What all does everyone keep in their coops?

[904Gothchickenlady]

Fot those that can't free range or can't do it much. What all do you put in your coop? I'm in final stages of making mine and chicks about ready to go in? What do you use as base too? I planned on aspen in the nesting boxes/inside but what about outside part? Currently I have sand for them to dig in.

 

[WIchickMama]

I have a couple logs and overturned bucket/garden pots. I did section them off a spot specifically for dust bathing so their woodchips wouldn't mix in, and it is filled with dirt, sand and peat moss. I also have 2 watering and 2 food stations. Otherwise that is it. They enjoy the sun and just being chickens

 

[Tonyroo]

Put some roosting bars in your run. You can use tree branches or 2x3 studs.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Perch bars

Ladder

 

[Happy hen lover]

An old plastic foot stool, tree stump, 2 perches out of branches, one wooden perch with ramp. 4 waterers, 2 24/7 feeders, and I feed wet feed once a day in 14 feed pans, on top of waterers, etc.

 

[Sequel]

An old wooden picnic table with the legs cut down. They love to sit under there when it’s hot and when it’s raining.

 

[3KillerBs]

You'll find this thread handy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

One thing I've got in my run is an overturned plastic lawn chair. The chickens sit on it that way. I flip it over and have a poop-free chair when I need it.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

I have 3 smaller logs, 3 xylophones, 4 windchimes, 2 roosts that on on the ground (like 2 in up) a roosting tower I made them, a ball, some bells and mirrors. I use pine flakes on the floor of the run and they love digging through them. (Yes they play with all of these things lol)

Also any bugs, frogs, etc I find I take them and let them loose in the run.


And sometimes...very few sometimes...I make them an ice cake and they love it!

 

[aart]

What do you use as base too? I planned on aspen in the nesting boxes/inside but what about outside part?

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 8 years.

You'll find this thread handy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This^^^

 

[904Gothchickenlady]

You'll find this thread handy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

One thing I've got in my run is an overturned plastic lawn chair. The chickens sit on it that way. I flip it over and have a poop-free chair when I need it.

Smart!