Interior ideas

[rosemarythyme]

Whitewashing might be the only thing that could help with parasites, though I don't have experience with it myself. So might want to read up on that. It isn't a permanent treatment and will need to be reapplied.

 

[aart]

became a Wolverine!

Even Better!!
Dad, Niece, and Daughter went to UM, I don't really care but... GoBlue!!

Last question (I think) do you use diatomaceous earth or anything else to keep clean? I've read mixed things about that, but basically my biggest "clean freak" fear is mites/bugs/parasites. I'm sure I'll learn and get more comfortable as time goes on, but as a newbie that's a big fear.

DE is worthless for most things bugs, except for grain mites in summer feed bags.....and they are really not much of threat.
Poultry bugs(lice, mites) do not come from a 'dirty' coop, they come from wild birds and rodents, so keep those things away from the flock and coop. Check your birds regularly, then get permethrin dust and/or spray to treat.
My Bug Check notes:
-Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.
-Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.
-Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.
-Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).
-Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

what do you use for poop boards?

I built them:


Here's some posts about it, they're kind of old, but changes are noted.
...and the threads these posts are in has a ton of examples of poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-111#post-13179595
Updates:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/...ch-x-9-inch-mesh-drawer-organizer-silver.html

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you!! I've read and read and read, but it's starting to seem as though I've been reading the wrong things! Perhaps I need to spend more time on this forum, and less on the google machine. All I've ever seen is people talking about wet cleans.
Thanks again

It rarely benefits a chicken to get wet or have it's housing get wet.

Though they will go out in the rain to eat the bugs and worms that rain brings out.