New member and kinda overwhelmwd

[mrsgwag]

Hi. My name is Gayla. I probably should’ve researched chickens a bit more. I’ve asked my husband for chickens for 25 years, and never really expected him to say “ok”, but he did! Then, it was boom - done!

So, now I have four chickens and am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
First, I think they may have mites (or something else). I’ve read too many ways to deal with it and am just confused. What’s the beat way?!
Second, I had the coop area up for about a week or so before getting a run. The coop area (on grass) smells horrible!! What can I put on the ground to absorb/remove the smell? I can’t move the coop; it will stay where it is.
Third, my largest chicken, Red, constantly intimidates one of my Americaunas. She will sit in the upstairs area where the americauna can’t get out, or sit in the doorway between the coop and the run, she will lay right next to her, and the minute the americauna gets up, she’s right there in her “personal space”. The americaunas have become very nervous. If they “fly”, red immediately runs over to her, flapping her wings and extending her neck. I put Red in “time out” for about 16 hours yesterday. Didn’t help. She’s currently in time out again. It’s not fair to the other ones, though. Red is in the run, while the other three are stuck in the coop area.
Last, I leave their food out and add to it as needed. Should I just feed them twice a day, only what they will eat for the day?
Thanks for any and all guidance!!!
Gayla

 

[pennyJo1960]

First Welcome to Backyard Chickens.. Now can you post photos of the coop please
Did you build it or buy it please?

 

[mrsgwag]

We bought and assembled the coop and the run.
Thank you!

First Welcome to Backyard Chickens.. Now can you post photos of the coop please
Did you build it or buy it please?

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Gayla, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Sorry you're having a tough time.
I hate to say it but the majority of your problems poit right to that pre-fab coop. It's too small.
You need 4 sq ft per bird in the coop and 15 sq ft per bird in the run if you want to avoid sanitation and behavioral issues.
The best way to treat mites is to clean all the bedding out of the coop and burn the bedding. Then spray the entire coop with permethrin paying particular attention to crevices and let it dry.
Each bird then needs to be treated with permethrin by spraying under each wing and around the vent area and the base of the tail right down to the skin.
Add fresh bedding when the coop is dry.
Repeat above again in 7 days to kill the mites from the eggs that hatch.
You can preventively treat the coop every month or two with permethrin.
The birds need a dust bathing area to take care of themselves.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock!!!
Best wishes and be well!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Hi. My name is Gayla. I probably should’ve researched chickens a bit more. I’ve asked my husband for chickens for 25 years, and never really expected him to say “ok”, but he did! Then, it was boom - done!

So, now I have four chickens and am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
First, I think they may have mites (or something else). I’ve read too many ways to deal with it and am just confused. What’s the beat way?!
Second, I had the coop area up for about a week or so before getting a run. The coop area (on grass) smells horrible!! What can I put on the ground to absorb/remove the smell? I can’t move the coop; it will stay where it is.
Third, my largest chicken, Red, constantly intimidates one of my Americaunas. She will sit in the upstairs area where the americauna can’t get out, or sit in the doorway between the coop and the run, she will lay right next to her, and the minute the americauna gets up, she’s right there in her “personal space”. The americaunas have become very nervous. If they “fly”, red immediately runs over to her, flapping her wings and extending her neck. I put Red in “time out” for about 16 hours yesterday. Didn’t help. She’s currently in time out again. It’s not fair to the other ones, though. Red is in the run, while the other three are stuck in the coop area.
Last, I leave their food out and add to it as needed. Should I just feed them twice a day, only what they will eat for the day?
Thanks for any and all guidance!!!
Gayla

Welcome Here Gayla! Why do you think they have mites? Are they preening quite a bit? What? You need to put wood shavings or straw at the bottom of the coop. Chickens poop all the time and you will need to remove the straw (use it in the garden, or built a compost pile) and put in clean every once in awhile. As for your Bully Red, I think this setup is too small. I know, I know, it says in all the stuff you have read that this is plenty of room. Chickens love space. There is always a "pecking order" and someone is on top and someone is on the bottom. This is my opinion, but I think you need a large free range area (it can be fenced, mine is) so the chickens have space to get out of each others way. They love to peck and scratch and explore and this coop and a dog run is just not enough to keep Red busy enough to leave the others alone. These pre-made coops are always too small, except for nighttime safety. Lastly you should have food available in the run all the time. Chickens won't pig out and make themselves sick. They need food all day, every day. I don't put it in the coop, just the run and they have access 24/7. Plenty of water is needed too and should be available all the time. Don't be stressed, drink a little wine and know that everything will be fine!

Here's my flock free ranging in their fenced in area:

 

[ejtrout31]

Hello and welcome to BYC a place where many poultry lovers come together and make one big family.

If you ever have a question just ask anyone on here will be happy to help you and if you know the answer to someones question go ahead and answer. Thats the great thing about byc you can ask and answer.

One more thing before you ask a question if you want to see if its already answered before search it here https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/

Have a wonderful day!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I agree that space is the issue causing your problems.

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at Backyard Chickens