I am helping with the chicken coop at Faith North. Dont know much... The pen is nice sized, approx 20 x 20, there is a baby pool for the ducks, chicken feed in an automatic feeder, as well as water in an auto feed. The chicken coop is enlcosed within the pen and has a straw bedding floor along with several nests for the hens. The floor looks as if it has never been cleaned out. We're having a parent work day soon; Should we clean out this coop floor and put fresh straw down? How often does this need to be done, and how often should the bedding in the nests be changed?
The floor of the pen is all gravel / dirt with a few desert agave around and a pine tree for overhead shade. I would like to put in an area for greens to grow and am planning to put in swiss chard plants for them there. I dont think there is any possibility of growing grass inside the pen, but it seems to me the animals would benefit from some sort of green area... Any suggestions?
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One thing you can do for greenery is to plant grape vines outside the pen to eventually shade it. And the birds will eat some of the leaves as well as the grapes. Or you can plant shrubbery inside the coop, but completely enclose it with 1x2 wire. The birds will be able to each what grows through the wire, but not what is inside. Obviously the wire enclosure will have to be large enough for the plant to prosper. Once the plant is hardy enough, the birds will probably not overwhelm it. Ruellia brittonia would work for this as well as many others. You could even plant some grain crops for them inside of similar wire enclosures.
Thanks Ericka, and yes, if you are new to chickens it may be a good idea to get a quick primer at one of the classes.
It's wonderful that you're doing this, thank you. :)
Thanks for your reply! Are you the Rachel that gives the chicken classes? Maybe I could attend one; but only if the cost is very low. We are in discussion right now as to whether we can really even keep the ducks... I would really rather just have the chickens. We are having our share of money concerns and the fowl seem to be eating up alot of our short supply of cash! I believe the little dickens are overeating (alot!) and am investigating thaeir true needs. We are feeding some kind of chicken feed and they are consuming about 10 cups per day; there are 4 chickens (not 3) and 2 ducks. They have not been getting regular vegetable scraps and I hope to provide them regularly from now on.
If we do give the ducks up what do we do with them? I understand you cant just take them to the city park and release them "to the wild". I want to do whats best and right for all concerned.
Thanks alot for your input :)
Miss Flowers
The feeder I saw was the gravity fed one; Jay says he can build us one if we have the plans! The school has decided to rehome the ducks and also to do a parent work day in october dedicated to the animals only - Yay! Jay Headley and I are going to put our heads together to come up with some solutions / new ideas for the coop. I'm really looking forward to it!
I would like to sign up for your class. Where do I find the info? I'm not sure when our work day will be, but I'd like to get as much edumacation as possible before then. Our work day on saturday was a wonderful success. The garden is going to be fantastic this year!!!
Thanks so much for your input!!
Miss Flowers
Here's a link to the next class:
http://phoenixpermaculture.ning.com/events/raising-chickens-in-your...
The school has decided to rehome ( I love that word!) the ducks. I think one of our families at school will be taking them, but if not, we will certainly look for someone to adopt them rather than to set them free.
Miss Flowers
I would certainly start with cleaning the coop floor. Let me know how I can help!
Jay
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