The speaker, Lily from Holistic Homestead Life, shares her experiences and advice on designing chicken coops. She discusses two coops they have, highlighting mistakes they made and best practices they followed.
In the first coop, they placed the roosting bar too close to the wall, which led to chickens pooping on the wall. They also placed the automatic coop door opener underneath where the chickens sleep and poop, leading to the button mechanisms getting covered in poop. Additionally, they put shelves and perches in places where chickens would poop on them. They also built nesting boxes with a shelf on top, where chickens would poop.
To avoid these mistakes, Lily recommends placing the roosting bar further away from the wall, not placing the automatic coop door opener underneath where the chickens sleep and poop, and avoiding unnecessary shelves. She also suggests using a piece of tin with a steep angle at the top of the nesting boxes instead of a flat top, and not placing the roosting bars over the nesting boxes.
In the second coop, they converted an old shed into a chicken coop. They dug a trench at least two feet deep and lined it with a material that comes from the hardware section of the store. This trench provides a secure area where the chickens can roam and play, and it prevents predators from digging in and getting inside the coop. They also installed an automatic coop door opener, and made sure there was a water source next to the coop.
Lily also discusses the importance of having an automatic coop opener, and recommends the Coupe opener. She warns that the door should be protected against rain, and that the batteries should be checked regularly. She concludes by emphasizing that there is much more to keeping chickens and living holistically, and encourages viewers to watch more videos for more information.
1. The speaker, Lily, is sharing two chicken coop setups that she and her husband have designed, highlighting the mistakes they made and the best practices they followed.
2. Mistake number one: Placing the roosting bar too close to the wall, leading to chickens pooping onto the wall.
3. Mistake number two: Placing the automatic chicken coop door opener underneath where the chickens sleep and poop, resulting in the button mechanisms getting pooped on.
4. Mistake number three: Having unnecessary shelves or perches in the coop, leading to chickens pooping on them.
5. The speaker's husband dug a hole about two feet deep into the ground before building the chicken coop, creating a maximum security area where chickens can be left safe and secure.
6. The speaker suggests that when designing a chicken coop, it should have a sturdy coop that does not hit your head, a maximum security area, and a work release area.
7. The speaker notes that when designing their chicken coop, her husband made sure to have a source of water right next to the coop.
8. The speaker also suggests having a secure, waterproof space to keep chicken feed.
9. In the second coop, the speaker and her husband took an old Tough Shed and converted it into a chicken coop, but they had to drill ventilation holes because it didn't have windows.
10. In the second coop, they also hooked the floor out so chicken droppings can go onto the ground and not get caught up on the surface of the actual Chicken Coop floor.
11. The speaker notes that having chickens in your orchard is a plus, as chickens can eat bugs and fertilize the trees.
12. The speaker recommends having an automatic Coop opener, stating that she has tried a few different Coop openers and her favorite is the Coupe opener.