NY chicken lover!!!!

[Framac]

Some basic housekeeping questions:
Now that winter is coming at us again does everyone deal with the ammonia smells that can build up in the coop? My coop is a very well insulated 8 x 12' shed and I always need to provide extra ventilation during the winter. The girls have access to the outside everyday and are closed up at night. I use pine chips on the floor and everyday rake up any poop I can see everyday and remove it. Some my questions are:
What does everyone use for floor bedding? Hay? Chips?
How does everyone deal with odors if any? Does anyone sprinkle lime or anything else on the floor?
Who uses the deep liter approach?
Do you use a poop board under the roost?
Feedback please....

I also do deep litter. Start with 4-6 inches of shavings, add bales as necessary. Some times I will take the layer of poop from under to roosts, by only once of twice a year.

The feed use is from a mill and almost a powder. The chickens do waste some, but it goes into the litter, gives them something to scratch at, but keeps things dry. If I smell ammonia, then I know I have an issue that is not normal. I do have DE, but don't really use it, and sweet pdz, also don't use it as I don't really need to.

Framac.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am 51 so no worries!!!! Thank you!!!
I also have a sister whose birthday is the 20 (oops yesterday if forgot, am I in trouble!!) and one on the 23rd. We spent a few Thanksgivings , celebrating our birthdays together, on Thanksgiving with candles in a pie!!

I'm so old the candles on my cake set off all the smoke alarms in the house.

I'm so old there was no History class.

 

[rancher hicks]

Some basic housekeeping questions:
Now that winter is coming at us again does everyone deal with the ammonia smells that can build up in the coop? My coop is a very well insulated 8 x 12' shed and I always need to provide extra ventilation during the winter. The girls have access to the outside everyday and are closed up at night. I use pine chips on the floor and everyday rake up any poop I can see everyday and remove it. Some my questions are:
What does everyone use for floor bedding? Hay? Chips?
How does everyone deal with odors if any? Does anyone sprinkle lime or anything else on the floor?
Who uses the deep liter approach?
Do you use a poop board under the roost?
Feedback please....

In the winter because I cover the runs and they go out most of the day it's not to much worse than during the rest of the year. But I just do a cursory cleaning when they days are good and scoop up most of the mess under the roost. Then I add more wood chips and top that with DE. I also toss some scratch in so the mix it up.

Don't use hay because it gets matted down and moldy. Straw is added to the run floors to keep their feet warm. Plus they can dig and scratch around. I also put some bales of hay in the run so they can play king of the mountain.

The cheap plastic drop cloths make good covers for the runs.

 

[Framac]

From what research I have done, I am thinking Hollands or Dorkings. It seems like they both might be difficult to find. I know Renee use to have Dorkings, but I think she got completely out of them.

Anyone know of anyone with either breed?

Thanks,

Framac

 

[Pyxis]

Ugh, today was not a good day. Last night, my first ever hen, Pumpkin, who I accidentally acquired from the neighbors (she was starving and found the duck feed) was acting a little off. Now, she's the hen that got me into chickens in the first place, and so even though she's not very tame, she's special to me. She also had an odd growth that had been developing for two years now, but it never seemed to bother her. Anyway, she was at least eight years old and so I figured maybe she was slowing down finally (she's been top hen since I got her and even beats up the roo). Then, this morning, she didn't come out of the coop and instead retreated into a nesting box. She doesn't lay eggs, so that was weird. Well, I reached in and petted her and made sure she was warm and comfy in there, and I left. When I got back, I found her passed away in the nesting box.

And then I finally got the neighbors to take back their barred rock crosses that had moved over uninvited. One was a roo for sure, and the last thing I need is another roo, otherwise I would have been fine with them hanging around. Well, apparently I was more attached than I thought and giving them back was not as easy as I thought it would be. So in one day I'm down three birds.

 

[Glasshen]

Oh, dear, so sorry to hear that your special Pumpkin has passed. She certainly had a long life though, eight years old. She stayed as long as she could, and you made her life good when you adopted her. And look at the doors she opened for you. It is sad she is gone.

 

[rancher hicks]

Pyxis - I am sorry for your loss but not for Pumpkin. I have no doubt she chose you and that's a good testimony for sure. Eight years is a long time for chickens and she obvious liked where she was cuz she stayed longer time than most do.

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;


Rancher

 

[cheeka]

Pyxis, just as Glasshen said... Pumpkin was a great chicken, showed you how wonderful chickens are, produced lots of scrumptiousl eggs, and it was all because of you that she had such a good and long long life. You never forget those impactful animals, she'll be a part of you forever...

 

[County Boy]

this is my Mille Fleur Cochin rooster Reminton.

 

[ChickPrincess]

I agree with Rancher. SHE picked YOU and you didn't let her down.