18 inches...holy moly mine are too high. I can lower them down. I was trying to avoid more holes in the walls (I am a bit uptight about stuff like that), but I will do it next week. The roosts do run across the coop between the chicken door to the run and the nesting boxes. I may go 24 inches just to allow them space to go under the roosts comfortably - can you envision any problems with that?. (In the pic I posted they looked lower than they were but they are really 3.5 - 4 feet. )
Chickens can duck it. They'll spend more time elsewhere than under roosts. It beats having to treat staph infections (bumblefoot).
I don't have access to sand now, but have a guy with a wood chipper bringing a load of wood chips in to increase drainage until I can get some sand. The plan is to fill 1/3 of the run in about 8-12 inches of wood chips right now and add a swale to reduce uphill runoff. During the summer I would like to raise the run floor level with sand , maybe another 1/3, which would leave me with about 1/3 to attempt greenery, which from what I have seen doesn't stand much of a change. I also am getting a temporary electric fence so that we can range them more when we are home. The fences come highly recommended and we are getting more used to the idea after the trauma of the dogs last summer. I KNOW the gals would be so much happier doing what chickens do!
Avoid sharp jagged wood "chips". Dried, sifted pine shavings are great for the floor area inside coops, but I wouldn't recommend that in the yard as it will just rot and encourage mold to grow underneath, and habitation of vectors. Irrigating with drainage pipe, making mounds of clean fill dirt, or something like that may be what you want to direct water with.
I had been told that ACV would offer sulfur as well as keep them hydrated in summer along with reducing algae in drinking founts. But I wasn't aware of the negative effects - thank you for letting me know.
There is no additive that can be added to prevent algae buildup in drinking water containers which is good for your birds day after day. Keeping water out of the sun light, and cleaning waterers with a brush and a spritz of Oxine will prevent bacterial buildup. Rinse them out at the end of each day. Keeping water troughs high enough off the ground to keep dirt and filth out helps keep it clean all day long.
We did buy grit ( not sure if it is granite) but we put it in a bowl with the oyster shells for them to have at will.
Is Probios the brand name? Other than the ACV all I have been putting in the water is Avia Charge
Probios dispersible powder is a brand name, and a good quality probiotic more easily retained in the intestinal tract: http://www.probios.com/powdersgranules1.html
Whey in the ingredients provide the saccharides (food for good gut bacteria). A healthy gut means a healthy immune system.
Probiotics are more beneficial when used in dechlorinated water. I leave water overnight before adding probiotics that morning. I do it once a week at 1 tsp per gallon. Here's a bit about probiotics and chickens:
http://poultryone.com/articles/probiotics-html
Avia Charge is sold by McMurray. It seems like a good product, but is quite expensive compared to other good quality supplements such as Dawe's Stress-eez Plus and Dawelite: http://www.qcsupply.com/540384-streseez-plus.html
A little goes a long way since each require only .25 tsp per gallon of water.
Thanks!
You're welcome. I hope that helps.
I just wanted to ask, since I knew forced perspective could be throwing me off.
