"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Ragfrey]

@alwaystj9

Raining today so figured I would work on the nesting boxes in the shop.

 

[jus10inla]

@Ragfrey ; what are u using for bedding? Just a little tip.’dont use fluff or straw in those boxes bc the girls are gona throw it all out when they first investigate it. Either use the fake grass / straw mat or a piece of hydro turf.

FWIW i use fluff (flake) , but I have a 4” lip in front. A 2 inch wasn’t enough, and thats about what yours looks like. And it looks kinda angled, if its the same bins we use at our warehouse.
they threw it all out being curious

 

[Ragfrey]

@Ragfrey ; what are u using for bedding? Just a little tip.’dont use fluff or straw in those boxes bc the girls are gona throw it all out when they first investigate it. Either use the fake grass / straw mat or a piece of hydro turf.

FWIW i use fluff (flake) , but I have a 4” lip in front. A 2 inch wasn’t enough, and thats about what yours looks like. And it looks kinda angled, if its the same bins we use at our warehouse.
they threw it all out being curious

I bought some nesting pads off Amazon to start off. I saw it on YouTube and it had great reviews. Pretty cheap too, I think. I will use that at first and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice!!

My front lip is 8”. I was concerned it was too wide and they may hang out in front of the boxes instead of roosting on the bars??? Idk, that’s the way it turned out. If it’s too wide, I will trim it down.

Put the nesting frame on the coop today, I can see it coming together now.

 

[jus10inla]

so what i mean by lip is tall , not how wide. Basicaly it makes a front for the box so to speak. I will take pics of mine tomorrow to show u what i mean

 

[jus10inla]

Actualy just found a pic. See the way the 4 or 5 inch tall front is? When there just laying It keeps bedding from nbeing scratched out.

It also helps to keep the babies in first few days. I remove it after 2 days, then add it back when there able to climb

also, those are on groundd only for moms. Regular boxes are up high

 

[Theorrin]

i loooooove seeing everyones coop and runs!

 

[Ragfrey]

Actualy just found a pic. See the way the 4 or 5 inch tall front is? When there just laying It keeps bedding from nbeing scratched out.

It also helps to keep the babies in first few days. I remove it after 2 days, then add it back when there able to climb

also, those are on groundd only for moms. Regular boxes are up high

Yes…I gotcha now.
You make a good point. Definitely would benefit having a strip in front to prevent the hens scratching out the bedding.

 

[Ragfrey]

Everyone feel free to tell me advice or recommendations. I am very new to chickens and only know what I’ve researched.

Don’t think of me being insensitive or uncaring but when researching/reading forums and Facebook, I see a lot of major pampering to chickens. Folks are setting up ac in the coop, freezing peas, giving daily mealworms, bringing inside house during illness hot days. Taking kiddie pools and filling up with ice.

I know it’s hot but damn…
Chickens are chickens right….they have been along outside in the elements for years…

Your thoughts?

 

[Theorrin]

Everyone feel free to tell me advice or recommendations. I am very new to chickens and only know what I’ve researched.

Don’t think of me being insensitive or uncaring but when researching/reading forums and Facebook, I see a lot of major pampering to chickens. Folks are setting up ac in the coop, freezing peas, giving daily mealworms, bringing inside house during illness hot days. Taking kiddie pools and filling up with ice.

I know it’s hot but damn…
Chickens are chickens right….they have been along outside in the elements for years…

Your thoughts?

my chickens stay outside (aside from chicks up to 3 weeks then they go to the outside brooder). if its hot ill give them frozen fruits and veggies (they already have a water container they can step in to cool off). yes they may just be "chickens" but all animals deserve to be taken care of. i wouldn't put an ac/heater in their coop (unless its a closed one). but put yourself in the chickens situation. wouldn't you want to be given something tasty every now and then instead of eating the same thing over and over again? wouldn't you like it if someone helped you keep cool/ warm during rising/falling temps with the equivalent of a fur coat and no shoes? yes some can go extreme and yes they're animals BUT you should also consider that its your job as their provider to help them out or risk losing an animal to a slow death on some occasions. I am by no means an animal rights activist of any kind but happy healthy animals provide better tasting products.

 

[alwaystj9]

There is a difference between pets & farms. I have a farm. I have to consider my bottom line, especially with feed prices the highest they have ever been and egg prices not increasing at the same rate. I have healthy, active chickens who are excited to run out to the pasture each morning. They are fed regularly, they have covered & safe roosting and nesting areas. No heaters, no a/c, no fans. I have thought about automating some things but have decided against as it is better for me to see how much of consumables they are using. It cuts down on waste. They are watched and treated for disease, injury & illnesses. I do not vet ill chickens unless I believe that their ailment is contagious and harmful to the flock. They are pretty much left alone to do their thing. I do not spend extra $ on treats & supplements, on nest box herbs, on chicken clothing. Others are free to do that, it doesn't affect my way of doing things. My chickens have a job to do: lay eggs, break up and scatter clumps & poop in the pasture, eat bugs and clean up other animals waste food. They are also fun little animals whose zest for life and enjoyment of the world is more than a little bit inspirational. I wish I was as overjoyed to greet each day as my chickens are.