Want to Start Having Chickens

I recently decided to have some chickens. A friend of ours had some & gave us the most delicious eggs, but he has since moved away. Since my yard is small, I've decided to keep them at my Mom's place, who I visit almost every day. Both Mom & DH agree.

Here's my problem: I don't know the first thing about raising chickens. I've done web searches & went to places like urbanchickens.org and backyardchickens.com. But these seem to think you have some knowledge about chickens. I can get a general idea of building a coop, and how to water & feed them, but I need some very basic info. Like what to put on the ground (hay, sand, shavings), how & how often to clean the coop, etc. Is there somewhere I can go to get some very basic info for one just starting out with chicks & knows absolutely nothing. I may have to get "Raising Chickens for Dummies" or something very basic like that.

Any guidance on where to start?

Jomoncon you can get a lot of help by just starting at the first and second threads here in the Poultry and Livestock Forums. they are permanently set as "Sticky", the web sites offered are a great help to all let alone a "Newbie"!
By the way, as Ive read over and over again here, NO question is a dumb question! Just ask and maybe someone or all will chime in and help you out!

Ask away we love to answer questions,there is always someone on here that has an anawer.In my coop I use wood shavings(never use cedar)and I use what they call the deep litter method,I only change it once a year,you just keep adding to it and the chickens keep it turned over,you need good ventilation in the coop up next to the ceiling,chickens don`t like drafts so that why you put it up high.I see you live in LA so you don`t have to worry about the cold like I do here in Maine.

We throw a couple of handsful of sunflower seeds into the coop every afternoon; the chickens hunt around for them and that keeps the deep litter stirred up and aerated so that it stays wholesome for a long time.

I use the hay that falls from the bales for the horses. I rake it up and throw it on the bottom.
and Yep there are no dumb questions, I for one, started out like you and in two short years, I have raised chickens, hatched them from eggs and entered them this year in the fair for the first time and won Grand Champion with one of my hens, all from help from the wonderful chicken people on here.

I'd suggest reading old threads.. it's a great resource and lots of fun too!

Not to discourage any attempts to "liven up" the poultry forum!

This message was edited Sep 23, 2010 8:53 PM

Green04735, please let me in on the Cedar Shavings NoNo! I used them in the barn where My Great Dane slept and was considering putting them down for the chickens too, so now I need to know all the facts!!

Here is my bator link
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1077338/

chicken eating LOLOL
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/889671/

Oh my I have had fun just cruising the post I made so long ago..

jomoncon,

I willing to help you out there are several sites that will help you out. However they assume that you know something about chickens.

What would you like to know?

Sarge

The aroma that ceder puts off is hard on their breathing.

One thing that I have learned is when dealing with a Small or Medium Chicken Coop is that it is Keep it simple, easy to clean and not fancy inside. Anything like electric or water should be covered just as in a regular house. Also put it up out of the way so the chickens cannot get into it, keep in mind you may want to turn a water hose loose in there so keep the electric high enough.

Bathroom style wall board is very good to use, and so is a good wall paint (LOW fume type) remember Keep it simple and easy to clean. As for the floor a good vinyl (like you may have in your kitchen) a good water jug for your birds, 3 to 5 gal. (Depends on how many birds you have) Hang it up or elevate it off the floor, same thing with the food and oyster shell (up-Keep is the Key, Clean)

If you can smell it and it smells to you don’t use it in the coop house although I do use Clean pine shavings and straw in mine they do not have much of a smell . However, I try not to put the new in with the chickens in the house I let them out first.

Sarge

Growing up in the South , I had never heard of having a floor in a chicken house , after brooding! Our Hen Houses were usually 3 sided with a roost and nesting boxes. a dirt Floor was the normal thing. A wire fence surrounded it. The house was usally rectangular with the roosts towrds the back and the nesting boxes along the southern long wall. The litter on the floor was generally hay or grass that got turned by the chickens and raked out once every 6 months or so, usually Spring and Fall. I think some people just like the "Purty" , but a chicken just likes to have a warm dry place to roost in Winter and a cool place in the summer dirt on the floor just doesnt bother them!

Eufaula,

for folks in the city and rual areas it is a must have as "jomoncon" had stated they have a small yard and not much ara to keep them the concept of "My Pet Chickens" has took on an entire new meaning for some folks. i do agree the housing needs can be much simpler.

However, in areas where snow is a factor and the backyards are smaller many folks are turning to the concept of small doll house structures with floors in them to house their chickens and be more pleasing to their Neighbors eyes. many Country folks are building them as well just to have something nice for a small flock and to keep them warm,safe,and give them an easer place to maintain their smaller flock of birds.

Sarge

Around here some type of flooring is essential to deter predators. If our chickens are not locked up at night they are easy prey for raccoons, skunks, possums, coyotes, stray dogs etc. My coops are very much simpler than those generally pictured; I made them from scrap lumber but, they are secure.

I agree we just had two Lg Bobcats removed from our neighbors yard they were looking for a free meal on legs i am sure his dogs got the worst of it. but they were relocated by the game wardens .

Sarge

Sorry I posted my pictures in the wrong thread,,My home made coops towards the end of the thread
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1105035/#new

Here are some questions:

What is the difference between a roost & a nesting box? Is there a separate place for the chickens to sleep as opposed to laying the eggs? Ok I did some googling on chicken roosts & guess I now know a little something about them and can see what's the difference. I saw a neat picture of someone who had placed a plastic bin under the roost to make it easier to remove the droppings.

The coop I'm planning will be half inside an old shed & half outside. The boxes & roost will be inside. Inside the shed, there's a dirt floor. Outside, there's grass. When I was cleaning out the shed yesterday, I was surprised to see earthworms in the dirt. I guess I could cover the inside with hay or shavings.

Another question: Should I cover the top of the coop for shade?

Jo-Ann

Jomoncon, welcome! Sounds like you've got most of this figured out already. One thing I'd like to add, if it hasn't been covered yet, is you will need to make sure nothing can dig under. The dirt floor is great and they'll love the worms, but you'll need to put something around the coop they sleep in so predators cannot dig under and kill your flock. People have different ways of doing that. One common one is digging around the coop and laying some wire slanting away from the coop. Did I say that right? I've never done this, but have heard people talk about it. Something about the animals' brains, they do not think to move back a foot to dig under, they'll dig at the wall. So if you have wire buried, esp at a slant, they will just keep hitting wire and give up. Also, secure it with rocks or something heavy, or something you can hammer into the ground, like tent pegs.

There are many horror stories on here of people having their chickens killed, so you want to make sure they are secure at night. Really, that's about the most difficult thing about chickens I think.

You will LOVE these chickens and their eggs. I can almost promise you.

I built my own little pen. Maybe I'll get brave and post some pictures, but no laughing! It is 8'X4'X3'. I covered one end of it in plywood, to make a box for them to sleep in. The rest is in half inch hardware cloth. The point being if I had to be out of town or something, they could still go "outside" the boxed in part and still be safe. Otherwise they free range in the backyard all day.

Light did you see mine? I am sure there were a few snickers, but I am proud I did it with my own two hands and my chickens like it so that is all that matters, Please do post pictures...

Good Mornin Folks,

Miss Jestr,

I enjoyed your photos they look good . I do like the open-air style and the simplicity of the build. The direction to the other threads are good and one can open them in another tab or click on them to read them. They are packed with all kinds of good information for others to read.

Jo-Ann,

A roost is made from “Wood” Not Metal due to the possibility of the bird’s feet freezing to the roost. Generally the roost is sized to the birds feet that you have a 2 X 4 works well. Most of the birds will “Roost” or Sleep on the perch.

The Nesting Boxes are where the chickens are suppose to lay their eggs , sometimes they need to be taught this is where they are to lay eggs. Like putting a wooden egg, plastic egg, or something that looks like an egg in the box. However, some birds will sleep in them look at different nesting boxes and the roof lines to see how to keep the birds from Roosting on them “slant toped roof”.

The plastic bin under the roosting area works well keeping in mind of the design that you seen and creating something like it in your own Lil coop. The Shed usage is an awesome idea , if the floor is not leveled out do some leveling and flatten it out . As once it is covered with shavings or hay you could twist an ankle. The shade for the outside is a plus, and any insulation from the sun’s direct heat on a coop is good . you can add or put “Styrofoam board” as an insulation on the walls and roof area .

*Note : Birds do need ventilation / air circulation in a coop house the “Run” is the Cage area outside and a shade area is good for them to have as well as plenty of water.

Light 4 Jesus,

You have the underpinning correct, attached to the coop house and buried in the ground at a slant away from the coop. Also adding rocks around the outer edges of the coop house gives it the old house look , but also helps to keep the wire in place.
No one will be laughing at your coop, it is the designs of many folks on line and books that help others build a coop that they need or want. I would love to see you photos of your Chicken coop.

Sarge

Another couple of questions:

How big should nesting boxes be? I'm planning on getting Rhode Island Reds, since someone in the city is selling that breed.

How many nesting boxes should I have for 6 hens?

The person who is selling the Rhode Island Reds is selling them at 1 month old at $5 each. Is this too much, considering that I am in a city & not in a farming area. Can a newbie successfully grow 1 month old chicks? Especially with winter coming on. It seldom freeze here, but we might get a few nights that go into the 20's, although last year's terrible southern freeze gave us temps in the teens for almost 3 days.

Should I clip wings? I don't think I'll be letting them out much due to my Mom's 2 big dogs. But I'm afraid that if one gets out, I'll never be able to catch it.

I don't think we have too many predators, besides dogs. DH seems to think there's a possibility of raccoons & possums. My biggest concern is rats, the same ones that ate all my cantaloupes this summer.

Jo-Ann

Lots of people seem to think they do not have racoons and opossums. Let me assure you EVERYONE has racoons and opossums pass thru their yard. Since they do so at night and up till now have not found anything interesting, they just keep right on going and you never know they were there. Once you have chickens they will not just keep going, they will stop for nightly chicken dinner. Plus word will get out and more will come check things out. So make sure your coops and runs are secure. Lock them up each night and save yourself problems right from the start by doing it right.

WE HERE IN NORTHERN MAINE DON`T HAVE OPOSSUMS BUT WE DO HAVE RACOONS AND SKUNKS WHICH WILL EAT THE HEADS OFF THE CHICKENS,IF THEY CAN`T GET IN THE RUN THEY WILL WAIT UNTILL ONE GETS CLOSE TO THE RUN AND PULL ITS HEAD THROUGH AND EAT IT,HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME CAUSE I CLOSE MINE UP AT NIGHT IN THE COOP.

The "not be able to catch it" comment interested me.

At the horse lot where I have my pens of roosters in a horse shed, I can let them out and want them to go outside and peck around and eat some bugs and grass, and all they do is stay inside the shed. They won't leave. They are really very timid birds in some ways, and only do what they feel "safe" doing. These roosters just hop up on the wire cage and sit there, so are simple to pick up and put back.

On the other hand, my backyard free range hens are impossible for me to catch. Just forget it. If I chase them they will run. At night they all go inside the little coop, so if I need them that's the time to get them. I can't catch them, but several of them will often come and jump up in my lap. The first few times that happened I was quite startled.

After they know where their home is to sleep in, they will usually go right in there at sunset. It's always good to lock them in their house for several days and make sure they know where "home" is, if you ever decide to let them free range in the yard.

What I do is tie my dog up in the day and let the chickens free range, then lock them up at night and let the dog loose to run around. That's what works for me.

You and your family will figure out what works best for you.

Welcome to Chickenville.

If you really need to catch a loose chicken a long handled fishing type net works well.

Porkpal I so second that, I have one that someone gave me when they came to buy some ducks. I was amazed she went in there got what she wanted and was done. She handed the net to Billy and it has been his chicken wranglen tool ever since..

Living out here in the desert I would welcome a raccoon or a possum as opposed to the coyotes and the mountain lions. But have not see a hint of coo or possum.

Thanks Ret Sgt Yates, they might be hookie but the do what they are designed to and that is house our chickens.. Just tonight I was thinking I really need to get some bigger roosting boards in there, and move some chickens to the big girl lot.. I need the open air for our temps in the summer, in the winter I block the east side with wood to make a wind break.

jomoncon yes you can successfully grow babies and it will be a wonderful experience for you and your family. Billy loves nothing more than chick tv, and the babies uesally are in his room from one week old until they are ready for outside.

Watching baby chicks is a blast.

I am in agreement with all the housings you all have. Believe me if I could afford the Precious little doll houses with runs I would have them!! I imaging my yard with five little Hen Houses all painted yellow with white trimmed runs! A house for each one of my Serama pairs. Then 2 Big "Walk In Houses" for my Buffs and Marans...Ahhhhhhh!
So back to My pocketbook and reality! My houses are also homemade and surrounded by secure fencing, with netting and buried wire......but the varmits and Hawks still find a way! Just this weekend after no Problems since Spring..... My Silkied Serama Hen in one pen and one of my Maran Hens in another run killed by "The Head Eater". I had never thought about Skunks killing them but after what you wrote, Green, maybe that is my Chicken murderer.

Looks like a pretty good site talking about chicken predators.
http://www.raising-chickens.org/chicken-predators.html

I like seeing other folks chicken coops and runs. And talking to them about what they have done to stop the varmints from getting their chickens it helps others that are new to the site and myself as well new ideas are always interesting. And changes to existing coops to make them better can only help.

I have yet to build a large coop or run to date. However, I have been gathering the stuff to do so for some time now . I only have one rooster currently and have found four hens thet I will add to the flock as soon as I build the coop . some things take time and help around here is slow.

Any coop built by any ones own hands should never be made fun of . coops are designed for the up-keep of the chickens in the area or state of the person that has them the open air design is used in many Hot Climate States as well as Cold Climate States . I talk to other folks in other states that have used them for years and their chickens do very well in open air coops. Doll house coops are cute and functional but are for the person and neighbor needs more then the chicken’s needs .

* don’t get me wrong if we all could build them we would have little cute cottages in our back yards with names of our chickens on the doors of the houses I am sure. LOL

Sarge


This is Mr. Peepers By the Way

Light ,

Thank you for the site it has some good info on it . and good pred info too i did not have it . interesting reading .

Sarge

Yes that was cute with pictures and all, but the one I was looking for was just a list and type of kill the predator makes. I didn't find it.

Well, DH & I have been discussing these chickens & their coop for the past week. We then carefully examined Mom's site near the shed. Then we remembered that this site does flood under heavy rains - which is common in Ne Orleans. It can get up to 4" deep, but does drain quickly. So that canceled all those plans. DH has fallen in love with tractor-type coops, especially the triangular ones. Like this one: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=27127-a-classy-a-frame-tractor or this one http://catawbacoops.com/

There is a large section of lawn area that never floods. We can put a tractor coop there & move it around as needed. This may be a better way. If it gets very cold, seldom, it can be moved closer to the house & electricity run to it.

Well, we aren't planning on needing the coop until early spring next year, so we have a lot of time to plan & build it.

Jo-Ann,

Here is a few you may not have to look at for coop designs.

http://www.chickencoopsource.com/chicken-coops/127488+4295016902.cfm?viewall=yes#N=127488+4295016902&view=57&display=grid_view

http://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/

They might help you some

Sarge

MissJestr, Billy is suuuure lucky to have you!

Sarge, thanks for the links. I think are one or two of the ultra simple little coops that I may be able to copy using recycled materials. I'm getting excited!

Wooden Palets are a good source to start with, you can take them apart and use the wood to create diffrent kinds of coops as well and most places will give them to you.

Sarge

You're right, Sarge! There are three pallets in my garage right now that I am mulling over. To make a broody coop the boards are aleady a good size to use and make it easier for those tool and cutting impaired people like me. I have a roll of shade cloth too.

The first couple times I went to the Ag and TSC I looked for shade cloth thinking it was some kind of heavy fabric or cloth tarp. I finally asked and felt really dumb, but got over it.

Remember the grass boxes I was working on forever and wasted several 2x6x10's? Well, I finally figured it out, it's not pretty at all but IT WORKS!!! It's in the chicken run now and has field grass growing about 4 inches high now. Pretty soon they will be able to eat the grass that grows out of the top. I have two more grass box frames but need more wire for the top and they will get planted too. Even the miscut 2x6x10's will come in handy for the broody coop! There is always a use for wood and wire of any size.

I'm going to move the broody EE'er into the garage with a load of golf balls to sit - if she sticks with it then I'll order some day old chicks for her to hopefully adopt. She is a high ranking pullet so I have hopes that she will want to mother them too. If not, I'll pick up the slack.

I've leaned so much from this board, thank you, and my Girl's thank you too!

I have found a lot of ideas and information from threads on here and by searching the net . ie like coops made from used pallets, open air chicken coops, and such the sticky thread has a lot of info and sites that you can go to i often keep it open and open them in another tab and suff them until i have read most all what i want . many times i will book mark the pages and put them in a folder like i did the ones i posted .

Sarge