Washingtonians

[Chickielady]

The only thing smelling of ammonia was the deeper litter, under the roosts. Her coop is actually extremely ventilated. It basically has half walls, with lattice on the upper portion (covered with chicken wire) and a roof. The roosts are below the top of the half walls, so there won't be wind on the birds; I couldn't smell the ammonia until I had my face right down by it after digging it up a bit with the rake. I don't think any harm was done as it was all buried. But yes, I think she'll be happy that she didn't have to do this on her own, or ask her husband to; he's not really keen on the chickens.

And yes, I did practice good biosecurity. I washed my boots with a bleach solution before and after going there, and before coming in the house I took off my soiled clothes in the garage and put them in the washer. I showered right away and got all the dust out of my hair and skin.

Such is why I have poop trays under my roosts, filled with sand, easy to clean (and no bending down) just like ya clean a cat box.

 

[Hinotori]

I'm upset with myself for not finishing the roof for the big run. It's super slick out there. The birds don't even want to go out in the rain for a drink. They wait until a drop runs down the wall and lick it off.

I tossed a little more scratch down for them so they have something to do in their coop. The only somewhat happy birds are the ones in the silkie pen with it's nicely working roof. They can't figure out why I won't let them out to free range for a little bit.

I have to cut the pvc to length and get the tarp up. I'll do that as soon as it isn't pouring buckets. Which will be maybe tomorrow or Tuesday. They should be fine until then. Their coops is large.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Chickielady, I have poop boards filled with Sweet PDZ that I scoop the same way.

My friend doesn't care about the chickens much. She wouldn't be caught dead out there scooping poop every day. She mostly deep litters. When it starts looking damp or too dark/icky, she just adds more litter. In fact, I don't think she had ever removed ANY litter from the coop yet; her girls are 7 months and have been in there 6 months.

 

[Chickielady]

I'm upset with myself for not finishing the roof for the big run. It's super slick out there. The birds don't even want to go out in the rain for a drink. They wait until a drop runs down the wall and lick it off.

I tossed a little more scratch down for them so they have something to do in their coop. The only somewhat happy birds are the ones in the silkie pen with it's nicely working roof. They can't figure out why I won't let them out to free range for a little bit.

I have to cut the pvc to length and get the tarp up. I'll do that as soon as it isn't pouring buckets. Which will be maybe tomorrow or Tuesday. They should be fine until then. Their coops is large.

I have a cup of water inside every coop for just this reason, and the reason that freezing is not too far off....




Hens on the roost, poop tray beneath..............




These are 1/2 gallon "cups" on the inside of the coop....the birds snort in them & wash their beaks out so it gets messy, especially in the Ameraucana coop !!!
So I clean the cups out 2 X a month or so.
But they do not freeze.




This one in a different coop...

 

[Chickielady]

Chickielady, I have poop boards filled with Sweet PDZ that I scoop the same way.

My friend doesn't care about the chickens much. She wouldn't be caught dead out there scooping poop every day. She mostly deep litters. When it starts looking damp or too dark/icky, she just adds more litter. In fact, I don't think she had ever removed ANY litter from the coop yet; her girls are 7 months and have been in there 6 months.

That is the best way to spread both disease and mites/lice...who loves hiding in all that litter.
Deep litter is exactly that: Deep litter...composting & the resulting gases are both dibilitating to the animals who are forced to breath it, and promotes mites & lice.

 

[Chickielady]

G'night all...I am off to finish cooking the pot pie & C-Ya all later ~~~~~~~~~~~

One more time:

FANTASTIC SEAHAWKS GAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nikki99]

Now if only I had a friend who wanted to clean out my coop and run.....

Hey, we could switch!! ....oh wait, that would kinda defeat the purpose of having a friend clean our coop and run, huh?! Tehehehehe

Quote:
We don't have poop trays yet either, but I was just talking to DH about them the other day. I'm thinkin we need to get on that!! Love the pics! They help with different ideas and plans.

Chickielady, I have poop boards filled with Sweet PDZ that I scoop the same way.

My friend doesn't care about the chickens much. She wouldn't be caught dead out there scooping poop every day. She mostly deep litters. When it starts looking damp or too dark/icky, she just adds more litter. In fact, I don't think she had ever removed ANY litter from the coop yet; her girls are 7 months and have been in there 6 months.

Jess, what is Sweet PDZ?

 

[Stumpfarmer]

[COLOR=0000CD]This for our StumpFarmer:[/COLOR] [COLOR=0000CD]This being day 10, of the 14 eggs, 2 are clear, 1 is a bloodring but the embryo is still alive, active & trying...most likely will perish. [/COLOR] [COLOR=0000CD]The rest are ACTIVE !!! [/COLOR] [COLOR=0000CD]Kicking & doing extremely well !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/COLOR]:yiipchick

Oh, such a relief! Now all we need is them to hatch vigorous, lively, and the opposite sex ratio from the group in May. I just spent a half hour pulling Hamburg waterproofing back together; I didn't realize until today but the cows had pushed the fence around getting to the last green grass, and in doing so had knocked the roof supports to heck. So instead of whatever else I thought I was doing tomorrow, I've got to fix that.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I always have an absolutely horrible mite problem every time I try deep litter, with the exception of course of new baby chicks, who get the shavings until they can roost. There are those who love deep litter, but I have to agree about the mites LOL.

Great work FirewifeJess - your good deed of the day for sure!

 

[Hilatious]

Hey fellow Western Washingtonians, how are your chickens enjoying the rain!
Mine don't seem bothered by it at all, there out there hunting for worms as usual