Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
bird moving, or litter pack removal. The afternoon sunshine can easily warm the hen-
house 15 to 30 degrees. The natural light also helps keep the hens productive and
emotionally content. The structure has withstood heavy snow loads and strong winds.
The Setup
The interior is set up with the birds' natural behaviors in mind. The floor is dirt with
a deep litter pack (12-36 in.) of softwood shavings, wood chips, and manure. There
are 150 linear feet of roost space (0.5 ft./bird) in three tiers along the east wall of the
barn. There are five 5-foot feeders down the middle of the house with two drinker
founts on heating bases on the west wall. Also along the west wall are three self-
feeders with supplements (grit, oyster shell, and kelp). The sixty nest boxes are loc-
ated near the door from the barn in the southwest corner for ease of collection. They
are mounted on the walls 2 feet off the ground so as not to lose any floor space, and
they are filled with softwood shavings (hardwood can leave stains on the eggs).
There are also three hay nets filled with organic alfalfa hanging from the ceiling at
the height of the birds' backs. Dusting areas are located at each end of the house.
They are simply areas of dry shavings supplemented with wood ash, diatomaceous
earth, and lime. I locate the big dusting area in front of the nest boxes so that area is
always dry and clean before the hens step into the boxes. Having the boxes up off the
floor protects the eggs from the fallout when the hens dust down below.
