Lazy Gardener's Little Town Farm

[Lazy Gardener]

Bay, is yours open floor design?

That's about the size that I am envisioning. in 2 sections. The Wood's dimension specifies 8 x 14 to get the max benefit from air flow. But, I'm thinking I could even scale it down to 8 x 8, by building a CP "vestibule" wind deflector across the front. The depth is required to enable the air to enter from the front windows that are left open 24/7, (even in sub zero weather) and exit from the clerestory windows at peak between front and back halves.

If it's too heavy to move manually with PVC rollers, and truck can't be positioned to pull it, the or car could be placed, and a come-a-long be used to ratchet it to where needed.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Tonight, we trimmed Goliath's spurs. They were greatly needing it. I'm sure he'll be a lot more comfortable. The next time I need to do it, I'll be able to do it alone if I have a head lamp.

 

[baymule]

I never put a floor in a chicken coop. Mine are always dirt floored. I like deep litter and the idea of cleaning the "floor" daily does not interest me at all. LOL

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I agree with you, Bay. My first coop was CP construction with soil floor, and a small loft over that. Composting litter worked wonderful. Larger coop built about 4 years ago is standard construction with vinyl over plywood floor. It composts some during the warmer months, then freezes to a solid brick. IMO, the only reason to build solid floor in a coop would be to add structural stability.

 

[baymule]

Haha, give me enough 2x4s and I will make it structurally stable. LOL LOL

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Well, yeah... there's that. But... I don't want them crapping all over the lowest level stabilizers. Nor, do I want to be tripping over them, and have them in the way when I'm harvesting compost. However, I was thinking on it in the wee hours last night, and thought that I could use those lower level triangular supports to hold nest boxes, and provide a feed/water platform. In our usual fashion, hubby and I will wrangle it out. I'll tell him what I want. He'll tell me why it won't work very well. We'll wrangle a bit more. Then, I'll come to the conclusion that his way is smarter, better, faster, and more structurally sound. BUT, I must have soil floor this time around!!!

 

[thistlebloom]

In our usual fashion, hubby and I will wrangle it out. I'll tell him what I want. He'll tell me why it won't work very well. We'll wrangle a bit more. Then, I'll come to the conclusion that his way is smarter, better, faster, and more structurally sound. BUT, I must have soil floor this time around!!!

That's exactly the way DH and I come up with a plan, lol.
Sometimes it frustrates the heck out of me, but in retrospect, his way ends up being the most efficient.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

This morning, I gave the turkey bones to the chickens. This evening, I gathered the bones that had been picked free of meat, and they have been tossed into the wood stove. Those bones could have been left in the run for more picking, yet an other day. But, I didn't want to leave them out overnight to attract predators.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

And, so it begins. Winter 2019. 3+ hours of snow blowing and shoveling to clear paths to animals shovel steps, etc. etc. etc. Who needs a gym membership? This old lady is pooped.

 

[baymule]

And that’s why old people move south. And southern people stay right where they are. LOL LOL