YO GEORGIANS! :)

[feathersaloft]

Have any of you NW Georgia people been to the Friday night auction in Trion?
I want to go, but don't really want to go alone. And hubby is willing to build, but the chickens themselves don't interest him.

And PapaChaz, if hubby was off next weeekend we would be camping too. But his second job is a lot of weekends.

We have an OLD RV, but hey, it works

 

[PapaChaz]

Have any of you NW Georgia people been to the Friday night auction in Trion?
I want to go, but don't really want to go alone. And hubby is willing to build, but the chickens themselves don't interest him.

And PapaChaz, if hubby was off next weeekend we would be camping too. But his second job is a lot of weekends.

We have an OLD RV, but hey, it works

for several years we camped at least one weekend a month, some months two weekends. Since Jill's mom passed away and her dad needs all the help he can get, we've slowed down a good bit. We've only camped 5 times this year. Granted, one was a week trip to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area and another was 5 days at Gulf State Park down at Gulf Shores AL, so all in all we've still totaled up double digit nights.

Nothing wrong with an older camper at all, in nearly 30 years we've been doing this, we've had 7 different campers, but never had one with a motor, always something to pull.

ok so if you're on a farm, and he's willing to build, why NOT chickens? at least with chickens you get eggs to eat and or sell.....

 

[katiedarling]

So, because I keep flip flopping on the materials I want to use in the run (which I keep forgetting to go get a tarp for), today we have a situation that reminds me of that Woodstock '94 concert. We left early on the last day while Peter Gabriel was performing one of my most favorite songs of all time. The one I specifically couldn't wait to see live. As far as I know, our tent that had tiny pinholes in the floor and soaked all of our stuff, is still abandoned somewhere in a meadow in Saugerties, NY.

It's a freaking mud pit! Today's downpour was the worst rain we've had since it was built. Luckily the coop is raised, no drainage issues under there and they seem to be quite happy with pine shavings there where it's shady and dry.

We are planning on using gravel along the lower part of the yard and behind the coop where we have to walk around it to access. And we are definitely going to seed the a huge section of the yard for some grass so when we let them out of the run to forage they'll have plenty to eat.

So, I think maybe our original idea to cover the top of the hoop with a tarp and toss some clean, undyed, untreated wood mulch is the best way to go? I know Papa uses wood chips. If anyone else cares to weigh in and give me some ideas, please feel free.

 

[PapaChaz]

So, because I keep flip flopping on the materials I want to use in the run (which I keep forgetting to go get a tarp for), today we have a situation that reminds me of that Woodstock '94 concert. We left early on the last day while Peter Gabriel was performing one of my most favorite songs of all time. The one I specifically couldn't wait to see live. As far as I know, our tent that had tiny pinholes in the floor and soaked all of our stuff, is still abandoned somewhere in a meadow in Saugerties, NY.

It's a freaking mud pit! Today's downpour was the worst rain we've had since it was built. Luckily the coop is raised, no drainage issues under there and they seem to be quite happy with pine shavings there where it's shady and dry.

We are planning on using gravel along the lower part of the yard and behind the coop where we have to walk around it to access. And we are definitely going to seed the a huge section of the yard for some grass so when we let them out of the run to forage they'll have plenty to eat.

So, I think maybe our original idea to cover the top of the hoop with a tarp and toss some clean, undyed, untreated wood mulch is the best way to go? I know Papa uses wood chips. If anyone else cares to weigh in and give me some ideas, please feel free.

so you're basically saying you've heard my opinion already so I should shut up...........well.......

HAHA


I'd suggest if you have a Harbor Freight anywhere around they have tarps cheaper than anyone else, and they have the silver ones that will help to reflect the heat back away from the run instead of making it hotter by drawing heat to a dark color

oh, and for the record, I started with wood chips, since then, I've put in grass clippings, weeds from the garden and flower beds, ALL vegetable table scraps, corn cobs, corn husks etc etc.......what they don't eat, will compost down and add good things to the litter

 

[katiedarling]

so you're basically saying you've heard my opinion already so I should shut up...........well.......

HAHA


I'd suggest if you have a Harbor Freight anywhere around they have tarps cheaper than anyone else, and they have the silver ones that will help to reflect the heat back away from the run instead of making it hotter by drawing heat to a dark color

oh, and for the record, I started with wood chips, since then, I've put in grass clippings, weeds from the garden and flower beds, ALL vegetable table scraps, corn cobs, corn husks etc etc.......what they don't eat, will compost down and add good things to the litter

Nope. not at all. Just planning to collect a couple ideas & do a pros/cons list, since I'm second guessing myself. ^^^ that was what I wanted to do, but now that I've discovered a design flaw that creates a drainage issue, I'm not keen on that smell we suddenly have after this morning! so gross. If Ican rectify the situation quickly, I'm sticking with that. Sand was our second choice, but after looking into it more, it will likely wash away and we'll still end up with puddles in one particular spot. I've also seen articles that mention it being a great environment for coccidiosis to fester and multiply. Lord knows no one wants to deal with that mess!

And, I did just get back from HF with a silver tarp to put out there. That part of the run is in full sun, so I like the idea of reflecting it away because right now, the sun is cooking the poo & mud. We now have a chicken S*** casserole baking out there.

 

[PapaChaz]

so you're basically saying you've heard my opinion already so I should shut up...........well.......

HAHA


I'd suggest if you have a Harbor Freight anywhere around they have tarps cheaper than anyone else, and they have the silver ones that will help to reflect the heat back away from the run instead of making it hotter by drawing heat to a dark color

Nope. not at all. Just planning to collect a couple ideas & do a pros/cons list, since I'm second guessing myself. ^^^ that was what I wanted to do, but now that I've discovered a design flaw that creates a drainage issue, I'm not keen on that smell we suddenly have after this morning! so gross. Sand was our second choice, but after looking into it more, it will likely wash away and we'll still end up with puddles in one particular spot. I've also seen articles that mention it being a great environment for coccidiosis to fester and multiply. Lord knows no one wants to deal with that mess!

I know ma'am, just messin with ya. Besides, you know me well enough to know I wouldn't hush anyway if I had something that needed to be said, LOL

Have you done any reading on the deep litter method? there's a thread on here that has tons of info and some great posts in it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/70/deep-litter-method/1890#post_15734337

My recommendation if you're having drainage problems would be to build it up, like a raised bed for flowers or garden, and fill it with organic material, and let the chickens keep it turned. The spot in my yard where I built my coop? I was unaware that it was such a low spot in the yard it would hold a pool of water until AFTER we got a week of rain once I finished it. There was a small 'drainage' looking slope to the yard that I thought would drain water off, turned out it wasn't low enough to do that. I did however, do some work on that with the tractor to get the water to drain away from the run, and piled the litter up deep in there. They keep it turned, and there's no smell, no flies, and when we've had a few days rain, water no longer stands there.

 

[katiedarling]

I know ma'am, just messin with ya. Besides, you know me well enough to know I wouldn't hush anyway if I had something that needed to be said, LOL

Have you done any reading on the deep litter method? there's a thread on here that has tons of info and some great posts in it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/70/deep-litter-method/1890#post_15734337

My recommendation if you're having drainage problems would be to build it up, like a raised bed for flowers or garden, and fill it with organic material, and let the chickens keep it turned. The spot in my yard where I built my coop? I was unaware that it was such a low spot in the yard it would hold a pool of water until AFTER we got a week of rain once I finished it. There was a small 'drainage' looking slope to the yard that I thought would drain water off, turned out it wasn't low enough to do that. I did however, do some work on that with the tractor to get the water to drain away from the run, and piled the litter up deep in there. They keep it turned, and there's no smell, no flies, and when we've had a few days rain, water no longer stands there.

Hmm. I guess I'm already on the right track then. The runner rails at the bottom are 2x6 so I have that height to play with. I think my problem was digging down a few inches & laying the HW cloth. It curves up and is stapled to the rails. So, since I only have a couple of inches of earth in there, it didn't give the water anywhere to go. I assume, once the tarp is on, we won't have to worry about the water buildup in there? Gravel is going down on those outside areas anyway so I know that will help.

And, yes. We are doing deep litter in the coop and underneath the coop. SO, I guess the tarp will allow us to do it all the way? That would be ideal because it's low maintenance. And we can USE it elsewhere on the property when it's ready.

 

[PapaChaz]

Hmm. I guess I'm already on the right track then. The runner rails at the bottom are 2x6 so I have that height to play with. I think my problem was digging down a few inches & laying the HW cloth. It curves up and is stapled to the rails. So, since I only have a couple of inches of earth in there, it didn't give the water anywhere to go. I assume, once the tarp is on, we won't have to worry about the water buildup in there? Gravel is going down on those outside areas anyway so I know that will help.

And, yes. We are doing deep litter in the coop and underneath the coop. SO, I guess the tarp will allow us to do it all the way? That would be ideal because it's low maintenance. And we can USE it elsewhere on the property when it's ready.

yeah fill that up to the top of the 2x6. It doesn't hurt for it to get wet from time to time, that helps with the good bacteria development which aids the 'compost' process

 

[PapaChaz]

friend of mine just posted this on facebook, I think it's hilarious

 

[katsdar]

Have any of you NW Georgia people been to the Friday night auction in Trion?
I want to go, but don't really want to go alone. And hubby is willing to build, but the chickens themselves don't interest him.

And PapaChaz, if hubby was off next weeekend we would be camping too. But his second job is a lot of weekends.

We have an OLD RV, but hey, it works

Looks like a great camper to me, it still runs that's a great camper in my book. I have not been to a Trion auction, but I would go with you, Let me know when the next one is and if you want to go. Do you know all of the 411 etc? cause I know nothing.