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[JemimaP]

I’ve no experience of chickens but dogs do brilliantly on coconut oil so I’m guessing it would be the same for chickens if they’re omnivores?

 

[JemimaP]

My girls were roosting in the roof of their run again tonight, third night in a row. I had to pick them up and put them in the coop. They didn’t want to go in but they did in the end. I’m nervous about picking them up I honestly don’t know why but I’m thrilled to say they didn’t complain as much tonight. Maybe my gently gently nervous approach is winning them over! Haha I’m truly hopeless!
I’m fox proofing the run tomorrow so they can stay in the run if they want to when I’m on holiday but I feel much happier when they’re tucked in the coop.
My wise sage of an 11 year old son who ALWAYS turns out to be right reckons they simply like being high up and I should just raise the coop then they’d go in!!

 

[504707]

Guys guys. I have to post this because I am so proud of myself at the moment... We have had our chickens in the small prefab coop for a couple of months and they grew out of it, so I got hold of a free second hand bike shed.

Tadaaaaaaaaaah:

I'll post more pics tomorrow as I am pretty much dead atm.
What I managed so far was to put the shed together, attach a roof, make roosts, sliding door, chop off the nesting box from the old coop and put it onto the new one. All in 6 hours of work
Tomorrow is the run building day. Wish us luck. Has anyone ever asked IKEA to make a coop line?

 

[CCUK]

Guys guys. I have to post this because I am so proud of myself at the moment... We have had our chickens in the small prefab coop for a couple of months and they grew out of it, so I got hold of a free second hand bike shed.

Tadaaaaaaaaaah:
View attachment 1433316

I'll post more pics tomorrow as I am pretty much dead atm.
What I managed so far was to put the shed together, attach a roof, make roosts, sliding door, chop off the nesting box from the old coop and put it onto the new one. All in 6 hours of work
Tomorrow is the run building day. Wish us luck. Has anyone ever asked IKEA to make a coop line?

Wow! That looks fab! You've done well to get that done in six hours! Your girls will love you for that!

 

[Aerliss]

@Nethielka Amazing work. Well done!

 

[Perris]

Very impressive! well done you!
ps don't forget ventilation holes near the top

 

[JemimaP]

That’s fab! It took me 3 weeks to build a run haha!!! (Kept stopping for tea breaks lol)

 

[JemimaP]

I think this is maybe a daft question but is it ok to sprinkle their treats on the run floor or will they get sick if it gets mingled in with poop?
I try and poop scoop every day but there’s always some fresh poop.
They love sunflower seeds.
I’m thinking about putting aubiose down on top of the grass cos the poop gets stuck in the grass blades when I try and pick it out. I don’t think it’s hygienic? so there would be dry bedding down, do I just sprinkle the sunflower seeds and they scratch around for them?
Or I could get little dishes that hang on the wall of the run? Would they be happier scratching about?

 

[CCUK]

I think this is maybe a daft question but is it ok to sprinkle their treats on the run floor or will they get sick if it gets mingled in with poop?
I try and poop scoop every day but there’s always some fresh poop.
They love sunflower seeds.
I’m thinking about putting aubiose down on top of the grass cos the poop gets stuck in the grass blades when I try and pick it out. I don’t think it’s hygienic? so there would be dry bedding down, do I just sprinkle the sunflower seeds and they scratch around for them?
Or I could get little dishes that hang on the wall of the run? Would they be happier scratching about?

Hi. In all honesty I just chuck treats all around the run. They do enjoy scratching around. If Any goes in a wet poop they won't eat it. I looked at that aubiose bedding and it looks like a very expensive shaving. Maybe ok for the coop and nest boxes but I wouldn't waste it on the floor of the run. You can get normal shavings for £5-10 a bale. Just try and rake it through the run and the poop should break down.

 

[Aerliss]

@JemimaP the grass isn't going to last long. Look into the deep litter method (basically just turning your whole run into a compost bin) or putting down wood bark or chippings, once the grass is gone. I'm still reading up on this stuff myself, but you should be able to find some good threads in the coop & run subforum, and there are probably some articles here, and of course the rest of the Internet.

I only scoop the coop and when I let them range in the garden, just so my rabbits don't run through it.