Don't the chickens eat it before it can grow much? How do you keep them out of it until it is tolerable of their pecking?
77442
You make a square/rectangular frame out of 2x4's, for instance. Cover one full side with chicken wire. Make it any size you like. Just be sure that the frame is 4 inches high, not 2. You plant the seeds under the frame(s). The chickens can climb all over the frame but they can't get to the grasses until they grow up through the chicken wire, which is on the top side of your frame.
464427
I have four who are currently 10 weeks old. They spend nights in there, shut in the nesting/roosting area when it's been cold. It is ok for that. It is too small for them to live in there all the time in my opinion, especially in view of the square footage suggested per chicken by the various expert sites. We have it in a shed with a indoor run area for indoor days, and plan an outdoor run and chicken tunnel set up for more adventures as they get older.
1608633
No, I purchased it to keep neighbors chickens away from my shrubs, I found them behind the shrubs. So they were not too intimidated by it.
1311479
I'll go out tomorrow and check for you. But now that I know a lot more about chicken care (we knew nothing when I bought this) I would spend the money on building supplies to build a much bigger coop that is tall enough to walk into and gives the hens plenty of room. It takes awhile to build and is very difficult to clean the floor because ya just can't get in due to the size. Also, the ladder up to their coop kept falling and we really had to reconstruct it to keep it from collapsing on the poor dears when they walked on it. This Pawhut is cute as a bug when it's all built but you'll never be able to have more than 4 hens in it, and that's pushing it. Look at some home made chicken enclosures and coops and seriously consider building one yourself that you can walk into and around in and expand your chicken family if you want to. These girls (hens) are pretty addicting and are so fun. I just wish I was not limited to 4. BTW, it definitely looks a lot bigger in the photo than it really is.
1075237
There is a metal tray below the roosting area where most of the droppings accumulate.This tray slides out for cleaning.Also 2-section nesting box has removable bottom/floor you will have to clean.Works fine for up to four chickens if you open each day to free range.this coop is way way to small to keep chickens in full time.
358197
I didn't have any problems with raccoons so far; I think the coop is very secure. I lock my chicken in at night and close the attached run in addition. I do remove left over food from the run and also the water bowl. I do not want to attract mice or rats and this seems to do the trick. In addition I clean the roost and coop every 3-4 days so no parasites can dwell there; the chickens are checked regularly for mites, so far I have no investation. Good luck with the coop and the hilarious chicken.
2029414
Well, with mine, I kept it just high enough for the chicks to walk under it easily. I didn't monitor the temp, but they seemed happy and content so I didn't worry about it. I kept the room they were in btw 75 and 80 and they were always out running around exploring. They would just go under there to sleep or hide from me when I changed their water, lol.
2164248
I handle my chickens and my kids too so they dont fear us. So, i held one hen and made her beak move the metal part till enough water ran through her beak and she did it on her own after that.
1671862
We lock them in every night. While the chickens love the ease of getting into the low doorway, it also makes it easier for racoons and the curious opossum. The simple lock stops that. As far as food and water, no. I want them to graze. The variety of grass improves the flavor and color in the yolks. I might change this if the snow piles this winter, like it did last winter.
134500
I don't think that it would be the best thing for them. Its very small. The picture makes it look WAYYYYY bigger than it actually is. I don't think it would be big enough for them to be comfortable. It was fine for my 9 chickens when they were chicks but we had to make a lot of modifications to it and we had to build on. The wood is actually very cheap and it is thin wood. It's not pressure treated for the weather. Ours is falling apart and warpes.
2056085
We used in in a cage with 2 budgies and at first they did not rest on the feeding bar they just jumped into the food dish part. I put a little bit of those sand paper grips that go on perches and they started using the feeding bar. Once they were used to it I removed the sand paper.
639682
I'm not sure if it will prevent them from eating at the feeder. The doves at our feeder eat off of the ground though. Maybe that is why?
1761437
Mine is on a window that has no access point for squirrels. That is the only thing I can think of, other than to load it with safflower seed. Squirrels don't eat that. The only problem is, I've found that not many birds care for it either.
16236
YES! I kept a regular watering container in the coop until I witnessed hens pecking/drinking from the nipples. Chickens are so naturally "curious", they took to the system within a couple of days. I do tap on the nipples regularly (when I'm cleaning the coop), just to be certain water is flowing (nothing has plugged-up); so far, this system has been PERFECT.
670685
I own chickens and I wouldn't even put one in it because it would be too tight for them, the opening of the nesting area is small and it has no bar for them to roost on. This works for 1 rabbit, 2 guinea pigs or 2 dwarf rabbits.
2059902
I have 3 chicken in the barn they have sufficient space to move around. Anymore will be very limiting, >6 will be crowded.
668216
yes, it is great; however, you must put rocks on the bottom or the chickens, though stupid, will go underneath it and then they cannot get out. But, again because they are stupid, if you put a few rocks around the bottom rims (especially where a parting is) they give up very quickly and seem to pattern in their brain that they cannot go in there. This stuff is great (though it does get caught on even your clothes when you go take it up briefly to pick your veggies etc. )