Hi!
I have been following BYC for a while and finally joint this amazing information bank now that its time to build my own coop and raise my chickens! I could really use some help now..
A little background - I want to raise chickens for eggs for my family and not for selling. .
I moved to a small remote village in Himachal in India. live at an elevation of 6000ft.
here the summer high temperature stays around 25 C (in the shade but when my thermometer is in direct sun it shows 45 C!) and winter low at -10 C with max a foot of snow for few days at a time.
It rains almost once week year-round and for days during monsoons.
I can't get most supplies and products mentioned by other members (due to remoteness of mountain countryside).
oh and most important part I DON'T live on a farm but do have a small backyard.
Now the questions:
I have 8 feet x 8 feet open shed that I would like to convert into a coop and run. But that is all the space I have. Will it be enough to house 6 chickens and a rooster? Is there anyone who would like to share their expertise with us with the designing of the coop and run? I will be building it myself and I don't have a. Big budget.
After researching, deep litter method seems a good option. I read that food grade DE is needed for it but it is not available here. Is there any thing else that can be used, preferably home made or natural materials?
I can't buy feed here. Yes I can't as non is available! I am going to build the feeder but chicken water nipples are not available. To give a balanced diet and clean water what can I do?
I am really looking forward to raising chickens and not getting disheartened by the lack of availability of so many things if not all. Any suggestions, ideas and advice will really help me.
Thank you!
I have been following BYC for a while and finally joint this amazing information bank now that its time to build my own coop and raise my chickens! I could really use some help now..
A little background - I want to raise chickens for eggs for my family and not for selling. .
I moved to a small remote village in Himachal in India. live at an elevation of 6000ft.
here the summer high temperature stays around 25 C (in the shade but when my thermometer is in direct sun it shows 45 C!) and winter low at -10 C with max a foot of snow for few days at a time.
It rains almost once week year-round and for days during monsoons.
I can't get most supplies and products mentioned by other members (due to remoteness of mountain countryside).
oh and most important part I DON'T live on a farm but do have a small backyard.
Now the questions:
I have 8 feet x 8 feet open shed that I would like to convert into a coop and run. But that is all the space I have. Will it be enough to house 6 chickens and a rooster? Is there anyone who would like to share their expertise with us with the designing of the coop and run? I will be building it myself and I don't have a. Big budget.
After researching, deep litter method seems a good option. I read that food grade DE is needed for it but it is not available here. Is there any thing else that can be used, preferably home made or natural materials?
I can't buy feed here. Yes I can't as non is available! I am going to build the feeder but chicken water nipples are not available. To give a balanced diet and clean water what can I do?
I am really looking forward to raising chickens and not getting disheartened by the lack of availability of so many things if not all. Any suggestions, ideas and advice will really help me.
Thank you!