We thinking of getting 3-4 chickens and we are planning the house and run now. I've done a lot of looking and reading the last few days but I still can't come up with a design I really like. We don't want a huge house but not something small either. 6x6x10 is what we have in mind.
We do live in the country so coons, coyotes, bob cats, and hawks will be a problem as well as any other predators I haven't thought of yet. I would love to hear any tip or tricks you have used to keep the critters out and the chickens safe.
DH wants to built a rabbit cage and modify it for the chickens then enclose it within the run. Would like to hear thoughts on that...
This will be our first time keeping chickens so any advice is welcome!
Thank you!
Caren
Things I should know when building a house & run??
Hi Heavenscent,
Welcome to the world of chickens. I just "bumped" my "tour de coop" thread. There are tons of ideas in there. Check it out! I'll post a couple of pictures of things I like and tell you why with each.
This one is really cool.
I love that it has a roof over the whole run, great for this area because it lets the girls stay out of the mud.
I also like that they make use of the chicken's natural tendency to roost and also provide additional floor space for them to run.
Here's a chicken tractor.
These work well for a small number of chickens and can easily be moved about the yard for fresh grass.
This one is OK.
I like that the chickens are on a wire mesh. This would allow for easy collection of poo to add to compost.
I love that! How many do you have in there?
Im going to check out your tour thread...
Thanks
Caren
This is ours.
I like the size alright.
I love that we have an external nesting box, the collection door is inside my garden shed. The only thing I'd do over if I did this again would be to raise the coop off the ground. It gets a bit messy to stoop down and get at the waterer and feeder.
Does each chicken need their own nest or will they share?
Here's the latest picture of our coop, with its enclosure. I like this because now I can leave and know they are safe. I also think I'll start confining them to it more. The poop all over my backyard is getting a bit old.
One more picture, I came across. I really liked this one, too.
OK, I'm done posting pictures for now...
Coops 1-3 and 5 are coops I liked when I was at your stage about this time last year. So I thought I'd share them.
Coop #4 is mine. I have 3 pullets in there.
They prefer to share a nesting box. They typically say 4-5 hens per box. I did find that it might be handy to have 2 boxes, though, just in case one goes broody on you.
DH is wanting me to go to get off the computer. I'll check in on this thread tomorrow.
Happy coop hunting! :-)
Kristin
Hi CAREN!!! Welcome to the Poultry forum! Glad to see a brug buddy over here!!!
Here is a good site for free plans.. great to look around to get ideas.
http://www.freechickencoopplans.com/
I built this one.. and absolutely love it! I am putting external nest boxes on this weekend.. I have a small storage area, an inside door.. place to hang a feeder.. perfect for the bantums or just a few.. and it's Mobile.. Could add a wire floor for security if needed...
Lots of great ideas here thank you all so much! Ill run these by DH in the morning.
Caren
Caren ~ Not meant to discourage at all but having had chickens in years past here the south (suffering another urge) the main predators I ran into was skunks and SNAKES! I have second thoughts when I think about those legless varmints.
If there is any way you can keep the area, particularily the nesting boxes snakeproof it will be worthwhile. The eggs and chickens seem to be a magnet for them.
DH had built the nesting boxes where I could open the door and look in before reaching to pick eggs. That helped my courage somewhat. LOL
With an acre under fence but in amongst the trees, I didn't have problems with hawks at all.
In need of a new house before I acquire more chickens so I love all the cool houses Lazy_Ladies, off to tour your coop thread...
Welcome Heavinscent!!! There are a lot of great coops on this thread and the Tour de Coop thread. In order to preditor proof my coop is shut every night. The girls and boys are all tucked in at night. The house has no holes or openings that are not covered with heavy duty fine wire. There run even has mesh wire as a roof. You do the best you can with what you have.
I cant wait to see what breeds you will get!!
Podster...Just give in...you know you want to. hehehe
and I do... and I will. Specially with y'alls assistance! LOL
We have settled in to a plan that involves an old play house my kids have outgrown. Since its already built all we really have to do is enclose it in the wire and build the actual sleeping area. Its nothing special but Its survived 2 hurricanes so it wont be going anywhere! We should be finished working on it by Tuesday but I need to paint it so next week we will be looking for some chicks or pullets. Not sure what kind yet.... Any suggestions? We like the Easter egger colors but any color will do. We are thinking of starting out with 3 or 4 and go from there. Where do you get your chicks? How do you find some locally I would prefer that to putting the poor things thru the mail!
Anyway, Thank you all!!
Caren
Hi!! Caren...I can meet you half way and give ya some of my Babies!! I got EEs mix and cochin mix hatching right now..
Thank you Nadine! We can meet you somewhere or we can come to your house now that I know where it is lol! I think we need about 2 weeks to get everything else we need together then we will be ready.
Take Care!!
caren
Oh you lucky duck Caren! Moodene that is so sweet of you!
I love it when the plan comes together!
Kristen the blue one that you like with the wire bottom all mine are built that way. I prefer them like this i can easily clean out from under it and the chickens are never walking around in their own poo. They are almost predator proof too the only thing that gets in mine is and occasional rat. Mine are a little different from that one mine have a roost area and a nest area in the back and it has a wire bottom. I have trio's in mine and they have plenty of room to walk and stretch their legs.
I built 7 last year and i need about 7 this year and some pigeon houses as well it's going to be a busy spring.
I am always giving baby peeps away...lol..
I wish I was closer.... ;) hehehe
That is wonderful Heavinscent!! New house and babies!! wooohooo! You rock Moodene
Yes she does!!
AAww w shucks!! blushing over here..more peeps hatched by the way..wish I could put them on fairies to fly away to new homes..LOL..
Aha! Podster- yes give in. I have no idea who may have been giving Caren ideas about chickens........BTW, anyone here on facebook? ;-)
RE: FB: I am and its addicting!!!
Me too and addicting???? OMG!
Well Caren came and gone.She and her hubby came by and picked up the baby chicks..
I gave her 2 black and white chicks and 2 Americanas..they going to a good home!! If anybody lives close by to me between Houston and Beaumont, Texas area....I can send babies home with you too!!!
I love baby chicks...lol
Yayyyyyyy! How kind of you!
Oh I forgot!! they gave me 3 bags of feed for those babies!! I just took a second look and saw 3 which I thought was 1 big bag..lol..me need new glasses...
Wasn't on last night had to get everyone settled in! So here are my new little peeps!
So cute. Are you going to name them?
My boys have claimed the easter eggers and the they will be Maggie and Jackie. The other 2 are still waiting for names.
How sweet! I am happy for all. EE are adorable. I think they are next on my list. (Dont tell DH) hehehe
We are working on our coop. I did not think of snakes! Yikes! If I use That really small hardware wire, the one were the squares are small. Would that work?