The Triano Farms blog
Seasonal advice on backyard chickens, coops, and sheds in New Jersey, from a builder who keeps his own flock.
Quail: A Quieter Option Where Roosters Are Banned
Quail are much quieter than a flock with a rooster, lay early, and need little room. Their aviary needs quarter-inch mesh and a low or soft ceiling.
Read the post →What Is Included in a Triano Coop Price, and What Is Not
The only add-ons on a Triano coop are auto feeders, waterers, and custom paint or stain. Here is everything that comes standard, plus our deposit and terms.
Read the post →Wood, Vinyl or Metal: What Should Your Backyard Shed Be Made Of?
Wood, vinyl or metal for a backyard shed in New Jersey: what each material is good at, what it asks of you, and how to choose.
Read the post →How to Keep Chickens Cool in a New Jersey Summer
Keep chickens cool in a New Jersey summer with airflow, shade, and fresh water. Why a closed, crowded coop overheats and what to check on hot days.
Read the post →Replacing a Failing Store-Bought Coop
If a store-bought coop is sagging, rotting, or letting predators in, we remove it and replace it with a coop built on-site. Solid runs can often be reused.
Read the post →Chicken Wire vs. Hardware Cloth, and Why the Skirt Matters
Chicken wire keeps chickens in but does not keep predators out. Half-inch hardware cloth and a 2-foot dig-proof skirt are what actually protect a flock.
Read the post →Getting a Coop Ready for a New Jersey Winter
Healthy chickens do not need heat in a NJ winter. What they need is ventilation, dry deep-litter bedding, and a coop that stays open to the air, not sealed.
Read the post →The Hearthstead: Storing Five Cords of Firewood the Right Way
The Hearthstead is a 10x20 shed with a ventilated firewood bay that holds about five cords, plus a 10x10 enclosed tool room, all under one metal roof.
Read the post →What Happens on Build Day
We build about 80% of your coop in our shop, then carry the sections in and assemble them on your property, usually in a day or two, even in fenced yards.
Read the post →Planning a Spring Flock: A Winter Timeline for First-Time Chicken Keepers in NJ
Want chickens this spring in NJ? A winter timeline: town rules, flock size, ordering a coop, when chicks are available, brooder setup, and move-out timing.
Read the post →How to Introduce New Chickens to an Existing Flock
Adding hens? Quarantine first, then see-but-don't-touch, plenty of space and extra feeders. Here's how pecking order works and when you should step in.
Read the post →Shed Foundation Options: Gravel Pad vs Concrete Slab vs Skids and Blocks
Gravel pad, concrete slab, or skids on blocks? How shed foundations handle drainage and frost in NJ, what drives cost, and which suits a shed vs a home office.
Read the post →How to Compost Chicken Manure and Coop Bedding for Your Garden
Why fresh chicken manure is too hot for plants, how to balance it with shavings or straw, how long to wait before vegetables, and when to clean out the coop.
Read the post →How to Keep Chicken Water From Freezing in a New Jersey Winter
Heated bases, heated waterers, rubber pans and cord safety: how to keep your flock's water liquid through a New Jersey winter, and why snow won't do.
Read the post →Backyard Home Office Shed in NJ: Making It Usable Year-Round
Planning a backyard office shed in NJ? Insulation, windows, power, mini-splits, internet, and how finishing a shed as a workspace can change permits.
Read the post →Why Did My Chickens Stop Laying in the Fall?
Egg basket empty this fall? Molting, shorter days, age and stress are the usual causes. What to feed during a molt, the truth on lights, and when eggs return.
Read the post →Ready to keep your flock safe?
Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.