Love this site, but still trying to figure out navigation etc., so I hope I do this right. I have been reading about DLM. Is it o.k. To use hay along with pine shavings? I have also been using the DE as well. My chicks are about 9weeks old now and seem to be doing well. We built them a coop (store bought one was just NOT going to be big enough for full grown chickens) but they all insist on sleeping in one laying box all together. Any thing I should do or will they grow out of this? They will literally for sure. Thanks for any advice! AND THe TITLE SHOULD BE : New to BYC Not BYE
Welcome to Backyard chickens Chicks252!! I hope you enjoy it and the camaraderie here and everybody that goes nuts over chickens (me being one of them....) Have fun! And ask questions! I made the mistake of letting mine sleep in the nesting boxes and it was a horrible habit to break, I would work on stopping them as soon as possible, every night, just gently pick them up and set them on the roosts. But they did not grow out of it, and it resulted in dirty eggs because they pooped in there all night long and then lay eggs in the poopy nesting boxes.
Greetings from Kansas, Chicks252, and . Great to have you aboard. Lots of folks swear by the DLM. I think pine shaving are good. I've found straw to be better than hay which for me gets compacted too easily. Enjoy your research on BYC and thanks for joining!
Thank you all for your nice welcome and advice. I am really enjoying this site. I'm sure I will have more questions. I filled my laying boxes with hay and chips today. The chicks were NOT happy when they got in tonight. Hopefully they will stay on the roost tonight. Thanks again!
Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Chickens do not like change but, for the sake of clean eggs it has to be done. IF they get the hang of sleeping on the roost, then I would put a golf ball or two in each nest box - to show them were eggs belong (without poo)
Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you. Deep litter works... if you have a small flock. Get too many birds and it gets nasty quick. Personally I don't like hay, it's too dusty, doesn't cover droppings well, is hollow and provides space for parasites to live... etc.
