[DJ_Chook]

Come on folks, 'fess up - it's theraputic!     In fact, I dare you to go out RIGHT NOW and take a pic of your coop in whatever state it's currently in.... anybody feeling brave?? 

This is one of several coops we have, I've taken a pic of this one because it's the most awkward one to clean and wooden. It's supposed to sleep 9 hens but it's anyones guess as to how many sleep in it. Day after it was last cleaned out, 3 slept in it, this morning I counted 15. Last time it was cleared out was 26th Dec, Boxing day. Scrapped it out, threw in a dusting of diatom, some eco-flax, more diatom, fresh perch. It gets hosed out, steamed & done with jeyes after 6 months, then set aside. We try not to use the wooden coops all year, give them a break, help kill off the redmite.

[Sylvia]

Womble what breed is the one at the bottom right, next to the very end one? I have a cockerel of that breed, bought in a mixed bag, well box, of chicks. He is so lovely I'm reluctant to eat him and so friendly.
As to cleaning them out. At this time of year and in this weather I just throw in fresh shavings and straw when it looks a bit horrible. They have plenty of ventilation, doors are always open, and they seem happy and healthy. In more clement weather when flies are about they are cleaned out at least once a week.
Dizzycow, your posts made me laugh so much I too am sorry not to have joined in the New Year booze and chat but work called and had to be answered

[Womble]

Hi Sylvia, Do you mean the silver and black one that's had its head cut off?   The honest answer is i really don't know. He's offspring of one of the 'indigenous' black hens here, but with a Welsummer Dad.  So, I have no idea what's in his ancestry, but the girls are great layers, and really hardy, whilst the cockerels seem to come out in all sorts of colours.

The big chicken in the middle is a refugee from Christmas, and may get to live a little longer, since she's still small, and frankly I'm fed up of plucking and gutting for now!! 

Tilly - love the Silkies, but I know I could never keep them clean - we've just got too much mud about! 

[Dizzycow]

Relieved you found me amusing, and not obnoxious! I should know better than to scoff wine while on the computer. Very bad idea! (Although I rather like the idea of all of us getting merry en masse and gassing away throughout the evening!)

I am also very impressed with how clean the silkies look. I can't be bothered to go and photograph my coop, but although I cleaned it out on New Year's Eve I know that it's poopy and pongy and would impress nobody. C'est la vie.

Womble, have you been posting photographs of headless chooks again?

We're hatching as I type. Four down, four to go. So they'll be POL by summertime and I can sell them. I'll be RICH, I tell you! Hahaha!   

[Womble]

DC - The headless chook thing is perhaps an omen, as he is destined to become Tikka at some point this week anyway!!

Also, don't count your hens before they've hatched. They'll probably all be cockerels anyway - mine always are!! 

[plumseverywhere]

Most definitely not obnoxious dizzycow - on the contrary, it was one of the best 'nights at the pub' I've had in ages!! It seriously felt like that and was lovely. Being as I live so very far away from nearly everyone on here its the closest I'll get to clinking glasses with the friends I've made on here.
Now I WAS going to photograph my coops today but I've been out so by tomorrow it will be dirtier  i might have to clean it and that would defeat the object!

[Black Raven]

Mine are cleaned out every day, the ducks and turkeys every two/three days,  although I do poo pick. I had a criticism about them being too clean once! 
Erm, I'd like a micro pig   

[robert waddell]

chink   chink
our turkeys were on deep litter after they vacated there lodgings the pigs moved in    they soften the litter and make it easier to muck out once they are out it will be steam cleaned and become the isolation facility

[doganjo]

chink   chink
our turkeys were on deep litter after they vacated there lodgings the pigs moved in    they soften the litter and make it easier to muck out once they are out it will be steam cleaned and become the isolation facility

That'll be lillian's job then, eh? 

[HappyHippy]

chink   chink
our turkeys were on deep litter after they vacated there lodgings the pigs moved in    they soften the litter and make it easier to muck out once they are out it will be steam cleaned and become the isolation facility

That'll be lillian's job then, eh? 

Black Raven - if you want a micro pig, get yourself at least 2 (do as much research as possible beforehand) but don't expect them to stay really small and PLEASE don't keep 'em in a house. If you want any advice just pm me. Me, I much prefer my Kune Kunes...
but that's a whole different topic and not one I'm wanting to start off again 
Karen 

[robert waddell]

Annie we work as a team
forgot about the micro spit spit spit pigs   i think black raven was at the wind up  just to get us going    but if they are daft enough to believe in micros  £700 gets you the small Hampshire piglet

[Dizzycow]

MICRO PIGS? WHAT? WHO SAID MICRO PIGS? DID YOU KNOW THAT.....etc etc, blah blah blah.

It's like pulling the pin on a  grenade and chucking it into a group of obstreperous smallholders. Duck for cover.....!

I agree, HH, Kune Kunes are fabulous, although the pair I know are ginormous and really need to see a dentist.   

[robert waddell]

i am a dentist

[Dizzycow]

A man once said that to me in a pub. 'Show me your teeth, I'm a dentist.' he said. Stupidly, drunkenly, I opened my mouth. Which he zoomed in on with his. He's not a dentist. He's a perv. One has to learn from one's mistakes, doncha know.

 

[Black Raven]

I want one to cuddle  That guy who breeds them lives quite near to me Seriously though I love Kune Kune, my friend had two until recently, but my heart is with the GOS and I really like the Saddlebacks.
There are many pervs around, one wanted to take me badger watching.