NY chicken lover!!!!

[Devona]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1058760/new-york-mini-chickenstock-2016/60#post_16256226

 a shed is fine ...you could make that into a coop .
what kind of floor does your shed have.? ( asking because of predator issue )
It doesnt have to be air tight as they need some fresh air for ventilation
Any windows ? Longs they are let out early ....to get light that should be fine .
Hens lay based on the amount of day light they get ....
Normally they like to roost on something ..so adding a roost might be good

The shed has a concrete paver floor. I don't think there's any space for anything bigger than a mouse to get in around the edges. There are no windows, but above the door, hubby made a flap under the roof that can be propped open for air and light. He did this because at the time he built it, I had a young male pet rabbit living in that section (he kinda built the shed up around the rabbit

), that I didn't want socializing with my other rabbits. The rabbit has since been neutered and is living with his mom and sister outside. So now the shed is being used for its original purpose (storage) as well as keeping Chick and his cage at night. I can probably section off the front part of the shed for chickens, but I need to figure out a way to do that and still have the storage part easily accessible. But I'm not sure if that flap will be enough ventilation in the summer. I don't really plan to keep more than six hens, though. A roost should be easy enough to erect. I'm not too handy with tools. I tend to either hurt myself or damage the tool.

. Plus I need to put mesh across the flap to prevent the neighborhood coons from climbing in. I lost two of my rabbits to raccoons over the summer. I had to start locking them up at night. Thank goodness I had enough cages to use in a pinch! I somehow thought the rabbits would be too big for the raccoons to bother. Well I learned the hard way. Poor Flopsy and Benjamin

. The cats seem to leave them alone though. My only worry is aerial predators now. I know we have some type of bird of prey. I've seen them eating pigeons up on the electrical poles. I heard the city has some red tailed Hawks. Maybe that's what I've seen. But my backyard is small and enclosed by six foot walls, plus there's a sort of string thing my husband tied and knotted across the top for our climbing veggies. Hawks may have a hard time landing without getting all tangled up in the string . My word, I sure can ramble on. And it's almost four a.m!

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

HISIRISHGEM
On the hay, I was thinking of doing wha someone else did and add some bales around the edges of their coop. I know a lot of folks don't like the hay. Since we have it close by for 3.00, would it really be an issue to use in the coop too around the edges to keep the coop a bit warmer or is it really a nono?

Cant understand the question

I'm using the hay in the run to keep it a bit warmer from drafts. I know there are some who use only straw. I'm wondering if it's an issue to use the hay over the straw. Especially in the coop area where it won't be used for the flooring but as a barrier per say to keep the cold in the coop . I've see where people don't like the hay because sometimes the chickens get into it an eat it. I was unsure as to why so I thought I'd ask if it made too much difference really. It's just an extra protect in the run and the coop. Gives the girls something to climb and keep them occupied along with some of the other things we've been putting in there. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't hindering the chickens in any way by keeping the hay bales over the more expensive straw bales that I haven't been able to find much of.

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

Rabbits, what is everyone doing with their rabbits? Are they being raised for the meat, the fur or just for leisure? I'd like them, but they must have an actual purpose here or my husband won't be on board.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I've been busy here with holiday planning and adjusting daycare/bus routes to be ready for starting my new job January 4th. I am looking forward to the change of hours and scenery. My last day at the current job is Tuesday, in which I am also excited to have the holidays off with my family.

I have been thinking it would be nice to get a mini incubator for those times I get a few eggs but don't want to set a big batch. I have a maran hen that has been laying an egg darker than the rest of the girls. The color is beautiful and I would like to try hatching them. I wonder what my husband will say when I put it on my wish list.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Rabbits, what is everyone doing with their rabbits? Are they being raised for the meat, the fur or just for leisure? I'd like them, but they must have an actual purpose here or my husband won't be on board. 

meat and to sell the hide. Its a much healthier alternative to buying meat from the store. Plus the same gratification as eating a chicken you raised.

 

[Glasshen]

Gem, I don't know why hay would be bad. If they eat it, it seems to me it's ok. Give them some foraging fun in the winter. I don't think there is any reason they shouldn't eat hay. It is just grains ...

 

[Beer can]

I don't use hay in the coop cause of likely mold issues. Sawdust and tree leaves is what I use, free also for me

And it is not cold yet.....

More on those 'blue eggers' https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1053564/true-blue-whiting-info-please

 

[Beer can]

meat and to sell the hide. Its a much healthier alternative to buying meat from the store. Plus the same gratification as eating a chicken you raised.

Do you have a source to sell the hides? I'm planning to get American Chinchilla meat rabbits in the spring, don't know what to do with the hides, seems a shame to throw them away. Might make something out of them myself, blanket, warm underware?

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Do you have a source to sell the hides? I'm planning to get American Chinchilla meat rabbits in the spring, don't know what to do with the hides, seems a shame to throw them away. Might make something out of them myself, blanket, warm underware?

no buyer for the hide yet but it Can be too hard. I am going to check with my aunt in Colorado to see if the reservation by her wants them.

 

[rancher hicks]

I find the hay is just fine in the run. By tossing in the scratch it keeps things worked. Though I do cover the runs in the winter and toss more down when and if it gets wet. I also toss it outside the hoops without runs. Mold grows when it get warm, not cold.

In the coop I rake the shavings and dump another bale. Too a few hand fulls of scratch can keep them working it around. I also use DE by the can full. Purchased at the feed store the cost is not so bad.

SO? use the hay, just keep it worked by the birds. Oh and you can toss some Peat Moss in too that helps keep working. What you basically have is a compost pile in your run. Don't be afraid to toss in food scraps. I keep a hoe or rake in my runs so I can mix it up too.

Even if you don't have a run a nice overhang is a good thing too.

I was scooping out compost this past year for around my berry bushes.









these are made with 8'X1"X3" 's on a 50" half hoop. Of course you could attach a half hoop framing onto a wooden coop too. Just make sure you give it support or the snow will bring it down. If you don't put a tarp on it you could grow vines over and I expect that will hold the snow too.