Want to be able to see your chickens better when they are housed behind hardware cloth? Fact: chicken wire and hardware cloth on chicken coops lessen visibility, especially in broad daylight.
There’s a simple solution, paint it black! Not hard to do, just use a roller and flat black paint on at least the outside of the hardware cloth.
You’ll be amazed how much better you can see your birds.
Which coop is right for your needs? That’s a question only you can answer. The only perfect coop is the one that’s suitable for your specific needs. You’ll need to take into consideration the climate where you live, how much space you have for a coop, and how large it needs to be to comfortably house your birds.
I’ve said it many times, but I’ll say it again, the more coop space the better. Always build bigger than what you think is adequate, especially if your chickens will be confined. Remember, happy chickens fill the egg basket!
Keep in mind that a coop should be convenient for you to clean. One you can stand up in is a huge plus. At the very least, a coop should have easy access to drinkers, feeders, and of course, fresh eggs. Bedding material should be just as easy to remove as it is to refresh. That means your coop door should be large enough for a standard-sized rake to fit through.
Follow the links below to view a collection of over 1,000 different types of chicken coops. I’ve also collected 100’s of drinkers, feeders, roost types, brooders, and nest box ideas.
Cookie is my silkie bantam with special needs. Her toenails, of all things, grow and grow to the point where they interfere with her walking. Crazy! Once a month I wrap her in a towel, lay her in my lap on her back, and cut them with bird nail clippers.
Excessive nail growth is not all that uncommon when birds are kept on soft bedding such as shavings or sand, but Cookie is free roam. She scratches around in crushed granite and dirt all day like everyone else in the flock. I have no explanation for her absurd nail growth. But if left unattended, she’d have her very own desert snow skis, so we deal with it.
I use bird nail clippers, and Kwik Stop (Styptic Powder) which stops bleeding just in case one is cut too short. This is a powder that you apply to the nail if it’s bleeding and it will stop immediately.
If this happens, pack the powder on the end of the nail and apply pressure. Most important, don’t panic, just do your best, and if you make a mistake and cut one too short… well, that’s what styptic powder is for! Both items are available on Amazon or at your local pet/feed store.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 