Rookie Coop Building Mistakes?

[bingrancher]

Build it bigger then you think and to combat the cold buy more chicks

and get some vasoline for their combs to fend off frost bite. Some people use the deep litter method so they only have to clean the coop a couple times a year and if you can do that, right before winter weather arrives give it a good clean and it should be ok till spring. Good luck

 

[afveteran88]

I made roll out nesting boxes and love them. It makes it nice so I don't have to go into the coop. Also made a pvc drip waterer. Best thing ever.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

Ive read about the deep litter option, not sure I like that idea though. Will have to contemplate it. Hahaha! Buy more chicks! My husband would kill me. i had wanted ten, for warmth and socialization, etc but Hubby think 4 Hens, 3 parrots, 3 Dogs and 2 Horses are enough animals, LOL Crazy man! I am going to keep working on him, but I imgaine it wont be until after these ones are grown. Do people sell chicks all seasons? Or just Spring?

 

[bingrancher]

Some hatcheries sell chicks throughout the year. It might also help persuade him to tell him its alot easier to introduce more chicks while the ones you have are still young, and you asked about windows and if properly sealed they wont lose heat, as a matter of fact the sun light will heat the air inside the coop. I saw an ad for coop safe heaters so heres a link to check out http://sweeterheater.com/page2.asp

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

Thanks for the link, yet another thing to contemplate!

 

[ctbagley]

The run sounds very secure, similar to ours. The one predator we did have were black snakes. We solved this problem by buying large rolls of "bird netting" and twisting it (using zipties every 4 feet) then laying it alongside the outer bottom perimeter. We caught several snakes within a few weeks that were sneaking in to eat eggs. Just make sure you do not have any pets or chickens that have access to this area. Good luck!

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

Snakes!? Hmmm......we will have the Coop on Stilts, and will be pulling up the ladder to the door at night time. Do you think we still need to prepare for snakes? Huh, I didnt consider them at all when thinking of predator protection!

 

[mazojoe]

Snakes!? Hmmm......we will have the Coop on Stilts, and will be pulling up the ladder to the door at night time. Do you think we still need to prepare for snakes? Huh, I didnt consider them at all when thinking of predator protection!

snakes are the least of your worries in Canada! Coon, possums, weasels, feral cats, dogs are much larger problem. Coon and weasels can wipe out a flock in a night! so make sure your doors shut tightly!

My chickens actually got their first snake of the year last week, waaaay to early for snakes here in WI, but anyway it was just a little grass snake. Pretty funny watching them play tug-o-war with it and chasing each other.

 

[crittergarden]

oooo - I'd rather hose out the coop than clean a poop hammock!

What about the "low pressure cup systems" that Walden's Ridge was mentioning? What are those?

 

[chestypuller]

Build it bigger then you think and to combat the cold buy more chicks

and get some vasoline for their combs to fend off frost bite. Some people use the deep litter method so they only have to clean the coop a couple times a year and if you can do that, right before winter weather arrives give it a good clean and it should be ok till spring. Good luck

whats your winters like? and can i get more into on the deep litter method?