South Mississippi here. For the coop itself and the nesting boxes, I use hemp with a mix of DE. I clean out the coop every morning before the girls head for the nesting box. With our heat and humidity, doing so prevents odor issues. For the run, which is not covered, I keep it managed with a 50/50 mixture of Scott’s organic top soil and playground sand, along with a generous portion of DE and wood ash. Basically, my run is one big dusting bowl. Very few odor issues. I free range every evening for about an hour just before roost time. My flock is four red leghorns. Thanks for sharing!!

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Great ideas too!

@eatthesunhomestead

2 жыл бұрын

My run is small and trying to fit a dusting bath in there is tight. Why not make the whole thing a dusting bath? Great idea! Thanks.

@laurensimons3748

11 ай бұрын

I've been told by others that DE can be harmful to the chicken respiratory system? I really don't know

Many ornamentals are loved by chickens: maple tee seeds, redbud tree seeds, French Lilac berries, argon blueberries, bitter cherries, crabapples. We also grow seeds for the winter feedings: okra seeds, pumpkin and winter squashes, watermelon seeds, sunflower seeds, Indian corn. And for fresh greens, lots of chickweed grown under clear plastic tubs all winter in zone 5. Chickens also love radish flowers, zinnias and marigolds. And of course, fruit.

LOVED this video!! We just got our first flock of chickens and they are so stinky!! I loved all the plants in your run- when we put them in there long term location, I’m totally designing my inspiration from you!!

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hey! Great to have you! ✌🏼❤️🐓

I have a covered run we use sand and de scoop the poop everyday. In the coop under their roost I use that horse liter also I hope your safe zone from this tropical storm. Blessed be mama

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

My parents live on the coast so some worry there but I think San Antonio will be ok except for lots of rain. Thank you for thinking of us ✌🏼❤️🐓

Thank you for all the information and I’m going to use everything!

what a great video!! thank you so much for this. im getting my first hens this year and were pretty excited for this new adventure with the kiddos

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oh yay congrats! It’s an adventure for sure but you’re going to have so much fun and they’ll learn so much! ✌🏻❤️🐓

Love your setup new subscriber thanks for sharing the knowledge

You are a wonderful teacher!

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I’m actually a teacher in real life 🤪 I try to be easy to understand, and thorough without talking too much. I’m still learning too! ✌🏼❤️🐓

some people use neme oil or Lyme. I'm new and watching videos on how to beat the smell, so I'm going to go change the coop bedding today and prop the top up, I'm also going to switch to pine shavings not straw. Boy do chicken's pop a lot!!!!!!!!!!! It's making me reconsider adding hens next year. But if I can beat the smell with the new run and new coop coming things can change!

Good ideas!

We use hemp in our hen house and litter scoop poop every morning. I sprinkle First Saturday Lime once a month. Appreciate your ideas hun.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve never tried lime but I hear about it every once in a while and keep thinking I should try it!

@gwenhammett9349

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama we use First Saturday Lime, great quality and company. Shameless plug😀

TY

I use deep litter in the coops. Works great if you're good at adding fresh shavings. Since I free range, the girls drop a lot of waste outside. When it rains, it's all clean! Great video RSM!

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

I feel like deep litter could work on on the floor of a coop if the chickens just roost above the ground, but in these coop kits with the “tray” there’s not really enough depth to use it effectively. But maybe more people can look into it now!

@TheOldSwedesFarm

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed regarding the trays. Our coop is 8' x 8' for the big girls and our new coop is 8' x 20'. Lots of space for deep litter. You've got a great set up (and happy girls), deep litter or not!

Thanks for these great tips! I'm a new chicken mama and assured my husband that they wouldn't stink. Well, here it is a month later and I'm now realizing that l can't do a deep litter in a tiny run. 😅 These little kit coops are hard to clean underneath (coop over run). Headed to TSC!

Thank you girlfriend! I hope everything is well for you and your family. God bless you!🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏

We have a chicken coop inside of her large run which is covered since here in Kansas we have problems with Hawks. During the summer my girl doesn't use her coop, she likes to sit on top of her coop which we installed a perch for her to sit on and of course during the winter she uses her coop. I scoop her run out everyday with a pooper scooper that is used for dog poop, works great. The top of her coop I use the hose to wash it down and scrub it down using water and vinegar, never thought of using lemon, mint or lavender oil...thank you for sharing that. In her nest I use straw and the area where her perch is I use pine shaving.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Oh hey! I wanted to mention that you might want to try training your girl to sleep in the coop at night since it will be safer for her from nocturnal predators.

@vintagedragonfly6179

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Her run area is fenced in with a roof and a door, her chicken coop is inside of this. I put her in the run at night and shut the door, that's why she sits on top of her coop. You might be wondering why I have one hen, she is a rescue that came to us out of the blue with a rope on her leg. I found her a home with other chickens and ducks, well it didn't work out she would fight with the other chickens and would even attack the ducks. So we took her back and she seems to like being alone, I never thought I would own a chicken.....but I love it!! A year later she is finally letting me pet her. : ) Thank you for responding back to me.

You can do a deep litter method with that coop. It's 4-6" of wood shavings and turn them once a week or so and clean and put more shavings down

Thanks Sara❗I have two birds that look exactly like two of yours. A wyondote and a bared rock. Take care 🐓🐔

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Oh the barred rocks are such great layers and such a cool personality! And the Wyandotte’s are all chatty and so beautiful! 😍

If I could afford to send you money right now, I would we are so far in debt but we should be out soon ha ha I just needed to make a comment saying that you make amazing videos. You’re so knowledgeable and you’re a blessing to meet this morning. Thank you so much for this video. It’s so informative it’s ridiculous ha ha you’re very talented giftedand I can tell you’re awesome lady I live in Tyler I think you said you’re an Austin so it’s great that you’re nearby. I would love to learn more about what you like to plant take care. Hope you’re having a good morning and you find this message well.

@realsimplemama

4 ай бұрын

Hi! Thanks so much! I have a whole playlist here called “chickens in your garden” that talks all about the things that I plant with my chickens and how I do it so they don’t destroy everything :-)

Love your channel! We live in Houston, TX in Midtown and neighbors would be around 25’ from a coop. I can’t seem to find what the current minimum distance law is (some sites say 25’ and others say 100’). Any advice from a fellow Texan on how we can confirm? Thx!

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hey! You have a few options - you can contact Animal Services for the city, search city bylaws, even ask a realtor if you know one. Unfortunately the big issue in our state is the HOAs which are kings of stuff like this. Super frustrating. Let’s do this - do some online work and see what you can find. And if you can’t, maybe at least find a Houston chicken group on Facebook or a website and see if they can help. I know our SA group has chicken-friendly realtors and city employees who help out new residents too!

I know this post is old but I have a question! I have a coop similar and my ladies are sleeping in two nesting boxes and one in the sand (I use sand under bars). I'm not sure what to do. I have 9 and it says the coop I got was big enough for 10-15. But now I'm thinking they don't have enough roosting space? Idk. Can anyone help?

@realsimplemama

10 ай бұрын

Hi! The solution might be easier than you think. In my “coop and run“ playlist, here, as well as on the chicken sleep playlist, I talk about how the chickens will try to find the highest thing within the coop to sleep on. If there is not much of a difference between the height of the roost bar versus the nesting box, a lot of them will get lazy and just sleep in the nesting box instead. Check out those videos and feel free to email me if you want, I would just add on another layer or two of wood on top of the existing raised bars like you are raising them up. And then of course, if you think about it you can also consider blocking off the nesting boxes at night. This has happened to me twice also! ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

I have 8 chickens & they only use 1/2 the coop haha. There are 2 sides to roost & the only use one side 🙄. I use PDZ in the coop & sprinkle herbs for chickens bought from Amazon & it hasn’t smelled bad yet. I usually clean the coop 2 times a week or once a month. Once in a while I will just scoop the poop from under the roost. My run is a 10’ x 9’8” even tho it advertised 10x10. I rake it about once a month tho it hasn’t been bad except for feathers. What do y’all do with the Feathers? Do you just throw them in the trash?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I honestly don’t keep them. Bird feathers are notoriously dirty anyway, though you can attempt to clean them and make something crafty if you choose!

@franksflytraps

2 жыл бұрын

i leave mine in the run. they degrade and are eaten by the birds over time

@ajalicea1091

2 жыл бұрын

Compost the feathers

My husband cleans the coop for the hens. Lol

Your chicken coop is so cute. May we have a tour inside?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! I have a whole KZread playlist here about the coops and there are a few videos on this one - the Omaha from Rugged Ranch. 👍🏼❤️🐓

I made a mistake. My coop usually smells ok,I make sure to clean the poop out all of the time.I have been using cedar animal bedding in the nest boxes and around the coop floor.I ran out of bedding and tried to use some shredded paper.No,no,no!This created the most awful stink in the world.Never has my coop smelled that bad.The shredded paper stayed in there for about a week before I had to remove it.What a mess,I will never try that again. A few days later and everything is back as it should be.The girls are happy,so am I. Btw,I live in lower Alabama and have 24 chickens,3 ducks,and a turkey.They get to free range some and their coop and run are a decent size.Im blessed because everyone gets along, even the 2 Roos,male duck and turkey.They all live together for a couple of years now.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! What a fantastic flock! And noooo I’m sorry about the paper. We did that with our batch of chicks in the brooder and even that was a disaster!

@CarolinaAngel01

2 жыл бұрын

That sucks about the newspaper. We were always told at Tractor Supply to use Pine bedding & tell people NOT to use Cedar Bedding. Is Cedar only meant NOT to be used for baby chicks but ok for Adult Chickens?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Here’s what I know about cedar: The dust from it can really aggravate a chicken’s respiratory system. They are very sensitive to any kind of dust or respiratory distress, and for whatever reason cedar shavings really aggravate that. Pine is not a problem and that is why I have always used it, plus it is cheap and easy to clean up. I would say if you are using cedar in a big open space with a ton of ventilation, it is probably OK. But that of course does not include nesting boxes or most chicken coop setups. I avoid it for both chicks and full grown chickens.

Could you give me the name of the litter you use? Thanks

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! The stuff under the roosts that’s like gray cat litter is called Horse PDZ Stall Refresher. It comes in a white bag, like 20 lbs for $13 or so? 👍🏼

Can you add the link of the type of coop litter you use?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hey! I'm trying to find the exact thing on Amazon and having no luck - this looks promising. (This is an affiliate link.) amzn.to/3zvFRd3 I personally have been getting the Manna Pro brand "sweet PDZ" that comes in a plastic bag with a handle, I feel like 20 lbs is about $15. They also make a horse version which I don't buy, but I'm sure it's similar. Looks like brands are now trying to market a "PDZ" just for chicken coops but the prices are insane - like $20 for less than 4 pounds?! Let me know if this helps!

I have 4 hens. They are16 months old. All of a sudden one of the hens is getting picked on. That one is also fluffing her wings out constantly. I checked for mites , saw nothing but doused with DE anyway. She is eating real good. Does she spreading her wings out mean anything. I have no roos

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! No that’s doesn’t sound unusual to me though I would have checked for mites too just in case.

@jerrywillett877

2 жыл бұрын

Everything seems Normal now. I think pecking order has been established

How many drops of each oil do you use?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! It just depends on the size of the overall bottle. Mine is almost a half gallon total, so I do about 10-12 drops of each. Remember that you’re gonna get hit with that vinegar smell first until it evaporates 🤢 but I’d start with just a little and do a sniff test to see if it’s as strong as you’d like!

@vintagedragonfly6179

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Thank you!

How many drops of EO do you use for your deodorizer?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I do about 16 of each in my large bottle which is probably a half gallon. ✌🏼❤️🐓

Deep litter is 6-12 months not three months and not alot of work rake it out into a wheel barrow

Can I get the recipe for the oil

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! You mean my spray? I fill a bottle with half white vinegar and half water. Then I add drops of each: lavender, lemon, and peppermint. ✌🏼❤️🐓

I may not have funds that I can send you like I wish I could but I’m praying for you this morning. Praying for you to have a great day. Praying for you to be prosperous and many blessings, and for your health this morning Jesus name amen