Newbie in Maryland; please help

BarredRockP

Hatching
Jul 5, 2025
2
1
6
I just need some support because I feel like I have no idea what I am doing even though I have researched this for months and months. I have two barred rock pullets for the past week (2 more coming next week). My coop I love, is amish made: 5 x 7 combo coop and run (suburbs - predator proofed up) First, (1) what is the best material for a run. I have pine shavings, use Roost refresher, First saturday lime mixed with a little DE sprinkled in all corners/base/ around and inside, and Purdue Flockleader healthycoop. I also planted mint and lavender around the coop/run and give/place that in the run/coop and to my chickens as well. I rake daily and try to mix the pine shavings around; add more on top; empty the poop. (2) Am I doing the right thing and how often I do this daily? I do not like my rake though, any recs? (3) My pullets just seem to chill; they look like they are relaxing, but it this normal? Will they ever let me pet them? I try to spend time around them as much as possible now. Any friendly kind help is much appreciated. I am thinking this is safe place to ask questions
 
I admire your efforts to do what is right. However, you may be overthinking it. Chickens are easy. Every bit of feces doesn't have to disappear. It mixes with the shavings and decomposes. With 2 chickens it shouldn't be a problem. High stocking densities cause problems. Your chickens are more relaxed than you are. That is a good thing and you could take a cue from them.
Don't anticipate that you will have problems. Don't worry till you have something to worry about.
The only issue I have with pine shavings in the run is rain.
 
That was very kind. And correct. I am definitely overthinking it.. for sure. I will definitely take a break with the materials and do as you suggest, chill out like my chickens. They seem super content lol.
 
... chill out like my chickens. They seem super content lol.
That's the spirit and content is what you want to see.
Just sit back and observe.

Overthinking it is common. I never cleaned feces. I just had enough shavings and would then compost them every 3 to 6 months depending on stocking density. However, I never packed birds in like sardines either.
 
All the overthinking will really suck the joy out of chicken keeping and you will get burnt out fast. Stop doing all the extra stuff, IMO it's not as beneficial as the media makes it out to be and is just an extra step in the chores. I'd say raking daily is overdoing it. Depending on your setup, I'd only turn the inside of the coop every few days or weeks. With the run, I rarely turn the bedding. I let the chickens shuffle their own bedding around. I use the deep litter method and throw new bedding over the old stuff every month or so without raking it out. It breaks down naturally and actually helps with the odor, helps keep them warmer in the winter, and turns into a nice compost. 1-2 times a year I do a big clean out of the coop. It's much less of a fuss and more convenient for me to do it that way.

Just enjoy your chickens. Offer them some chicken safe treats (in moderation of course) and observe them. In time they will know you as the bearer of food and will run up every time they say you.
 
The "best" choice varies by climate, set up, management plans, etc. Without knowing what your set up looks like I can only say that shavings aren't ideal if the run tends to get wet or if you have poor drainage in the area the set up is in - shavings tend to hold onto moisture. You're also adding in a lot of extras which personally I find to be unnecessary and costly. But I understand not everyone has room for a pile of wood chips, and certainly if the shavings work in your set up there's no reason not to use them.

I do have to caution that once these birds grow up, you'll likely find your set up is tight for them assuming the measurements given are correct, as you're under the generally recommended minimums with space. Especially with litter management, volume vs. stocking density is a definite consideration. You will likely find that you need to clean out your coop and run litter more frequently than folks with more space per bird. What that magic number might be, only you will know for sure and that may take some time to figure out.
 

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