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Remember when everyone swore by those cheap plastic feeders from the farm store? I switched to a galvanized treadle feeder last spring and haven't had a rat problem since.
The old one was a nightly buffet for every pest in a 3 mile radius, but the treadle one keeps the feed sealed tight. Anyone else found a game changer for keeping the coop area clean?
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jamie_clark5mo ago
Yeah, the treadle feeder was a total game changer for me too. It got me thinking about all the other little things that pile up. Like, I finally started using a deep litter method in the coop itself, just adding fresh pine shavings on top all winter. It sounds messy, but it really cuts down on the smell and the cleanup in spring is way easier.
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richardr455mo ago
I read a blog post about deep litter where the person also tossed in some dried herbs like mint and lavender every few weeks. They said it helped even more with smells and the chickens seemed to enjoy scratching through it. Made me want to try that extra step next season. The whole method seems perfect for cold climates since the composting action gives off a little heat.
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joseph_black4mo ago
That deep litter method with herbs is something I've heard a couple of folks swear by at the local poultry swap (it's basically just a monthly meetup at the feed store). Someone there said the mint and lavender oils actually repel mites a bit, which makes sense since chickens hate strong smells. Sounds like a smart little extra step for sure, especially in winter when the coop gets stuffy. I might give it a try this year since my deep litter setup heats up nicely already.
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