Tour my Tennessee coop (semi permanent tractor) and run

[ChemicalchiCkns]

A Fine Coop and Yard.

 

[aart]

It freezes fairly frequently here, although we only quite rarely get weather below the teens. My hens aren’t laying yet but I wasn’t aware that their waste output will change drastically enough to make my coop’s clean-out any more cumbersome.

I estimate size of poop at least triples when a pullet starts laying.
Have found that at about 23°F is when poops become rock solid and wetter ones won't release from my poop boards vinyl liner without significant chiseling/hammering/prying with my hoe scraper.

 

[pibb]

Is that a plastic fence? That will only keep your chickens in if it is and nothing out. I have my coop fenced in too. For the most part they stay in but they do take a notion and fly over my fence. Just have to keep an eye on them when you let them out of the run.

I went around my coop and run with stepping stones to keep animals from trying to dig under the coop. They dont have enough sense to back up and dig. All you have to do is set the stones down on the ground against the wood.

 

[thecreekhouse]

Is that a plastic fence? That will only keep your chickens in if it is and nothing out. I have my coop fenced in too. For the most part they stay in but they do take a notion and fly over my fence. Just have to keep an eye on them when you let them out of the run.

I went around my coop and run with stepping stones to keep animals from trying to dig under the coop. They dont have enough sense to back up and dig. All you have to do is set the stones down on the ground against the wood.

It is a plastic fence and you’re 100% correct that it’s designed to keep chickens in rather than predators out. Letting them out in the fenced area is as close as I’m going to get to freeranging. Everyone’s risk-willingness is different and for me, while actual freeranging seems too scary, I’m okay giving the hens some daytime exercise inside my chicken fence.

 

[khind]

I also have a tractor coop, but actually cemented around it, to use it only as a stationary coop and run. The chickens spend most of their days in the run or in a similarly enclosed large space which has shade trees and native plants and bushes. In the evening, and for a couple hours on the weekends, I let them out for supervised foraging on the surrounding land.
I wish I wouldn't have secured the coop in place because I need switch out the space they dig up every day. I'm struggling to get some areas built up (or rather, "grown up," I guess) with plants and groundcover to make up for what was lost. Another project...

One question: Do you have covers for the circular holes above the nest boxes in case of rain or bitter, windy cold? And how high above your roosting bars are those circular holes?

 

[Ted Brown]

Have found that at about 23°F is when poops become rock solid and wetter ones won't release from my poop boards vinyl liner without significant chiseling/hammering/prying with my hoe scraper.

@aart I think I have read that you use sweet pdz on your boards(?). Does this ameliorate the poop removal issues?

 

[aart]

@aart I think I have read that you use sweet pdz on your boards(?). Does this ameliorate the poop removal issues?

Yeah, for sure it helps keeping them from sticking(and stinking),
as does the vinyl liner on boards,
but like I said above when it's about 23°F the wet ones can freeze pretty tight.