Unsecure chicken perches

[Ain't Nobody Here]

There are a few things I would have done differently knowing what I now know - mainly, how much chickens poop and how randomly they splatter it everywhere .

 

~ I would have put the skirtingboard shelf in upside down so the grooves were on the underneath - a smooth surface is much easier to clean.

 

~ I would have left a small gap between the wall and said shelf so poo can drop down to the bedding below (they tend to sleep on the shelf rather than the handcrafted perches I put in place of the shoeracks ).

 

~ I wouldn't use Ikea shoe racks as sleeping perches - the poo is really hard to clean off properly. They are fine to use if they're not sleeping on them.

 

~ I would make as many of the levels as possible removable so they can be taken out and scrubbed down.

 

~ I would try not to have sleeping perches too close to the weldmesh. Their poop catches on the mesh and dries, requiring regular s"Ooops, word censored!"ing off (and it looks awful .).

 

~ I would put clear sealant in the tiny gap between the corrugated plastic and the garage wall where an amazing amount of water comes in when it rains .

 

~ I would think twice about using glassclear tarps. Most of them have ripped at the corners . I've ordered some acrylic panels instead (not cheap so only a few to see how they work ).

 

I've taken a few photos of the new bits and pieces here .

[chickanne]

Have just looked at your photos - am going to have to ban T & L from viewing them or they will start to get ideas! You babes live in chicken paradise.

 

Louise, in particular, likes to see what's going on from a height. They both like to sit on the side of the 3 compost bays which we had built in the old chicken pen area when we moved in 9 years ago. I put the Eglu on the lawn when we got it last year and let them free range when I was about. As autumn approached, there was nothing in the veggie beds that they showed much interest in (all that has changed, I can tell you! ). I decided to revive the old chicken run as the new winter run so that they could have more freedom in the winter months when I could not let them out morning and evening. Now, I am not going to move them back onto the lawn as they will whine and cry all day if locked in their 2m Eglu run (although this had been the original plan).

 

Good thing the OH did not realise a year ago that they would up in the chicken run or he would have revamped the wooden chicken shed (I use for storing flower pots) attached and I'd spend my life trying to keep it louse/mite free!!

 

LONG LIVE-EASY-TO-HOSE-DOWN PLASTIC

 

Must learn how to include/link to photos........

[Plum]

Looks pretty clean to me ANH. Love seeing your run.