Problems with keeping coop dry/ bedding ideas?

[hcammack]

Quote:
You know my Mom would shoot me right? are you trying to get me killed?

 

[sara]

Quote:
You know my Mom would shoot me right? are you trying to get me killed?

Absolutely not! But a rooster would be less apt to draw attention if your coop was bigger

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
You know my Mom would shoot me right? are you trying to get me killed?

Absolutely not! But a rooster would be less apt to draw attention if your coop was bigger

Their are two out their right now

they are babies still and one has a new home but if this guy can't find a new home I might just distract her enough so she will forget about him

and take me up to Will's to get two ameraucana pullets to "replace" him and his brother. Shhhhh don't tell

 

[sara]

When he crows, just say "I don't know how that happened, I was sure it was a pullet"

Scrap that, I better not encourage you to be dishonest with your parents, even if I am just kidding..

 

[hcammack]

Its fine she is a smart lady she can go out to the coop and look at a chicken with a peacomb and say hey Henry don't mess with me thats a rooster

she has gotten to chicken smart

 

[sara]

Quote:
Well that's good, that means you've got her hooked if she's learning all that

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Definitely put water up! ((that should stop your litter from getting wet))

Trays under your roost will also cut down on cleaning the rest of litter ((sprinkle some shavings & PDZ on tray))

<<sara wrote:
Henry, I think you need to get a bigger coop, it'll solve all your problems. >>

I am assuming you have enough space for all chickens to roost! If not add another bar!


I use sand in coop! It mixes well with DE & PDZ! I get mine with pick-up truck at a cement mixing place! 1/2 ton ($9) you can go in with an old screen every few days (put right in compost DE & PDZ are all natural!)

also cheaper than litter

I do add litter to my sand in winter but, your area is warmer!

 

[patandchickens]

First, absolutely positively raise the waterer up as high as the chickens' backs. Also make sure it is located out of the way, not in a high-traffic area or where they jump down from the roost.

Second, what kind of ventilation do you have? Is there anything other than the two windows? Which I'm guessing you do not leave open at night or on cold windy days? If there's no other vents, make some, high up under the eaves, and leave them permanently open. Good sized vents, mind, not just round holes

Third, is that mesh shelf sort of a droppings-pit arrangment under a roost? Replace it with a solid shelf, and scrape the poo off every morning (it takes about 5 seconds; use a dustpan to push stuff off the edge into a bucket for disposal). That will keep the litter much less pooey and drier.

Finally, w/r/t the waterers: CHECK them for leakage. Whichever one you're not using at the moment, clean it and fill it and put it on a level surface in the garage or some such thing, on concrete or any other surface that will easily show leakage. If it really is leaking, get new waterers. Alternatively is it possible your coop is not dead level (or that the waterers are sitting unlevelly on the bedding)? If the waterer isn't level then yes the water will siphon out and make a wet mess. To some extent you can avoid this by turning the waterer so the hole where water comes out is ont he low side -- but the BASIC fix is just to ensure it's on a level base

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[chookchick]

Very nice set-up and I especially like your egg cartons! How many birds are in that coop? Do you have 17 in there? If so, I agree with Sara. (a second coop?)

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
The water is level now and is not leaking I cleaned the whole coop our and its pretty good looking for now. Pat unced the eves of the coop their is plenty or ventelation the corogated roof is not sealed underneath so the air can escape from either side. Their is also a vent in the back. The shelf is the roost but that probably will be changing soon Its not a very good design feature and I think I will be chaning over to 3x4 as roosts.

thanks everyone,
Henry