Lakesurfer / Lakesurfer is on Nostr

hanging around the upper midwest

Last Notes

2025-09-26 12:45:07 UTC

Here is a list of products and techniques that I have learned over the last 5 years of dense
urban chicken keeping. If you have any questions feel free to reach out.
The Coop
I hand built my coop with these plans.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13CEd0zMnTmIfnxXHslP1DsOEYso3OEv7/view?usp=sharing
If you don’t have the skills or want to build it yourself just remember to get one that is easy to
clean out at waist height. If I were to buy one, I would purchase one that is made of plastic.
Plastic coops are easy to clean and naturally mite resistant. Here is one to consider.
https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/eglu-cube-large-chicken-coop-with-runs/
An automatic door is a must have to your set up. You can program it to open when the sun
comes out and closes when the sun goes down using a photo eye. Chickens naturally hide when
it gets dark so you don't let them out or pack them up in the evening. They will do it on their
own. Here is the one I use.
https://www.omlet.us/smart-automatic-chicken-coop-door-opener/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=404899116&gbraid=0AAAAAD8sH4j2YiHjN6sHVrgTcBD7LS2oI&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9ceAgkUxBMlMAeCJSmmfV7svxxTtX83juolIZNjRoGhEvZT1w5BS4bsaAuqrEALw_wcB
Feed and Water
For reference I have 6 full size chickens and during egg season I go through around 2 50 pound
bags of feed a month. During the off egg season I go through 1. The feeder I use is the
Grandpa feeder.
https://grandpasfeeders.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorTAdLP9v3D8Ox2oqd8sn9f47XUgyfQwL5gmRuWvAn_X7kBwhwF
I use this feeder because open feeders attract rats and they end up eating all the feed. This
The feeder takes a little learning curve for the chickens, but they figure it out. The large feeder only
needs to be filled once a week to feed 6 chickens. The waterer that I use is this one.
https://www.chewy.com/farm-innovators-heated-poultry/dp/279944?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22434286072&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22424245605&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V38ydo24FhzR3ygCF2lMxbQF&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9ccyegfffiaJPLSJfGvgqsUF3nacMedYwIRyhjARF8-4rqqI7beqErUaAip0EALw_wcB
I use 2 of them for six chickens and change the water weekly. I like it because it has a warmer
for the winter and the nipple system keeps the water from getting dirty. I also like to give them
some extra snacks every day like fruit and vegetable scraps and meal worms. These are treats
and should not be the main food for them. Adult chickens should have access to oyster shells
which gives them additional calcium for egg production and for digestion.
Flies and Rats Management
The grandpa feeder goes a long way to keep rats away. The only other thing rats are after is
the waste. I usually clean the yard and the coop once a week to keep them away. To combat
the rats about once every few months I look for rat holes around my yard and the neighbors
yard. When I find them I cover the holes and put a bunch of dry ice in the hole. The dry ice fills
the cavity with CO2, sinks to the bottom, and smothers them. Flies can be managed in a variety
of ways. When you design the yard try to not have all of the run in direct sunlight. Cleaning the
A yard once a week in the summer is a must. I also use fly predators once a month and animal
safe lime after a good sweep.
https://www.spalding-labs.com/fly-predators?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fly_predators((GAds)(cp=FlyPredators)(ag=Exact)(kw=fly%20predators))&affiliate-key=GASRC&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1163388463&gbraid=0AAAAAD_toMi57ENwLlI5fGE3rC23tOFNx&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9cfOHz7_SQ7s9IlnynhHE9Mqxj1jguUvIY5yhFOuAFzD-2fjb1RVHY8aAiZKEALw_wcB
https://firstsaturdaylime.com/
Yard Construction
You should give them as much room as you can, but understand that they will destroy anything
in that space. They like to dig and explore anything they can get their beaks on. You should
add enrichment like roosts and toys so they have stuff to do. I like to section off different parts
of my yard for them, linking them with a chicken fence tunnel for access.
https://www.vevor.com/metal-chicken-coop-c_10940/vevor-chicken-tunnels-118-1-x-28-x-24-2-inch-lxwxh-chicken-tunnels-for-yard-portable-chicken-tunnels-for-outside-easy-installation-chicken-coop-run-suitable-for-chickens-ducks-rabbits-p_010135080498?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=21856097459&ad_group=168308318046&ad_id=719231127347&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21856097459&gbraid=0AAAAACq8bLXdlo0dPbGSACsDaRNU09Sj1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9cfzZLpucNqJ0tRKwq3Ef71qogGAKifPyAg-ypD11zG53CYAQqZjxYgaApdbEALw_wcB
It creates different safe places for them to hang out and gives me space to have a garden and
manage what they have access to. Be aware of predators in your area and fence them
accordingly. They like to have a safe place to hang out. You also want to have a space for
them to dust bath. I add food grade diatomaceous earth to their dirt bath to help kill parasites
about once a month.
https://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-10/dp/B00025H2PY/ref=sr_1_6_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ax_C02TTeVcq5CP1ZjNYhXE9Lz7yyOY2VYiDGlAwllfg7D05lWTXfeAlLXp3CjIYOLWz04xZ39srs3EJqSTFb_ZjNxyrl2suCkKHGh0scc-D9zMMvlFRA9E9tmgNnAf2_9_pyUgWNA_16o1QGVFB7e8N4AuJK_sFowBoVYy3VDgQ8YYWVf-781LTHR1o6zDe9d-UXfmA87QnuJ5tp2At7IMlIw0tsUop_L83b2ztHqYBUB4AQvXll0R6kYfijQ7bmSz2TuEt4TycGjP40Vumx09E6FLQARg3wdescTkVpPw.IggBSFX9Y2UCLY70qguD4OizHW1e585fCsdU_jazAhY&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694358414379&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9021723&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=13120646842707286865--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13120646842707286865&hvtargid=kwd-312893164759&hydadcr=24657_13626628&keywords=diatomaceous-earth&mcid=6fd32864ae793e23915f09bb892a15ab&qid=1758288339&sr=8-6
General
Don’t get overwhelmed, chicken keeping is very low maintenance once you have a set up. I
spend about 20 to 30 minutes a week maintaining them. They are self-sufficient, funny, and
often affectionate creatures. During egg season I get about 2 and half dozen fresh eggs a week
from 6 chickens (older hens). You will not save money by keeping chickens, but they are worth
keeping for many other reasons. Understanding where your food is coming from and
companionship just to name a few. They can be great with kids, they don’t need to be walked
and you can go on vacation and not need to board them. There are also lots of different kinds
of chickens with different feathers and egg colors. Let me know if you have any other questions.

2025-09-20 18:04:11 UTC

Pictures of my set up
https://blossom.primal.net/9edba3079159d7100f30f879b80899c24c93acad62d25adcd762af6e49b78fbb.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/5d4179a54f42e3f0a1016b6f33028f72415c43407b33d4c0b309683233cc5b9c.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/6656ad119b4145ed0a0217bc2da9716f977a1db6eaf4ba8fe3bab813b4bb9b9a.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/acb1df93880de2bec1e505cbde041c2f5fb026c14eb07067feecef51f4c4bf08.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/a453a9dc26b903bea99f1b9e4f5d0930e62d36dd28a1727b2f6d06928620705c.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/edd92844fc7416cda6551a2ed48fc54debdaa74b8f82e6ac11fc82176ba7ca0b.jpg