Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[delisha]

awww..that is cute..kind of snugglingchickensisaswierdaskeepingtheminthehouseasapet

Yes, I have straw, hay, leaves and wood chips in the coop. I tried deep litter for the first time. I am not sure if I like it. This is the first year I had any frost bite issues. I have not quite learned exactly how to DL yet. I think I am going to try one more year to see if I can learn how to do it better. I might have to remove the insulation panels I have in the rafters to get better air flow to keep the humidity down.

 

[delisha]

with standing water..sand would be better than nothing. However I still recommend you fix the problem by adding dirt to the outside to keep the water away. Adding gutters will help too. You could add dirt around the parameter and add some nice herbs and plants that are good for chickens. like garlic, chickweed and comfry

 

[RBerryChicks]

rberry... are you on facebook... there is someone in madison with delaware...she raises organically and lives in stoughton. She is on the mad city chickens facebook page.her name is erica solis

Now that you mention it, I think I met her at Coop during a seminar this winter. I knew she had Buckeyes but had forgotten she had Delawares too. Thanks for jogging my memory I will check her out.

 

[jvls1942]

with standing water..sand would be better than nothing. However I still recommend you fix the problem by adding dirt to the outside to keep the water away. Adding gutters will help too. You could add dirt around the parameter and add some nice herbs and plants that are good for chickens. like garlic, chickweed and comfry

If you want drainage, you just have to raise the area you want drained higher than the surrounding landscape.. If you have a lot of sand, keep adding it until you have a mound..

 

[babylady4]

Yay Judge!!!!

Busy day here tonight and tomorrow; it is PROM weekend!!!

So off to bed for me!

 

[zeke]

awww..that is cute..kind of snugglingchickensisaswierdaskeepingtheminthehouseasapet

Yes, I have straw, hay, leaves and wood chips in the coop. I tried deep litter for the first time. I am not sure if I like it. This is the first year I had any frost bite issues. I have not quite learned exactly how to DL yet. I think I am going to try one more year to see if I can learn how to do it better. I might have to remove the insulation panels I have in the rafters to get better air flow to keep the humidity down.

As i read along, a lot of abreiviations r used. what does DL mean? thanks

 

[judge]

Quote: Thanks! Her mother is a Barred Rock, and the Daddy is an Ameraucana mix

 

[chikenscratch]

DL deep litter

 

[GhostRider65]

I am in need of your opinions.  Who here uses sand in their coop vs. pine shavings, etc?   Which one do you like better?  Why? 
Trying to figure out my plans for my coop and I have read that sand is great and cheaper in the long run vs. the pine shavings.  Also its not suppose to hold the moisture as much.   True or false?  

Alot of people told me shavings when I first started so I used shavings hated em, hard to clean as in ya throw away more good ones that soiled ones, stinky, and II had a terrible time last spring with mites ......... finally got rid of them and put in sand, will never go back......ever, no mess, cleans up easy, doesn't stink and ya can sprinkle DE and &dust right there to keep the mites and lice at bay....... sand is tghe way to go...... order ya a Goliath scoop though they are long handled and make cleaning a breeze.....http://goliathscoop.com/

 

[Jelinek11]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts about sand vs. pine shavings, etc. in the coop! I might just stick with the pine shavings. For those of you that live in the Wausau area, where do you get yours from? Fleet Farm?

Anyone have any tips on building a coop? What to do/not to do?

How high should the run be? How high should the coop be?

Do you elevate the coop or keep it ground level and why?

You are all amazingly helpful! Thank you so much!!!!