The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

Speaking of deep litter today my flock was inside going through the DL passing the time since the weather was so rough, when I went out to lock them up I couldn't get the door open all the way they had so much Dl up against it. I only pushed it open just enough to count heads and make sure everyone was in. When we built the coop my dh put the door so it opened in, doesn't work so good when you have about 10-12" of DL in there. Everyone keep warm.

all of my doors are either pop doors or open out. But on boring wet days (for chickens) they usually throw shavings all inside the nest boxes making me work for the eggs.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: If you're able to switch the way those doors swing, you could also just slip in a piece of plywood...you might be able to see it in this photo on the door back there. This was before we changed things around a bit and added another section inside. See the board slipped in there at the base of the door on the chicken side? That was a retainer for the wood chips. But that door did open out.

 

[AlivianAcres]

We have 4 chicks now .

 

[Leahs Mom]

We have 4 chicks now

.

 

[Melabella]

If you're able to switch the way those doors swing, you could also just slip in a piece of plywood...you might be able to see it in this photo on the door back there. This was before we changed things around a bit and added another section inside. See the board slipped in there at the base of the door on the chicken side? That was a retainer for the wood chips. But that door did open out.

LM

That looks so beautiful, I just want to pull up a chair, sit down, and watch chicken TV.! WoW!

 

[jlynnet]

...

Sally, it is horrible here,, absolutely horrible. The wind is NorEasterish, yuc. Thinking I have to feed mine indoors too, problem is, my coop isn't very big. I only covered half my run, and thinking of having the man who built my run come back and cover the entire thing. Here is a picture of my setup... not perfect, but it's strong and with the high winds on the elevation I live on.. it had to be windproof. The feed gets wet out in the run, so I am going to have to put it under the coop I think... rain is blowing sideways! I think I am going to go out and buy some straw bales to put around three sides of the bottom of the coop, to make a little cave that they can get out of the wind, but not be stuck inside the coop. I put heavy duty tarps on the roof and sides of our run. They've worked great. I used cable ties to anchor it down. We've had some crazy windy days and tarp has stayed put since last year in the fall.

 

[Bulldogma]

If you're able to switch the way those doors swing, you could also just slip in a piece of plywood...you might be able to see it in this photo on the door back there. This was before we changed things around a bit and added another section inside. See the board slipped in there at the base of the door on the chicken side? That was a retainer for the wood chips. But that door did open out.

Wow! What a lovely coop!

We have 4 chicks now

.

Congratulations!!!

 

[Green Lantern]

We have 4 chicks now

.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you're able to switch the way those doors swing, you could also just slip in a piece of plywood...you might be able to see it in this photo on the door back there. This was before we changed things around a bit and added another section inside. See the board slipped in there at the base of the door on the chicken side? That was a retainer for the wood chips. But that door did open out.

I love your set up, I actually did that to the front door of their coop, I'm thinking come spring I may have to ask my dh to modify this other door, thanks for showing how yours is done.

 

[mrsamplias]

My coop is old and the salvaged lumber doesn't really make a snug draft free fit so since 1989 I've been saving old feed bags and paper grocery bags to line the inside doors and walls. It works well at keeping the drafts out and gives the inside of the barn a kind of homey, nostalgic feel. I cover the windows in heavy duty plastic too. 4 mil to 6 mil when I can get it. Back door to the barn is made from slavaged kitchen cupboard doors and lined in feed bags and grocery store bags. the front entrance is Dutch doors also lined in old bags. I scribble notes about my birds on the lining with a crayon some years. This door gets so much use, I often change the lining when it tears. I don't need to heat this barn. Ever. The deep litter puts out a little heat and the chickens like to nestle into it after eating. I've never had water freeze in the buckets inside the barn in over ten years. Our winters are not as cold as they used to be.

great idea!! Those bags are pretty sturdy. I might just start saving our bags.