Comment

Comment by dale learn bayda on March 12, 2012 at 10:43am

Sharon,
I think the cheapest coop is the one that works right the first time. We use dog kennel panels, get 6 one for the top and one for the bottom...add enough dirt for the chickens to scratch deep enough the will not catch their toes.
Put coop inside, ventilation is important warm enough their combs will not freeze, the need shade they can overheat easer than get too cold.

Comment by Lyn (Sydney,Aus) on March 11, 2012 at 9:58pm

Alison, I use either sugar cane mulch or straw in the chicken house. The mulch came about by pure accident when I asked hubby to carry bale across to chicken run for me to line their floor. He carried the wrong one and lined the cage, so after discovering it worked out cheaper than straw we carried on using it. We did try the wood shavings after hubby picked up huge bagful (as in as big as my car boot)lovely I thought, until he lifted it out, caught the bag on the boot lock and it showered all over my car - inside of course! Once that batch was used I said never again!
Anyway we now empty chicken house and throw it all in compost bin and just stir occasionally and use it when everything has broken down nicely, usually 3 months minimum depending on weather. We do have 2 compost bins on the go at one time. Friend of mine has 4, lined up like little soldiers!

Comment by Sharon Howell z7NC on March 11, 2012 at 2:36pm

I want to get some chickens, never had them before. How old do they get when they stop laying? Also need to come up with a cheap coop for them. will  have to fence them in we have fox around here

Comment by Sharon Howell z7NC on March 11, 2012 at 2:21pm

Lyn....momma and baby is so cute

Comment by Alison Baker on March 11, 2012 at 1:46pm

THANKS  for your input Dale, really appreciate it. think I need a second compost bin! or third.

Comment by dale learn bayda on March 11, 2012 at 11:28am

I clean out my coop when I put the garden to bed in the fall, I just cover my beds w/their stuff cover that with black plastic. The next spring everything is alive! Worms and yummy smelling soil.
I can not compost as others do because my nights are so cool the compost never gets hot enough.
I know fresh pine shavings will leach out the nitrogen in the soil...but chicken poop is so full of nitrogen too....hummm
I would give it a season? Let it sit and add it in the fall.

Comment by Alison Baker on March 10, 2012 at 8:40pm

does anyone else compost thier chicken poop, thats mixed with the pine shavings? how long until you can safely use in your garden?

Comment by dale learn bayda on February 17, 2012 at 8:41am

Fencing the chickens in is easer than fencing all your yummies in.

Comment by Alison Baker on February 16, 2012 at 7:27pm

I suppose my hens will be after my strawberrys and blueberrys when they start? just happen to think of that today, wonder how I can avoid that? anyone with advice.

Comment by Lyn (Sydney,Aus) on February 2, 2012 at 7:57am

First time ever since my girls started laying over about 16 mths ago and not a single egg today from 9 girls!
Or could it be a protest payback for me accidentally stepping on one of their eggs yesterdsy whilst collecting their eggs from laying boxes! How was I to know one of them had scratched straw all over the egg on floor of cage. It certainly frightened the life out of me when it exploded under my foot as I backed out of their house!
We will see what tomorrow brings forth, perhaps it is the awful wet weather that is hindering their laying?

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