What would make caring for your flock easier?

[PlentifulPrairie]

Excellent question! I've thought about this a lot since I've had to deal with many inconvenient things with my current setup, and I've made a list of what I would do differently given the chance. My current dream setup would look like this:

• Larger run. Also, larger coop because eventually I would like more chickens.
• An indoor area off the back of the coop, with a viewing window so that I can see inside the coop, a sink that functions even in the cold so I don't have to trek inside to get water, a human-sized door to access the coop, and storage for feed and anything else they might need. The nest boxes would also open into this space so that I don't have to get rained or snowed on to collect eggs.
• Long-lasting food and water systems.
• Hawk netting. I have hawk deterrents up but they can be annoying when I forget that they're there and run into them lol.
• A planted run (as much as I can when they are determined to destroy the plants, anyway).
• Permanent greenhouse/composting area.
• Path that can easily be kept free of snow and ice in winter.
• Poop boards under roost bars to help keep bedding clean.

I feel like there is more that I'm forgetting but this is what I can remember at the moment.

Great stuff!

 

[Sally PB]

* Poop boards under the roosts.

This was the biggest improvement I made to my coop. It made keeping the poop load in the coop bedding much easier.

DH built the coop nest boxes with outside access, and that has been really helpful. I didn't know how great that was until I chicken-sat for someone who didn't have that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Going bigger overall - bigger coop, even more ventilation, bigger run, etc. It's plenty big for the birds we have/anticipate having, but everything's just easier with more space to move around in.

Otherwise, the thing that would make things a lot easier would be if hubby had time daily to help out. He pitches in with cleaning and feeding on weekends but on the weekdays it's just me. Any installation work from adding an apron to installing the coop cam, plus the routine maintenance work and yearly clean outs, is 99% on me - which is mostly terrifying if you imagine someone afraid of heights up on a ladder with power tools, and 10 feathered dinos standing under the ladder waiting for me to fall and crack my head on a rock so that I can be their dinner.

 

[PlentifulPrairie]

Going bigger overall - bigger coop, even more ventilation, bigger run, etc. It's plenty big for the birds we have/anticipate having, but everything's just easier with more space to move around in.

Otherwise, the thing that would make things a lot easier would be if hubby had time daily to help out. He pitches in with cleaning and feeding on weekends but on the weekdays it's just me. Any installation work from adding an apron to installing the coop cam, plus the routine maintenance work and yearly clean outs, is 99% on me - which is mostly terrifying if you imagine someone afraid of heights up on a ladder with power tools, and 10 feathered dinos standing under the ladder waiting for me to fall and crack my head on a rock so that I can be their dinner.

I totally understand that! I'm in that same boat! Thanks for your feedback!

 

[GhislaineDel]

A waterer that'll work below 0°F without needing replacement/repairs every year.

A bigger coop that won't blow away in a big storm. Luckily we had a kid's playhouse as backup!

 

[Aunt Angus]

A clone!


Seriously, though - my chickens aren't too hard to care for. However, I'd love some sort of auto waterer for the ducks or some easy way to clean and refill their water buckets.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

What would make caring for my birds easier is id love it for someone else to pay my feed bills other then that would love for someone to lift my coop up as its slanted badly because its sinking other then that id be set lol

 

[Isadora]

Not having a flock, lol

Ok, seriously now...

-Having electricity in the coop has been awesome. I can brood chicks in there without running an extension cord and I can utilize bucket heaters for the waterers in the winter

-a poop board underneath the roost makes cleaning a breeze. Keeps mess down in the rest of the coop as well as smell.

- an automatic coop door!
Probably my favorite feature in my coop. I have a pullet-shut automatic door and it's the bomb. Haven't had any issues with it. It's so nice that my girls get to go outside once it gets light outside and they don't have to wait for me to come let them out.

 

[3KillerBs]

However, I'd love some sort of auto waterer for the ducks or some easy way to clean and refill their water buckets.

My inability to figure out a water system that I can cope with daily is the reason I don't have ducks.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

A clone!


Seriously, though - my chickens aren't too hard to care for. However, I'd love some sort of auto waterer for the ducks or some easy way to clean and refill their water buckets.

Is it bad that I have been legitimately debating about buying one of the automatic horse watering systems for the ducks?