Wood Chips and Termites in Illinois?

[BlueDawnRising]

Im in Illinois also. I want to go to wood chips actually but this is the start of my 3rd year and so far year one i added sand and year 2 straw.

I like the idea of getting a sand base. The straw I can rake our for use in the garden.

Im NO expert this is just my experience so far.

Thank you for the suggestions! I thought about sand and have plenty of straw but wondered if it would mold. Have you had that issue?

 

[Cpgrnwd]

LOVE your set up! Im hoping to some day find a corn crib!

I have an8x8 converted shed with an attached 5x15 chain link covered run.

We have 11 big girls and 13 in the brooder.

We are doubling the run this year and 2 of my big girls are going to my daughters house. I know I have 4 cockrells in the brooder so they can’t all stay.

I have not had trouble with mold but it’s currently a swamp and needs straw spread. Ill use a bail i had as a wind block in the run.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have 19…6 that are 19 weeks and 13 that are 12 weeks old. They are mixed breeds. We converted an old 14 foot diameter grain bin into a coop where the chickens have 2/3 of the inside so I’m unsure how to even calculate square footage. I will post pictures. The run is almost complete and will be 12x35 feet. It should be done this week. The actual “coop” has no structural wood, only the run.

The photos are from various stages of the build. I can take more if that would be helpful.

If the diameter of the coop is 14', the entire area is a bit over 150 sq ft, so 2/3 is about 100 sq ft. (A=pi times radius squared)

What a cool repurposing of an unused grain bin!

 

[BlueDawnRising]

LOVE your set up! Im hoping to some day find a corn crib!

I have an8x8 converted shed with an attached 5x15 chain link covered run.

We have 11 big girls and 13 in the brooder.

We are doubling the run this year and 2 of my big girls are going to my daughters house. I know I have 4 cockrells in the brooder so they can’t all stay.

Thank you! We have a corn crib we considered using but making it draft free and predator proof was a huge concern that would have taken more time than I wanted to give. It is an option though if the Hen Bin doesn’t work out! I’m worried about how warm it will be this summer but it is small enough I think I can cool it with fans.

 

[BlueDawnRising]

If the diameter of the coop is 14', the entire area is a bit over 150 sq ft, so 2/3 is about 100 sq ft. (A=pi times radius squared)

What a cool repurposing of an unused grain bin!

Thank you! I had tried to figure it but wasn’t confident so I appreciate your help!!!

The bin was placed there by my grandpa. It is an old government bin. It is quite old. I’m 51 and was a toddler when my grandpa passed so it has some age! To the best of my knowledge, it hasn’t been used for anything except storage in my lifetime.

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

Assuming you want to put the wood chips in your coop and not your run it is most likely going to be fine

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

If you have fully grown roosters ignore this comment. Just letting you know that if cockrells grow up together they won't fight in adult hood

 

[BlueDawnRising]

Assuming you want to put the wood chips in your coop and not your run it is most likely going to be fine

I was hoping to put them in the run. We have had so much rain and it is quite muddy so I was hoping to put a thick layer in the run to help with moisture. I have pine shavings in the coop.

 

[BlueDawnRising]

If you have fully grown roosters ignore this comment. Just letting you know that if cockrells grow up together they won't fight in adult hood

I didn’t know that! I am not sure if I have roosters yet. I’m pretty sure my 6 older are all pullets, thanks to the wise folks here that helped with that. The jury is out on my younger chicks. There is one I, and the good people here, are suspicious of. I actually have another thread going with that question as well! Thank you for your help!

 

[Debbie292d]

If you have fully grown roosters ignore this comment. Just letting you know that if cockrells grow up together they won't fight in adult hood

Not true. After they grow up, they become territorial for who is going to be the boss of who, and who gets what hens. We have 15 of them, many who are siblings, raised with love, and now, you'd never know it.