff out now and then and dump it in the compost piles I also keep. What you see is about the third year. I also do not keep waterers in the coops but in the runs. Compost needs to "work" and building up the right bacteria and organisms takes time. Moisture from spilt water helps. It's been a very dry summer. This is how things look during the rainy seasons. Spring and Fall. Right in front of the coop gets flooded. Not good but I'm working on it. Drainage is poor so I garden with raised beds.

Drainage is poor in my backyard too, gets soggy & muddy for the chickens. hubby is building a larger coop on a better drained side of the yard. I'll use your idea n get some straw/hay to spread on the new run once it's done (hopefully its completed soon) I have a few raised garden beds, the veggies do better on the raised beds than the other parts that's just ground. Do you have any fruit trees?