"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[CackedNut]

Yes, I am in Leesville. The coop looks nice, but I do want to warn you that the wire used there is chicken wire. Predators like racoons, possums, dogs and coyotes and so on will go through it like butter. You may want to consider reinforcing it with something stronger like hardware cloth. I would definitely clean and disinfect it just in case.

x 2 . I would suggest using sand for the coop and run. I have done so, as have several others. I love it! Others can tell you about what they use.

 

[shauna079]

Good to know thank you!! What about snakes? I am SO scared of snakes!! Will they try to get the eggs? How do I keep them out? Did you see my precious questions about where to put the litter? I think my post may have gotten lost. I'll post again if need be.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Yes, I am in Leesville. The coop looks nice, but I do want to warn you that the wire used there is chicken wire. Predators like racoons, possums, dogs and coyotes and so on will go through it like butter. You may want to consider reinforcing it with something stronger like hardware cloth. I would definitely clean and disinfect it just in case.

X 2.
I started with a chicken tractor – still use it for young ones – it’s all hardware cloth. I used pine shavings in the “coop” part. We moved it every few days to fresh new grass. If you’re going to be using yours as a stationary coop (can’t tell from your pics if it’s a tractor or not) I’d put sand in the floor area. It’ll drain well and help w/the poop. Definitely I’d spray it down w/Clorox and water to clean it well before using it.
Petrus Feed & Seed here in Alexandria has chicks – some of the feed stores in Leesville may carry them or be able to get what you want.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Good to know thank you!! What about snakes? I am SO scared of snakes!! Will they try to get the eggs? How do I keep them out? Did you see my precious questions about where to put the litter? I think my post may have gotten lost. I'll post again if need be.

Hardware cloth will keep snakes out. Replace your chicken wire with hardware cloth & you won’t have to worry about snakes.

 

[shauna079]

Thank you for the tip about hardware cloth. Awesome!!! We will replace the chicken wire.

So in regard to the tractor. Our doesn't have wheels but it's moveable. So I should just leave the open part on grass and only put the sand on the inside? There's no bottom to either part. Should I put something else down before the sand?

You guys are awesome. Thank you!!!

 

[bugglesmommy]

With the chicken wire you can count on finding some snakes. Last year there were SOOOOO many snakes. Like the others said, not only is hardware cloth stronger but the smaller gauged wire will help keep snakes out but make sure that all openings are covered and secure. Snakes can squeeze through pretty small openings. You may still find snakes around the coop area, even if they can't get in. If you keep chickens, snakes are just a reality you have to deal with. Also if you have any reservations of killing varmints like raccoons, foxes and possums - you may want to consider shedding them now. They are merciless chicken killers and will continue to come back so long as they live. Some people find it harder then others to have something killed. I wouldn't have dreamed of having a raccoon executed before owning chickens myself but after you have enough birds with heads ripped off you get hardened.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Thank you for the tip about hardware cloth. Awesome!!! We will replace the chicken wire.

So in regard to the tractor. Our doesn't have wheels but it's moveable. So I should just leave the open part on grass and only put the sand on the inside? There's no bottom to either part. Should I put something else down before the sand?

You guys are awesome. Thank you!!!

Depends on how often you plan to move it around. If it’s easy to move, just keep giving them access to fresh grass. If you plan to leave it where it is, after they eat the existing grass, put sand down.

For what it’s worth, ever since we got guineas, we’ve had no snakes. The only one we saw was one they were ripping to shreds. Our 4 guineas have the run of the place.

 

[Angelicisi]

Omg. Did I tell y'all already? Sorry if this is a repeat, I don't think so lol
So I get a call last week for my pet lop rabbit Fluffybutt. (i know so original lol)

He is the sweetest rabbit I ever met and I've come across some sweethearts. We listed him at a ridiculous price figuring A. Nobody would buy him. I love him but he needs more love not to sit with meat rabbits wondering if he's next lol... And B. A high price paid *might* mean they'll take good care of him?

I got a call last week. From Cali. It was a movie director. nope not kidding. They will be filming in baton rouge end if month and he is what they need they said to give to a lil boy actor as a gift in the movie...don't know what movie yet, they're secrets til filming or until I'm on a non-blab list. I will neva be on a non-blab list. Think I'm already on the "shhhh don't tell Christina yet she gets too excited over everything list"...
N e ways I sorta thought it was a joke. C'mon really? but got a call & emails today with paperwork. Seems borrowing an animal is a lot of paperwork. I suppose if it were a purebred or trained creature the movie company hurt or killed, things could go really bad...hence paperwork but its fluffybutt. He's been through cats, dogs, babies, kids, everything. Not scared of anything lol

So ya I am super excited we will be in the credits lmao

 

[foreverlearning]

Hi all!! I'm Shauna and I don't have chickens yet. My friend gave me her old coop and I'm super excited to get started. I have been reading and researching every day. I'm currently in Leesville. I would love any tips y'all have about raising chickens in Louisiana and I hope you'll be patient with my many questions.

We were all beginners at one point in time and I bet we all asked every question that you could come up with. Some things to consider are: Are you in or out of city limits? Roosters are generally only allowed outside of city limits. Do you plan on free ranging, moving the coop as a tractor, or keeping them penned and only in the coop and run? If you move the coop like a tractor I would say to use sand in the coop and moving it will put fresh grass in the run area for them to scratch in. If you free range or only keep them penned in the coop and run I would suggest sand for both and keep it in one spot. I don't like pine shavings because with our humid air they attracted mosquitoes into my coop. Some people have good luck with them, just not me. Snakes are just a fact of life around here and providing something that looks like a meal (chicks or eggs) will attract them. Everyone has their own way to control them. I have a nice flat shovel, no snake that I have seen has left with it's head. Some people release a king snake into their yard because they eat the dangerous snakes and the most you will loose to them is possibly an egg every now and then. Some people have guineas (pretty birds, kuntrygirl sells them) that gladly kill them. There are more ways but I can't remember at the moment. Clean the coop really well with bleach water and make sure it is secure, if not fix it so that it is. In about three weeks TSC will be selling chicks (don't expect them to know what breed they are) and they will be hosting trade days soon. Unless you get sex-links there is no guaranteed way to make sure you have all girls as chicks. You might want to start looking at feed mills for your feed because TSC will charge you an arm and a leg for it. There is Oneal's in DeRidder, and I think I saw one in Leesville yesterday but I'll let the ones that live there confirm it or not.

On a side note: Tractor Supply doesn't know where the zipper on their pants is much less how to tell the difference between a duck and a chicken or what breed it is. It's like russian roulette if you don't know what you are looking at.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Omg. Did I tell y'all already? Sorry if this is a repeat, I don't think so lol
So I get a call last week for my pet lop rabbit Fluffybutt. (i know so original lol)

He is the sweetest rabbit I ever met and I've come across some sweethearts. We listed him at a ridiculous price figuring A. Nobody would buy him. I love him but he needs more love not to sit with meat rabbits wondering if he's next lol... And B. A high price paid *might* mean they'll take good care of him?

I got a call last week. From Cali. It was a movie director.

nope not kidding. They will be filming in baton rouge end if month and he is what they need they said to give to a lil boy actor as a gift in the movie...don't know what movie yet, they're secrets til filming or until I'm on a non-blab list. I will neva be on a non-blab list. Think I'm already on the "shhhh don't tell Christina yet she gets too excited over everything list"...
N e ways I sorta thought it was a joke. C'mon really? but got a call & emails today with paperwork. Seems borrowing an animal is a lot of paperwork. I suppose if it were a purebred or trained creature the movie company hurt or killed, things could go really bad...hence paperwork but its fluffybutt. He's been through cats, dogs, babies, kids, everything. Not scared of anything lol

So ya I am super excited we will be in the credits lmao

Wow! That's so freaking awesome!!! When you find out what movie it is, let us all know so we can see his star performance!!!