post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Raysti]

Yes, it's cedar on the inside. I put extra ventilation on the backside of the coop. It doesn't show in the picture.

 

[junebuggena]

Get rid of the cedar. It's not worth the risk of sick birds.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's something to consider....

http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Feet.html

http://www.projectbeak.org/adaptations/feet_perching.htm

If you've ever observed a chicken's feet and how their legs and joints work at all you'd find they aren't much different than wild birds. They are anisodactyl.....

Quote:
and, though heavier than a typical wild bird, their legs work much in the same way to keep them on a perch. The tendons in their toes shorten when the knee bends, curling the toes. This helps them stay on a perch even when they sleep. Imagine the strain on those same tendons when the knee bends that deeply and the toes cannot curl...and the weight of their body is on top of that and they are like that all night long. Oh, they can do that position for mating, for sitting in a nest to lay an egg, etc. but to do it night after night on a flat surface is somewhat unnatural. You'll not see many songbirds sleeping on a flat surface for extended periods of time.

Because the toes cannot curl around the perch surface as they sleep, they must try to stay balanced in another way. Since the front part of a typical chicken outweighs the back portion, they must try to keep this uneven weight distributed on 4 inches of flat surface all night long, balancing upon their keels for the most part. Stress on the keel bone, stress on the flexor tendons, not enough good, restful sleep...is it any wonder people report chickens that pick at each other until they are bald? I'd be feeling the same way if I were those birds.


Add to that the the issue of "keeping their feet warm", which on a round perch positions their feet at the warmest place and into the warmest feathers on a chicken's body~right into the feathers of the brood patch~ and reduces the total area of the feet needing warmed due to the curl of the foot.... but on a flat perch positions those same feet on the surface of the abdomen and to the side of that "brood patch" area, with toes extended outward.

Here's additional information on how bird's feet stay warm in the winter months:

Quote:
For the most part, frost bite on feet has very little to do with perch size and shape and much, much more to do with the right kind and enough ventilation in the winter months.

 

[perchie.girl]

Yes, it's cedar on the inside. I put extra ventilation on the backside of the coop. It doesn't show in the picture.

Get rid of the cedar. It's not worth the risk of sick birds.

There are a couple of types of cedar.... the cedar like the kind you find in a closet freshener or a cedar chest.... Those are vERY aeromatic. But there is the kind for cedar fencing... a little bit of aroma but not much.... The aeromatic one is the one that gets all the press.... The kind for siding and fences is ok especially after its had a chance to age some.

deb

 

[Raysti]

Thanks...I will do a little bit of research about it now.

 

[FarmerPhronc]

I've recently order a coop kit from a company that makes their coops from cedar. You can read why they use cedar here: http://urbancoopcompany.com/build-chicken-coops-cedar/

They will be shipping the coop I ordered next week. Once it arrives and I have it put together I'll post pics along with a review.

 

[Sylvester017]

I've recently order a coop kit from a company that makes their coops from cedar. You can read why they use cedar here: http://urbancoopcompany.com/build-chicken-coops-cedar/

They will be shipping the coop I ordered next week. Once it arrives and I have it put together I'll post pics along with a review.

Love the walk-in coop model but of course the top lines are always attractive!

 

[Raysti]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. .

 

[lynnehd]

There are a couple of types of cedar....  the cedar like the kind you find in a closet freshener or a cedar chest....  Those are vERY aeromatic.  But there is the kind for cedar fencing...  a little bit of aroma but not much....  The aeromatic one is the one that gets all the press....    The kind for siding and fences is ok especially after its had a chance to age some.

deb

I would agree. Of course you avoid actual cedar bedding, but certain cedars for structure building should be fine. I've learned this with keeping other creatures, including tortoises.
Regardless, ventilation is slways important. Looks like the soffits are open?
A flip up window or two, backed with screwed in 1/2 inch mesh would work ( if you don't already have them)

 

[ShrekDawg]

It would probably be fine and plenty of people have healthy birds with cedar but I personally wouldn't take the risk. But like said above, I'm sure certain types are fine or okay, but I'm paranoid and wouldn't risk it hah

don't birds have more sensitive respiratory systems than reptiles anyways? maybe not.

and I don't know if chickens are the same but I know with parrots and stuff even putting them in a room right above the kitchen or near it or bathroom could be bad because the fumes come up and they're sensitive. of course, chickens may be less sensitive and obviously strong kitchen or bathroom fumes leeching up are much different than cedar you can't even smell, especially with ventilation, but still, my point is they're more sensitive than us and i once read recently chickens may have just as good smell or better as us. but I've also heard birds can't smell so i dont know about that one. i think it was in a book though.

I think either way though I'd make sure there's a ton of.ventilation, maybe even more so than usual