The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

for those of you that have the hoop coops, do you have any problems with wind or rain damaging the coop? I keep wondering if a wind will be able to blow the thing over once we finish it.

I am still in the process of building mine. All it has so far is plastic on the top of the hoop and it has not blown over at all nor has the plastic ripped. It even has had a few inches of wet snow on it and still good. I think its heavy enough between the 2x4s and the metal cattle handles to wothstand the wind. I know one we attach the door its going to be even heavier.

I found a website that has heavy duty, wind/water/artic proof tarps that I am going to purchase for the coop. Clear for the winter months so they as much sun as they can & brown for the spring/summer. I will attach them both and just roll up the one I am not using like a shade. Found some great tarp clips I would like to try to hold the tarp on.

 

[armorfirelady]

LOL, LM! I use a gallon ice cream bucket to take feed out to my feathered friends. (They've been eating like horses lately!)

And I have a hoop coop... it's got a lot of "character." My hubby and son did the back and didn't bother to check to see if the supports on each side were the same length. They weren't - - - by a long shot! LOL! But it still works and serves its purpose well! You can see it at the following link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...keeping-thread-ots-welcome/5260#post_10341897

BDM do you have inside pics? I am just curious how you put roosts up, feeders, etc.

I came up with what I think are going to be cool nesting boxes. Got the idea from an advertisement on here and using stuff I have to make them

But I really dont want to put any more holes in the cattle panels then I have to......so curios how you set stuff up.

Thanks
Jenn

 

[loanwizard]

I am still in the process of building mine. All it has so far is plastic on the top of the hoop and it has not blown over at all nor has the plastic ripped. It even has had a few inches of wet snow on it and still good. I think its heavy enough between the 2x4s and the metal cattle handles to wothstand the wind. I know one we attach the door its going to be even heavier.

I found a website that has heavy duty, wind/water/artic proof tarps that I am going to purchase for the coop. Clear for the winter months so they as much sun as they can & brown for the spring/summer. I will attach them both and just roll up the one I am not using like a shade. Found some great tarp clips I would like to try to hold the tarp on.

Another option is Billboard Tarp. I am planning to use quite a bit of it this summer for hoop houses and roofing for my garages.

 

[armorfirelady]

Another option is Billboard Tarp. I am planning to use quite a bit of it this summer for hoop houses and roofing for my garages.

Hmmm never heard of that. Guess I will need to do some more exploring.
Thanks Loan!!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Another option is Billboard Tarp. I am planning to use quite a bit of it this summer for hoop houses and roofing for my garages.

we are planning on the billboard tarp. I like the idea of being able to roll it up when shade is not needed. Now I just have to figure out how to make that work.

 

[Bulldogma]

for those of you that have the hoop coops, do you have any problems with wind or rain damaging the coop? I keep wondering if a wind will be able to blow the thing over once we finish it.

Ours has done really well with wind, rain, snow... we have a heavy-duty tarp on it that has been zip tied every few inches around the edges.

BDM do you have inside pics? I am just curious how you put roosts up, feeders, etc.

I came up with what I think are going to be cool nesting boxes. Got the idea from an advertisement on here and using stuff I have to make them

But I really dont want to put any more holes in the cattle panels then I have to......so curios how you set stuff up.

Thanks
Jenn

You can just barely make it out, but the natural tree branch is hung from side to side through the wire. There are zip ties on each end that hold it steady. (We're big into zip ties!)

 

[aoxa]

Okay - Time for the "Question of the Moment"

A:
List ONE thing that you have tried because of reading this thread (or one of the other 2: OT & ROAD) that you learned about or were encouraged to try that you're glad you did.

B:
What has been the result since you tried it? Are you glad you did it? Have the results been positive or negative?

A: Fermented Feed

B: Result is healthier birds, less waste, less smell from poop, less food consumed, more work for me, messier birds in terms of their condition (ie: food on their feathers, especially silkies). Slower growth, healthier overall condition, Birds enjoy food more, easier to manage in warm weather, etc. I am glad I did it. I am not doing it right now because I had stopped and haven't started back yet. Won't start back until spring weather (ie: no freezing temps)..

*** I want to note that since changing back to dry I have noticed an incredible difference in feather condition of chicks. IE: They look a lot better on dry feed. I hate to say it. I don't want it to be so.






Difference in condition in just 2 weeks.





One in the centre here...

Fermented feed had made a mess of the birds, even though I kept it at a decent consistency. Not runny at all.

Also could have been from containers that were not sufficient (ie they scratched in them).
But still.. the growth was very notably slower than chicks raised on dry.

At 8 weeks old some are still not fully feathered!


Chick fuzz still on head a bit. Almost fully feathered, but 2 weeks ago they were much less.



@ 6 weeks old my last chicks were fully feathered. This one is from the basement babies group. This picture is at 6 weeks old. Growth rate of a 3-4 week old chick.

Probably added way too much to this question.. Maybe I am a little curious as to why this last batch is so behind.

This is the first batch I ever grew on non-medicated feed from day 1. I fed them grower (15%) from the get go (fermented) until week 6. Then I switched over to non-medicated starter (18% protein) dry.

They were off the heat lamp at week 5 for the younger ones and week 4 for the older ones.

 

[aoxa]

Ours has done really well with wind, rain, snow... we have a heavy-duty tarp on it that has been zip tied every few inches around the edges.




You can just barely make it out, but the natural tree branch is hung from side to side through the wire. There are zip ties on each end that hold it steady. (We're big into zip ties!)

Which way do you have the open end facing? South? North?

I would face it south, because it looks dark in there. Would get a lot more light if facing south

Do you have a pop door, or do you just leave the big door open all day? Do hoop coops protect against digging predators?

 

[armorfirelady]

I am going to have mine positioned so one end is facing south & one north. I also plan on using a clear tarp in the colder/shorter days to help them get as much light as they can.
And there will be wire along bottom that is an *L* shape so that part attached to base of coop and other part on the ground to deter digging predators. Then plant some growing vines on it to grow up the hoop coop for shade and food for hens

 

[Ashdoes]

I've been thinking about stopping the FF as well. Mostly because I'm sick of dragging those big heavy buckets back and forth. They were freezing in the barn, and so I brought them in the house. Word of advice...do not add garlic while they are in the house. Ick! I love garlic, but when that stuff gets cooking, it's not a fun smell.
I have one bucket full right now, and it might be the last for a while. I'll just make sure there's plenty of ACV in the water.