Chicken Maintenance
After losing not one (Jasper, rooster) but two (Mamma Roux, hen) chickens to an upper respiratory condition, we sought advice on how to better protect the chicken kids and got to work on the various projects.
We yanked off the tarps that I had put up, thinking that the chickens could go outside when it was raining. I did't realize that it also kept the place muddy as the sun could never hit the ground to dry it out! Now the breeze is blowing through the outdoor area and the mud is drying up. Of course, it won't help that it is due to rain this afternoon through tomorrow, or again on Friday. We are in the rainy season and just have to work with it!
We were advised to lay down some sort of cover out in the yard that could be raked or swept up once soiled or wet. We decided upon straw as the easiest and cheapest form. BUT FIRST...Rat Proofing! We are laying down chicken wire and hardware cloth all over the floor of the yard to keep those nasty vermin out of the pen! They can tunnel under it all they want...just as long as they don't get inside the coop!!!
The next thing I want to do is insulate the inside of the coop. I want to put up insulation and then cover it with FRP...a material used in kitchens that can be easily disinfected. Can't let the girls (and boys) get sick and die!!! That is just unacceptable!
I have suggested to a friend that I keep them warm by knitting them little sweaters, but someone has beaten me to the punch with a chicken clothing line. DRAT. Let me know if you think a cute little sweater would look better than this?
We yanked off the tarps that I had put up, thinking that the chickens could go outside when it was raining. I did't realize that it also kept the place muddy as the sun could never hit the ground to dry it out! Now the breeze is blowing through the outdoor area and the mud is drying up. Of course, it won't help that it is due to rain this afternoon through tomorrow, or again on Friday. We are in the rainy season and just have to work with it!
We were advised to lay down some sort of cover out in the yard that could be raked or swept up once soiled or wet. We decided upon straw as the easiest and cheapest form. BUT FIRST...Rat Proofing! We are laying down chicken wire and hardware cloth all over the floor of the yard to keep those nasty vermin out of the pen! They can tunnel under it all they want...just as long as they don't get inside the coop!!!
The next thing I want to do is insulate the inside of the coop. I want to put up insulation and then cover it with FRP...a material used in kitchens that can be easily disinfected. Can't let the girls (and boys) get sick and die!!! That is just unacceptable!
I have suggested to a friend that I keep them warm by knitting them little sweaters, but someone has beaten me to the punch with a chicken clothing line. DRAT. Let me know if you think a cute little sweater would look better than this?
posted by Chicken Mama at 1:18 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home