More questions..

[deldeer]

I think im going with pine shavings for the coop and brooder boxes, Im hoping that is the way to go. What do you guys put in your runs? Im sure it will be mud here in no time! Was wondering if you put straw, hay, leaves? We do get chiggers around here and one of my dogs actually caught mange this summer, so mites and parasites are a concern for me. Here is the feeder im going with, I know they have to be trained to use it, and i also picked up some electrical equipment (even though its looked down upon)...

 

[Ebony Rose]

I think im going with pine shavings for the coop and brooder boxes, Im hoping that is the way to go. What do you guys put in your runs? Im sure it will be mud here in no time! Was wondering if you put straw, hay, leaves? We do get chiggers around here and one of my dogs actually caught mange this summer, so mites and parasites are a concern for me. Here is the feeder im going with, I know they have to be trained to use it, and i also picked up some electrical equipment (even though its looked down upon)...

I personally use shredded paper (not the glossy type) for nesting boxes, it's incredibly easy to dispose of when soiled and it's super absorbent. It can be burned, composted, or tossed in the trash, whichever works for you. My hens seem to appreciate how soft it is, even when some of it is ground up scrap cardboard. Sometimes I mix it with pine shavings if I don't have enough scrap paper to shred.
When you say that your coop will be 'mud in no time', do you mean that your run will be mud? What are you planning to put on the ground in the run area? What sort of drainage does that area have? Pictures always welcome and helpful.

 

[stavo]

I'm fairly new myself, so I don't know why electronics are frowned upon. But I can tell you that last year (my first year), I used pine shavings in the coop and it was a pain to clean. This year, based on recommendations here, I switched to PDZ (granules, not powder), and cleaning, which I prefer to do daily, is a breeze using a kitty litter scooper.

I do use the shavings in the nesting boxes though.

 

[stavo]

I personally use shredded paper (not the glossy type) for nesting boxes, it's incredibly easy to dispose of when soiled and it's super absorbent. It can be burned, composted, or tossed in the trash, whichever works for you. My hens seem to appreciate how soft it is, even when some of it is ground up scrap cardboard. Sometimes I mix it with pine shavings if I don't have enough scrap paper to shred.
When you say that your coop will be 'mud in no time', do you mean that your run will be mud? What are you planning to put on the ground in the run area? What sort of drainage does that area have? Pictures always welcome and helpful.

I never would've thought about using shredded paper. That's a great idea, particularly since I always have a lot of it so it's free.

 

[deldeer]

I personally use shredded paper (not the glossy type) for nesting boxes, it's incredibly easy to dispose of when soiled and it's super absorbent. It can be burned, composted, or tossed in the trash, whichever works for you. My hens seem to appreciate how soft it is, even when some of it is ground up scrap cardboard. Sometimes I mix it with pine shavings if I don't have enough scrap paper to shred.
When you say that your coop will be 'mud in no time', do you mean that your run will be mud? What are you planning to put on the ground in the run area? What sort of drainage does that area have? Pictures always welcome and helpful.

Thanks, but I did say the run will be mud in no time. the area is pretty flat. here is a pic

 

[Ebony Rose]

Hahaha, I guess you DID say so, I just missed it.

 

[aart]

i also picked up some electrical equipment (even though its looked down upon)

Depends on what you use it for
keeping water thawed is good, heating the coop is not needed.
Thermocouple is good.
What else do you have there?

the area is pretty flat.

Does rain water puddle in run?

As far as bedding, this is what I use:
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We use shredded paper in the hen house and nest boxes too. DH works at a bank so we have an unlimited supply. It's great stuff! Clean, easy to transport, VERY absorbent! We throw a little pine shavings in from time to time just because it smells nice. We clean it all out and start fresh about once a year, when it all goes into the garden.

 

[aart]

We use shredded paper in the hen house and nest boxes too. DH works at a bank so we have an unlimited supply. It's great stuff! Clean, easy to transport, VERY absorbent! We throw a little pine shavings in from time to time just because it smells nice. We clean it all out and start fresh about once a year, when it all goes into the garden.

Doesn't it pack down when wet?....and blow all over the yard?

 

[deldeer]

Depends on what you use it for
keeping water thawed is good, heating the coop is not needed.
Thermocouple is good.
What else do you have there?

Does rain water puddle in run?

As far as bedding, this is what I use:
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

Depends on what you use it for
keeping water thawed is good, heating the coop is not needed.
Thermocouple is good.
What else do you have there?

Does rain water puddle in run?

As far as bedding, this is what I use:
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

Depends on what you use it for
keeping water thawed is good, heating the coop is not needed.
Thermocouple is good.
What else do you have there?

Does rain water puddle in run?

As far as bedding, this is what I use:
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

Depends on what you use it for
keeping water thawed is good, heating the coop is not needed.
Thermocouple is good.
What else do you have there?

Does rain water puddle in run?

As far as bedding, this is what I use:
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

the electrical stuff is for heating the water some way, the area is pretty flat, not much puddling at all. I don't have anything in coop or run yet, still working on tweaking everything. before i get my birds