Poop board convert *warning-graphic/gross poop pictures*

[chick n goat ma]

Since you asked for general care information, a 6X4 foot coop is too small for 5 chickens, and especially 7 chickens, unless they free range during the day. Technically, yes, people say that chickens only need 2-3 square feet per bird, but realistically that's miserably crowded -- especially with 2 cocks to continuously bother the hens. Most breeds need a 1:5 or greater ratio of males to females (there are a few exceptions). If you're going to have 2 cocks with 5 hens, which I have in an old flock that I inherited that came as a bonded family unit when it was 6 months old, the hens need to have hen saddles. I didn't know that the first year, and the poor hens had all the feathers on their backs and wings scratched out as the males tried to breed, and then without feathers they got wounds and then terribly sunburned, so they were constantly painful as the males continued to breed them. When I got the hen saddles, the skin was protected, so everything healed and the feathers grew back. They're 7 years old now, huge Croad Langshans, arthritic and on pain meds, but the hen saddles and free ranging has kept them comfortable and happy, even though there is still one more rooster than there should be. Here is the company that I bought my hen saddles (also called a hen apron) from: http://hensaver.org/ I would recommend getting the shoulder protectors also to go with them, as the shoulders get terribly injured without them.

Thanks for the very useful information, My chickies free roam all day dawn to dusk, they only go in their coop at night and immediately take up their position on the perch. I will take your advice on getting saddles for my girls as the Red Cochin is already trying with her even tho' she is only 15 weeks old and hasn't laid her first egg yet.

 

[jbher]

This thread was so helpful for me so I wanted to pop back on and post photos of my poop board. I built it on Tuesday all by myself (yay me!). Even the hubs was pretty impressed haha. It's working awesome and the girls love it!

 

[aart]

This thread was so helpful for me so I wanted to pop back on and post photos of my poop board. I built it on Tuesday all by myself (yay me!). Even the hubs was pretty impressed haha. It's working awesome and the girls love it!

Nice! Yay you!
Does the front piece flip down for cleaning? Brilliant.
You might want to put the low end of that ramp on a concrete block, it's awfully steep

 

[jbher]

Nice!  Yay you!
Does the front piece flip down for cleaning? Brilliant.
You might want to put the low end of that ramp on a concrete block, it's awfully steep

Yup! It folds down for cleaning. I am actually in the middle of making something to sit under the ramp now right now they're little and they half fly up so I was ok for a few days leaving it but definitely need it to not be so steep.

 

[RJSorensen]

That is a very nice build you have there… and the poop board looks nice as well. Love the ramp design, that is very clever on your part. Your birds must be loved, from looking at how nice your setup is. Thank you for posting things like this, I know it helps me, and I believe it to help others as well.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[iwiw60]

Wow! You did a super job on it! When I saw your post I almost spit lemonade all over my keyboard! Why? Guess what I'm doing tomorrow? The very same thing!!! Really! I went to Ace Hardware this morning and picked up my 2x4's .. the rest of the material I already have, so here goes nothing! Wish me luck!

 

[jbher]

That is a very nice build you have there… and the poop board looks nice as well. Love the ramp design, that is very clever on your part. Your birds must be loved, from looking at how nice your setup is. Thank you for posting things like this, I know it helps me, and I believe it to help others as well.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

Thank you!!

Wow! You did a super job on it! When I saw your post I almost spit lemonade all over my keyboard! Why? Guess what I'm doing tomorrow? The very same thing!!! Really! I went to Ace Hardware this morning and picked up my 2x4's .. the rest of the material I already have, so here goes nothing! Wish me luck!

You can totally do it!!! GOOD LUCK!! And keep us posted!! We want to see pics!!!

 

[maryellen21]

Holy smokes that is awesome!!!

 

[Sutremaine]

Would calcined clay cat litter be okay if washed first? I grow plants in it, but don't have any use for the particles below 1/16" or 1/8".

It's pretty solid stuff. The small granules can be broken into dust by rubbing them against concrete, but the larger ones need tools to be broken down.

 

[aart]

Would calcined clay cat litter be okay if washed first? I grow plants in it, but don't have any use for the particles below 1/16" or 1/8".

It's pretty solid stuff. The small granules can be broken into dust by rubbing them against concrete, but the larger ones need tools to be broken down.

Calcined means it has been fired as a very high heat?(did a quick google)

It might not hurt the to eat some of it, like it might if that clay wasn't fired(or calcined).......

......but it wouldn't perform like granulated zeolite(Sweet PDZ) would.

Zeolite is a mineral that actually absorbs and chemically neutralizes ammonia, which is the main point of using it on roost boards.