{"id":472,"date":"2022-04-19T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bentonhomestead.com\/?p=472"},"modified":"2024-04-25T04:59:43","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T04:59:43","slug":"house-sit-1-work-exchange-in-aculco-mexico-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bentonhomestead.com\/ja\/archives\/472","title":{"rendered":"House-Sit #1: Work-Exchange in Aculco, Mexico, Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"

House-Sit #1: We were blessed our first house-sit experience was on this beautiful ranch outside the friendly town of Aculco! The owners were very welcoming; they invited us to stay in exchange for some work and suggestions for their ranch’s bright future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had two weeks to rework their coop, so I first spent time observing the flock. I thought it was important to first see their habits and personalities before making any changes. They’re happy, with no pecking order issues, <\/a>in good health, despite being somewhat older, and the hen-to-rooster ratio was working well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what did the coop need? Less complication: With two coops and two extra rooms, the flock splits up while roosting, causing anxiety, and they lay eggs everywhere except the nesting boxes! Security: The doors don’t close, allowing the sheep to eat their food, and easy predator access. There were lots of pointy wires and sharp edges. Sanitation: Fortunately the climate is super dry, so the droppings on bare ground didn’t smell, but the ground was covered and could breed disease. Let’s get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before<\/em> \u2304<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How did we fix it? We decided to keep one coop, but removed a wall and a door. We kept one extra room, for use as a future quarantine or baby chick room. We reinforced the entire perimeter, secured the wire walls to cement footing, and fixed any weak areas. We removed everything to be sanitized, removed all the sharp potential hazards, and raised the ceiling so people can stand easily. We leveled the ground in preparation of the “deep leaf bedding” method of poop control. We made their nesting boxes inviting, lowered their food to a comfortable height, and built stronger easy cleaning roosts. We replaced the tarps. We strengthened the door frame, reinforced the person-sized door, and added a new sheep-proof chicken-sized door. Lastly, we demolished and cleaned the other coop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After <\/em>\u2304<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
\"\"<\/figure>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The flock happily responded to the changes. They free-range on a big beautiful ranch, but they chose to spend more time in their coop, digging through the leaves, napping together, and we got them all using their new nests. It was hard work, but so rewarding! Does this make us chicken consultants? \"\ud83d\udc13\"\"\u2728\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our YouTube video with a more in-depth look at our chicken coop remodel<\/em> \u2304<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n