I'm in SW NE. So pbly same kind of weather. Looks like run will have
Carl why exactly do you want mulch in run? What are the plans for bedding in coop? I would let them eat up the grass first. They love to dust bathe in loose dirt so the mulch will get scratched away I fear.
I have read on this forum as well as from other people around the Midwest that it helps promote a natural type environment. Worms and other bugs bed in the mulch and when the chicks scratch as they do they find all kinds of treats. I am going to let them eat the grass first. The mulch also acts as a natural deodorizer.
The run roof are 12'ft thermal/shade panels. We are pretty rural here. We have about 4 acres. We have snakes, raccoons opossums and coyotes. I trap the coons and opossum. The coyotes I just shoot. The coop has nice tree shade on 75% of the coop for ¾ of the day. In the late afternoon half of the run is in full sun with the coop itself in full shade. I'm not familiar with the deep litter method. I do use pine shavings in the coop itself. The run is the only place I use the mulch. The coop will have three roosting bars. 1 opposite the nesting boxes and the other two at graduating heights leading up to the nesting boxes. The girls can get under the coop. I built the floor 24"inches above the ground solely for the purpose of giving them a cool dry place to chill out.
I like the roof panels. The shade makes a big difference as does being able to get under coop I'm glad you made it that high up off ground it's a great designed coop. Good job for trapping critters and yes shoot those yoties! I'm just a little concerned about snakes getting through chicken wire. We put hardware cloth around bottom of run on top of chain link fence here. All in all you have done really well. I think you watched the same you tubes as me.
I have a trash can that catches water from my gutter too. I also have PVC feeders.
That's what I thought I read that they will chew through it! Nasty things.
What are the pvc line that go I side your coop?I like the roof panels. The shade makes a big difference as does being able to get under coop I'm glad you made it that high up off ground it's a great designed coop. Good job for trapping critters and yes shoot those yoties! I'm just a little concerned about snakes getting through chicken wire. We put hardware cloth around bottom of run on top of chain link fence here. All in all you have done really well. I think you watched the same you tubes as me.
There is one that goes inside to the right of door that holds feed for winter. There are 2 little one to the right of that that hold grit and oyster shell they exit with a 45 right under coop. The big PVC by the nest boxes goes into a a 45 then we cut a trough in that 5 " extention. The trough was made by cutting the top half of pvc off and capping it. The trough extends under coop and hold their outside layer feed. I think it's strapped to underside of coop. I actually like your vertical feeder better as sometimes food gets hung up in the 45. I hope that makes sense. Carl do you have a screen on the waterer for leaves?
