u/Morgana_Le_Luna — reddlx

Chicken Coop Help!

Hello! I need some serious input and help. I am trying to figure out what to get as far as a coop and a run and I’m stressing out, probably way more than I should. First off, I will say that yes I’m buying prefab as an interim until we can get a custom coop or a better setup. However, even though it’s interim (maybe 6mo-1year?) I want to still give my babies the best possible.
My questions are for those that have silkies already- how do they handle ramps? I have heard that they don’t like steep ramps because of their lack of flying ability, but how steep are we talking? Every coop/run I look at has a ramp and I’m worried I buy one and they won’t use it.
Also, what do you do for covering? I’m in the South and we have a lot of random storms, and as far as I’m aware, a wet silkie is a dead silkie. So when possible I plan on keeping them safe in the coop, but I would like to cover the run and have proper drainage.

Any advice is more than welcome, I am a notorious over thinker, but I’m already head over heels in love with my babies and want to do right by them.

**side note- I know I will more than likely need to swap out any mesh or chicken wire they have on the coop/run with hardware cloth, and I know to protect from critters digging under the edge with concrete, more cloth, etc.

reddit.com

u/Morgana_Le_Luna — 6 days ago

▲ 10 r/silkiechickens

Is this sweet baby going to be a frizzle?

Here’s a top view of one of my chicks and I am pretty sure she’s going to be a frizzle, and maybe her sibling?
The one with the more flared out wings is Mori, and then Nix comes up next to her. Oh and adding the picture of the other two in the corner with Hecate and Maeve (the one who is giving serious side-eye 🤣).

u/Morgana_Le_Luna — 11 days ago

▲ 18 r/Chicken+2 crossposts

Hello! 👋

I am new-ish again to the scene, and I say that because I lived on a farm one summer and helped raise free-range chickens, but I’m not sure that even counts. Now though I have 4 baby silkies and I am over the moon excited. I have SOOOO many questions.

First- if I want to prophylacticly treat my chicks for coccidiosis, what product should I use? I looked at Tractor Supply and their corid is labeled for bovine 🐮. Which I don’t think will work.

Second- I live in the south where we get a decent amount of rain. I plan on buying a pre-fab coop with a run and want to know how I can prep the ground to prevent my babies from getting too muddy and possibly sick. (Ditches, gravel layers, etc)

Third- along the same lines, I am finding a lot of runs with a flat, unprotected roof. Can anyone coach me on how to create a slanted roof (thinking of using the plastic panels) for my run? While I know a tarp would get the job done, I’m trying to keep it visually appealing.

Lastly- any recommendations for a first time chick mom is greatly appreciated! I am so excited about this journey! My husband doesn’t understand what he has agreed to, I’m already looking at bows and diapers for my babies 🤣.

u/Morgana_Le_Luna — 15 days ago