INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Very good articles! I think DL method, like everything else, depends on individual situations. I use both powders due to housing geese and ducks in with my chickens and guineas. For me, it works well. I have tried several other options, and even with the food and water out of the coop, its still a moisture magnet with the additional waterfowl. Once everyone is housed separately (by spring) I will change and follow the method everyone else is using. I am not as worried about the composting at this point, just focusing on everyone staying dry and warm til we can set up additional housing for my waterfowl. Not having 2 bales of pine shavings a week to buy has saved me a fortune already.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I will be starting on making up list of hatcheries with links, numbers, addresses. I will also be starting on a list of Events.

I should have my new issue of Poultry Press any day. Bet there's quite a few good happenings listed in the paper.
If anyone else is interested in contributing, we do need more people actively involved in our thread.
We are using Google docs to keep the member list and a lot more helpful things coming!
anyone wanting to participate let us know

Keep the information coming in, spring is on the way soon!

 

[Leahs Mom]

My automatic door opens every morning and the flock and decide can decide on their own if they want to go out and just about everyone of them goes out. I use the deep litter method. I dont use any DE or PDZ. Some people like it but I personally never had tried it. I only use natural bedding, like straw, hay, pine needles, dirt. Everyone has their preferences.

Very good articles! I think DL method, like everything else, depends on individual situations. I use both powders due to housing geese and ducks in with my chickens and guineas. For me, it works well. I have tried several other options, and even with the food and water out of the coop, its still a moisture magnet with the additional waterfowl. Once everyone is housed separately (by spring) I will change and follow the method everyone else is using. I am not as worried about the composting at this point, just focusing on everyone staying dry and warm til we can set up additional housing for my waterfowl. Not having 2 bales of pine shavings a week to buy has saved me a fortune already.

I want to be sure to communicate that I agree folks do their litter different ways to accomplish different things...just wanted to share the info on the beneficial microbes and let folks make their own conclusions for their own situations.

And I do hear those waterfowl can be quite a challenge!!!!

I also have an auto door and let it open as usual no matter the weather so that the birds can decide whether they'll go out or not!

 

[Crafty chick]

I have about 3 inches of straw in there right now after taking the majority out yesterday. I could throw in dirt over it, and whatever else I find

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh.... If you read this article that I linked before, be sure to see page 2 & 3 also. It's set up kind-of strange so you have to go back to the top of the page to get the links to the next pages.

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-1.html
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-2.html
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-3.html

 

[Crafty chick]

I read through it, but it didn't have specifics on how much. It was helpful though.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

We use a little bit of DE in our deep littler. we are new to chickens and have not actually taken any of the litter out yet.
I need to look into one of the auto doors though. I know the chickens would like the door open sooner than when I get out there in the mornings. Are there any cheap almost free ways to get an auto door opener? Also would it close automatically too? If so how do you make sure all of the chickens are inside?

 

[CluckAcres]

I made my own. I dont have time to explain it all right now but will tell you all about it when i get home from work.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm liking mine and I got it right here in Indiana! http://www.automaticchickencoopdoor.com/

There are a lot of different ones out there, though!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I'm liking mine and I got it right here in Indiana! http://www.automaticchickencoopdoor.com/

There are a lot of different ones out there, though!

Those look like what I need but I'm not sure I want to pay close to $200 for one. I already have a sliding door, I just need the electronic part. Maybe I need to search the web for DIY ways.