Tag: runs

Water access

On By CarynIn Coop
Hose hanger and sprayer holder

I realized I could thread the hose through the wire mesh and have access to the sprayer inside the chicken runs. It makes it much easier to rinse out and refill the foot baths. Eventually we may put a PVC pipe down to the runs, in which case this setup is still useful, but for now this works. I had an extra pull handle from the catio door rebuild, so put it in at an angle, which makes a great sprayer holder. I also have had hose holders for years that I’ve never installed, so I put one of those up to keep the hose from being a tripping hazard. I fully expect the chickens to try roost there, but the ease of water accessibility is worth it.

Run rotation

On By CarynIn Coop

The run rotation is still working! I let the chickens into the middle run where the scratch grains had sprouted and were about 5 inches tall. The chickens loved it.

Chickens eating newly sprouted grains

The grain in the far run has just sprouted, and I seeded and watered the close run, which had been stripped nearly bare in a week.

I love it when a plan comes together

On By CarynIn Coop

So I recently bought some scratch grains for the chickens because I was so excited that they were old enough to have them. Then I found out from multiple sources that scratch grains are good for winter because they are warming, not so good for summer. So I tucked them away in an metal storage can to await winter.

Fast forward a couple days, and I had just opened the far run with its lovely sprouted grass and the chickens loved it, but I kept forgetting (squirrel!) to buy more grass seed for the now closed runs. Ah, but I had all this grain stored in the coop, could I sprout it? The internet said I could. So I tried.

I used a small cultivator to break up the soil, spread the scratch mix, worked the seeds lightly into the soil, and watered 2-3 times a day (now we are drying up).

Working scratch seed into the soil

I figured that if the grains didn’t sprout, and got moldy or otherwise yucky, I would scrape the mess out and go back to shade grass. But no! One morning I went out and I had sprouts! Hurray!

Sprouted grain in the chicken run

The chickens were super excited to get into the “new” run with all those fresh green sprouts! And I closed off the far run and spread more scratch so it will be ready in a few weeks! Yay for rotating runs with fresh greens!

Chickens enjoying freshly sprouted grains

Run perches

On By CarynIn Coop

When we opened the third run, I put long sticks through the wire (no swings in this run). The chickens approve!

View from the coop
View from outside the runs

And because my youngest is getting the AI assistant to tell her jokes, I leave you with this:

I’m thinking of starting a social media network for chickens. But not as a full-time job, just as a way to make hens meet.