Willow and Branch

🪺 Loving these eggs our girls are laying in our BYM bunch - and a little pig-tail from a new laying pullet. 🫶🏼

Mmm — made myself the best cup of “sleep tea” last night. 😴 The best part was all the ingredients were organic and mostly grown in our garden 💕 Slept great and woke up feeling refreshed ☀️ I think I’ll be making more of this one. 😉

✨How to Make a Poop-Shelf in the Chicken Coop✨

🔹CLEANER COOPS 🔹
🔹HEALTHIER BIRDS 🔹
🔹LESS WORK🔹

❓WHY ADD A POOP-SHELF?

🔸KEEPS COOPS CLEANER
Catches most droppings before they hit the bedding

🔸REDUCES ODOR
Less moisture in the bedding means fewer ammonia smells

🔸SAVES TIME
Spend less time deep cleaning the coop

🔸HEALTHIER BIRDS
Drier bedding helps reduce respiratory issues and parasites

🔸CLEANER EGGS
Less mess on feet means cleaner nests and eggs

💠WHERE DOES IT GO?💠
Install the poop-shelf directly under the roosting bar(s), typically 12-18 inches below the roosting bars

🧰MATERIALS NEEDED🧰
• 1/2" or 3/4" exterior plywood (size to fit your coop)
• 1x2 or 1x3 boards (for side supports and front lip)
• Screws (exterior or coated)
• Wood brackets or cleats
• Optional: liner (vinyl, metal, or heavy-duty plastic for easier cleaning

STEP 1️⃣ : MEASURE & PLAN

Measure the length and width needed under your roosting bars. The shelf should extend a few inches beyond the roost on each side if possible.

STEP 2️⃣ : CUT THE BOARD

Cut plywood to size. A slight slope (about 1/4 inch per foot) toward the front helps droppings slide off and makes cleaning easier.

STEP 3️⃣ : ADD SIDE SUPPORTS

Attach 1x2 or 1x3 boards to the walls at the desired height. You can also use brackets or cleats. Make sure the supports are level in the front and slightly higher in the back for a slope (or reverse if you want the slope forward).

STEP 4️⃣ : INSTALL THE BOARD

Place the plywood on the supports and secure it with screws. Add a front lip (1x2 board) to keep droppings from falling off the front. If using a liner, attach it now.

STEP 5️⃣ : FINISH & MAINTAIN

Ensure the surface is smooth and easy to clean. Remove droppings regularly (usually every few days) with a scraper or scoop. Replace the liner if needed

💫 DESIGN TIPS💫

• Use a smooth surface (plywood, vinyl, or metal for easy cleaning

• A slight slope helps droppings slide forward

• Make the shelf wide enough to catch most droppings (12-24 inches is common)

•If you have multiple roosts, one wide shelf works well

• Keep at least 18-24 inches of space below the shelf for bedding and easy access

• For large coops, consider a removable shelf for easier cleaning

• Clean regularly to keep odor down and flies away

⭐️You can compost the droppings - they make great fertilizer!⭐️

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️Happy Fall Y’all〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

🍂 We are officially entering the season of cooler mornings ☕️ , pumpkins 🎃 on the porch, garden clean-up, and chickens scratching through crunchy leaves like they’ve been waiting all year for it. 🍂

🤩 Fun little fall fact: Chickens are naturally drawn to scratching through fallen leaves 🍂 because they’re basically little treasure piles— lots of bugs, seeds, worms, and all kinds of interesting things can be hiding underneath. So - we might see a yard that needs raking, they see an all-you-can-eat buffet. 😂🐓🍁

☕️ Here’s to crisp mornings, slower evenings, cooler weather, and all the cozy things ahead.

🤎 Happy Fall Y’all, from Willow & Branch. 🤎

A little tidbit before I go —

🍁 Did you know?

Before we called it autumn or fall, we called this time of year “harvest.” Later came the beautiful phrase “fall of the leaf,” which eventually became just fall.

Somehow harvest season still feels like the perfect name for it around here. 🌾🐓🤎

We’ve got a new baby 🙌🏼 - this little momma has been wanting to hatch out some babies, so you know we had to let her - woke up this morning and found this little nugget. Such a cutie! Momma is the sweetest thing too. 💕

✨KEEPING THE COOP CLEAN✨

〰️Coarse Sand in the Chicken Coop 〰️

A SIMPLE CHOICE WITH BIG BENEFITS

🔸 Coarse sand (like construction sand) is a natural, affordable bedding option that helps keep your coop drier, cleaner, and healthier - while giving your chickens a space they love

•ABSORBS MOISTURE
Helps keep the coop dry by absorbing spills, leaks, and excess moisture, reducing odors and bacterial growth
•REDUCES ODOR
Dries quickly and helps control ammonia smells compared to many other bedding materials
•NATURAL DUST BATHING
Chickens love to scratch, dig, and dust bathe in sand, which helps keep their feathers clean and healthy
•DISCOURAGES PESTS
A dry, sandy environment is less attractive to mites, lice, and other pests that thrive in moist, organic bedding
•EASY TO CLEAN
Droppings sit on top and are easy to scoop daily, making coop maintenance faster and simpler
•LONG-LASTING & ECONOMICAL
Doesn't break down like shavings, so it lasts much longer
A cost-effective option, especially for larger coops

✨BEST TYPE OF SAND✨
• Use coarse sand, like construction sand or washed masonry sand
• The larger grains drain well and provide good texture for scratching
• Avoid very fine sand (can become dusty) and play sand (often too fine and may contain additives)
• Make sure it's clean and free from chemicals or debris

❓HOW TO USE IT❓
Clean the coop thoroughly before adding sand
Add a 2-4 inch layer of coarse sand to the floor
Keep nesting boxes on a different bedding (like pine shavings) for comfort and clean eggs
Scoop out droppings daily
Stir or rake the sand weekly to keep it loose and dry
Add more as needed

🤔 THINGS TO CONSIDER 🤔
Use in a well-draining coop
Ensure good ventilation
If the sand becomes very wet or muddy, remove and replace as needed
In extremely wet climates, consider a mix of sand and pine shavings for better drainage.
Not ideal for very young chicks (under a few weeks old) - use a softer bedding in the brooder

‼️Mix in a little diatomaceous earth (food grade) occasionally for extra pest control‼️

What’s your favorite coop bedding?

✨Successful Hatches✨

💠INCUBATING FOR HEALTHY CHICKS💠

✨START WITH QUALITY EGGS ✨

• Use fresh, fertile eggs (ideally 3-7 days old, up to 10 days is acceptable)
• Choose clean eggs (lightly brush if needed, never wash)
• Store at 55-65°F with 60-75% humidity.
• Turn eggs 1-2 times daily if storing longer than 3 days
• Select eggs from healthy, well-nourished birds with good genetics

🔹USE A RELIABLE INCUBATOR

• Choose a quality incubator with a fan (for even heat and humidity)
• Calibrate the temperature and humidity with independent thermometers and hygrometers
• Allow the incubator to run for 24 hours before adding eggs to ensure stability
• Keep the incubator in a draft-free area with a steady room temperature (65-75°F)

🔸 IDEAL INCUBATION CONDITIONS🔸

🌡️TEMPERATURE - 99.5°F (99-100°F is
acceptable)
♨️HUMIDITY - Days 1-18: 45-55%
Days 19-21 (hatch): 65-75%

🔁 TURNING - Turn eggs at least 3-5 times daily until day 18. Automatic turners work well

🗓️ INCUBATION LENGTH - 21 days for standard chicken eggs (some breeds may vary by a day)

🔦 CANDLING EGGS

• Candle at day 7 and day 14

• Look for a network of veins and a developing dark area

• Remove clear (unfertilized) eggs and any with no development

• As hatch day approaches, the air cell will enlarge and the chick will fill more of the egg

🔒 THE FINAL DAYS (LOCKDOWN)

• On day 18, stop turning eggs

• Increase humidity to 65-75%

• You can move eggs to a hatching basket or leave in the turner (if it stops turning)

• Avoid opening the incubator unnecessarily to maintain humidity and temperature

• Pipping usually begins around day 19-21

🔸Let chicks hatch on their own - it can take up to 24 hours from first pip🔸

🐣 AFTER THE HATCH 🐣

• Allow chicks to dry in the incubator for 12-24 hours ⏰

• Once fluffy and dry, move to a warm brooder (95°F the first week)

• Offer water💧with electrolytes and chick starter food

• Do not bathe chicks — it can cause chilling

• Monitor for pasty butt and ensure all chicks are active and alert 🐥

‼️TROUBLESHOOTING LOW HATCH RATES

Possible Cause | Solution

Low fertility | Use eggs from a proven,
healthy flock with a fertile
rooster

Old eggs | Use eggs within 3-7 days (max 10
days)

Incorrect temperature | Calibrate your
incubator

Incorrect humidity | Use a reliable
hygrometer and adjust
as needed

Not enough turning | Turn at least 3-5 times
daily until day 18

Contaminated eggs | Keep eggs clean and
store properly

Opening incubator too often | Minimize
opening, especially during lockdown

✨Genetic or developmental issues can happen - not all eggs are viable✨

🐣 HATCH RATE TIPS 🐣

🔸Use the best quality, fresh eggs
🔸Maintain stable temperature and humidity
🔸Turn eggs consistently
🔸Keep equipment clean
🔸Avoid excessive handling
🔸Be patient and let nature do its thing
🔸Keep good records to learn and improve with each hatch