New here-need advice

[buc]

Alan8, Welcome

Here is my two cents, the more the birds are outside and eating on thier own the better for you and the amount of poop-scoop'n you have to do.

As for the shed IMHO it is plenty large enough, I would however buy a wind driven turbo vent for the building to insure good air movement.

http://www.infolink.com.au/dirplus/images/infounits/138041.jpg

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sawdust is too dusty and packs too hard. Shavings are pretty cheap from a feed store. Or if you have a local mill you *might* even be able to get 'em free, although if you do, you need to make sure there isn't too much dusty saw dust mixed in.

Pine straw is awfully prickly, I'd worry about chickens getting little 'poke' wounds that might get infected, plus just the general unpleasantness of walking on it. Also it is not absorbent at all so you would have to clean the coop more often and be extra careful with ventilation so things didn't get too humid in there. So I think shavings would be a lot better.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[nccatnip]

No real suggestions but welcome!!!!!!!!!

 

[alan8]

Thanks everybody. The sawdust i get is more like shavings I guess. It's pretty dense, not dusty at all. I think the cabinet shop "planes" the lumber. Still have a lot of construction to do before I get the chicks. Will post progress later.
I've already learned a lot here. I'm enjoying this forum very much and have found that the folks are very friendly.

 

[ozark hen]

Welcome Alan,

I use deep litter method and turn the shavings with a pitchfork just about daily, it takes just a few minutes. I have one room that is 15x12 and one room that is 8x10 and I keep 35 heads of poultry in there...seven are guineas. I have tons of room in there if I wanted to add more. The run is about 50x20 feet. I am just moving them into the run for the winter due to hawks. They free-ranged all spring and summer. With the deep litter method it insulates the floor and helps to hold in their body heat. We insulated only the north and outside walls and too much moisture can accumulate if it is totally insulated. There is a gap the width of the doorway at the top of one door within the garage...garage was added to this building. That way there is still ventilation. I have three lights inside but they are those swirly bulbs..you know efficiency bulbs...flourescent?? Not for heat but for light for me and they are on a timer to give the hens 13 hours of daylight for laying eggs. I will put a reg. light bulb over their water containers if the water should freeze but not until as it builds their immunity not to add heat. They put out lots of body heat!!! OH, I only have to change the litter about twice a year this way and it doesn't stink. I end up with great garden compost, too. Now use what info you want and disguard the rest. ha ha Nothing is written in stone..except do not use cedar as previously noted.