Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

Hi all,

Well we had a good day here too- definitely productive as the chicks are out of the house and into the coop! They are quite tiny in the space but were way too big for the kiddie pool.

They already figured out the nipple waterer... didn't take them long. The feeders aren't yet being used but are installed for convenience.

I have included a photo before and after chicken invasion- it turned out pretty nice. The nesting box isn't done yet but we are redoing one that DH's grandpa owned so it may take a while.

As of right now it is a toasty 75 under the brooder lamp- definitely wish it was that nice outside...

This is our first attempt at a coop- opinions are welcome.

Have a good night!

Nice coop! I hope you took lots of "before" pics because it will never look that clean again.

Your heat lamp looks awfully low in that 2nd pic.

Hi Everyone! I'm in the process of making my first chicken coop. It's going to be in a barn with a wood floor. I'm trying to decide what type of bedding I should use. I have access to a lot shredded hardwood mulch, but haven't found much iinfo about it as bedding in coops. Otherwise, I was planning on using pine shavings or sand. Any suggestions, preferences?

and to the Cheesehead thread! Hope you like it here.

I have no experience with using hardwood mulch as bedding but I do like the pine shavings. They dry out pretty quickly if they get wet, are easy for the birds to scratch around and are lightweight and easy to shovel up when cleaning out the coop. Straw will clog up your rake and can get moldy if it gets wet which is very bad for chickens. If there is anything you don't want in your coop, it is mold. Or preds.

I put sand in their dustbath but that is about it for my sand use in the coop. HTH

When I clean out my coop, I take the used pine shavings and pile them around my trees for mulch with a fertilizer already in it.

My fruit trees love it! Good luck with your coop, Cl. We'd love to see pics.

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

dustergrl... yea, looks like it will be a while before they can use those feeders! LOL I would stuff something in them for now so a curios little chick doesn't get stuck in them.

Nothing new here.... Night All!

 

[dustergrl]

Hi All!

dustergrl... yea, looks like it will be a while before they can use those feeders! LOL I would stuff something in them for now so a curios little chick doesn't get stuck in them.

Nothing new here.... Night All!

GOOD IDEA. Thank you!

 

[jvls1942]

Hi Everyone! I'm in the process of making my first chicken coop. It's going to be in a barn with a wood floor. I'm trying to decide what type of bedding I should use. I have access to a lot shredded hardwood mulch, but haven't found much iinfo about it as bedding in coops. Otherwise, I was planning on using pine shavings or sand. Any suggestions, preferences?

I have used shredded wood for bedding,, I laid down a good thick layer of it, and then I covered it with straw.. I did this in the autumn in preparation for winter.. I have concrete floors and I like a nice thick layer of bedding for insulation.. when the straw gets dirty, I just add more straw.. I also toss on some wood shavings when I have them available..

the porous shredded wood allows for good moisture drainage.. the bedding on top of it stays a lot drier ..

I never liked the idea of using sand,, seems like it would be heavy to install and to remove ..
and prolly would get quite dusty in there when it is dry ..

.......jiminwisc.......

 

[Celtic Chick]

I have used shredded wood for bedding,, I laid down a good thick layer of it, and then I covered it with straw.. I did this in the autumn in preparation for winter.. I have concrete floors and I like a nice thick layer of bedding for insulation.. when the straw gets dirty, I just add more straw.. I also toss on some wood shavings when I have them available..

the porous shredded wood allows for good moisture drainage.. the bedding on top of it stays a lot drier ..

I never liked the idea of using sand,, seems like it would be heavy to install and to remove ..
and prolly would get quite dusty in there when it is dry ..

.......jiminwisc.......

Doesn't it get dusty in the coop no matter what you use Jim?

Chickens are the definition of dirty birdies.

Had a couple of coons cause some commotion this morning out in my tractor/bachelor pad. Luckily DH was up at 4am to hear it. My mean old roo is missing a bunch of feathers but seems ok otherwise. At first, DH thought he was a goner because he found him laying outside in the grass with feathers everywhere. But when he poked him, he got up & waked away. Stupid bird. The devil just won't take him.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote: I am betting it was two youngster coons.. they didn't quite have the hang of it yet..
there is dust in every coop, yes, but some materials are more so than others..
why is it that you challenge every post I do ?

 

[Celtic Chick]

I am betting it was two youngster coons.. they didn't quite have the hang of it yet..
there is dust in every coop, yes, but some materials are more so than others..
why is it that you challenge every post I do ?

But Jim, you know how I love to poke the bear.

Gotta keep you on your toes, ya know. Wouldn't want you to get bored.

I think you are right about those 2 being youngsters. They were fast at disappearing, that's for sure.

 

[kristip]

I have had luck with straw in the coop and wood chips in nest boxes. soaks up the broken eggs that happen once in a while.

I spoke too soon, my cobbled together roo coop was infiltrated. Either farm cat from near by farm or single coon...only took one bird... just feathers left...found the one small weak spot near the door. If I lose one more, the rest just go in the coop with the other chickens. They can handle 4 more in there for a few weeks. Will just have to get rid of the meat bird food. I am guessing it is too high protein to make for good layers... correct?

otherwise think happy thoughts for good weather for next weekend for a rummage/estate sale! Need to get rid of some of this stuff. my house is exploding with rummage type stuff. Trying not to be too sentimental about moms antique stuff and just sell it. Still trying to sell he furniture in her house. Some sold but still have lots she cant take to assisted living...tiny little places those are. trying to get her excited about living where there are others her age around to do similar stuff with.

 

[Firstchic]

I guess I am going to have to give Nastybutt another bath. I am going to use the babys tub.....no, he is in the big tub now. She seems to be kinda stand offish from the other girls. This morning I opened the coop around 8 am, she was sitting in the nest box, so I let her be.....Came home around 11 , went to check for eggs, there were three under her.....now I know she did not lay all three.....so, I just plucked them out and let her sit.....she does not eat the bread, never has, that I give the others. But, she goes and pecks at whatever in the yard...doing her own thing.....is that what brooding looks like?? Kinda like PMS.

Went out by the girls, Nastybutt sits in the run most of the time.....now, I do not know what clear eyes on a bird looks like, but, it seems the gold around the black puple (sp?) looks kinda reddish gold and she keeps jerking her head. Help! anybody????

 

[bigzio]

Nice Evening all...yep we make the spargus soup Jim, but never thought of using the tough ends...when the kids were home we canned quarts of the good stuff...just tossed about 2lbs of the tough stuff...dang!

Glad nothing was killed Robin.... sounds like a young coon to me too.

Planted my last seed today...glad to have it done....couldn't find my zuke seeds...planted some old ones from 2004...wonder if they will grow....just finished lookin some more...oh, there they are....I'm gonna wait and see if the old ones sprout..

Welcome to the cheesheads...I use the hardwood shavings from my friends planer all the time...maybe not as absorbent as the pine, but work just fine...they should be dry though for the best results.

Peace...bigz