Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[coop410silkies]

I also use two 2x4's. Mine are above a poop board that has sweet PDZ in it I clean once a week. Aart has a good set up and uses sand and PDZ which I am going to try.I also had to double my ladded back to make it less steep since they crash trying to fly down in my 8x10 coop.

Sounds like good husbandry to me. I have used non-food grade powdered zeolite, purchased on eBay, but since it has not been refined, I've become leary about any heavy metals it may contain. So I am thinking the PDZ is a better thing to use. Do poop boards work with a deep litter set up? I am not very familiar with them but have read many favorable reviews of them. Thanks for the tips on the ladder.

 

[daxigait]

I don't know about deep litter. I have vinyl flooring with shavings, and almost all the poop is on the board. I am going to try aart's 4-1 pdz/sand suggestion.
They are much happier and use the ladder much more since I made it less steep. I just added supports at the one end and a board running back the other way all the way back ending 8" or so off the floor. In fact, it has totally changed where they roost to the side close to the ladder.

 

[coop410silkies]

i have a couple smaller birds, so I use 2x3s on their sides. I also use the pdz poop board and have a ramp going up to it. They can choose to fly or walk up and down.

Getting them and keeping them from tbe wind is THE key!

That is so true. 2x3's are great. My Silkies seem to prefer huddling together on a flat surface, and they use a ramp - a rather steep one - to get up to their Dogloos to lay eggs and to sleep for the night. I use coconut coir, both ground and chunked, in their Dogloos, and it keeps everything reasonably fresh and odor free, in the absence of a poop board.

 

[WthrLady]

No wind today, but 3 inches of fresh wet snow. The little prima Donnas are out stomping in it.

 

[WthrLady]

snow chicken!

 

[Shaniko1970]

Hi, I also live in Central Oregon. We are having trouble with our coop and I was wondering if you were ever part of the tour they have locally of the coops and gardens? I would love to build a smaller version of yours. Thanks! Shanna

 

[CrazyChicken69]

I used two thick branches for roosts.

 

[cdkuss]

I have a small enclosure for six that has newspaper and pine chip shavings.

 

[Reel Farm]

Mine won't step out the door but they love the snow on my boots lol

 

[FlippingHills]

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This is what we decided to do for our winter housing!