Well my chicken palace is almost finished and I have some questions
I'd like to get some older birds that would lay fairly soon. And I would also like to get some chicks. Can they be introduced at the same time? If not. How should I do this?
My coop is 8x10 with a 10 foot ceiling. I will start out with 13 nesting boxes with the ability to add another 13 if necessary. How many hens can I comfortably keep in my coop?
Can I mix in a few meat chickens with my layers?
If I wanted a turkey or 2, could they occupy the same structure?
That's it for now.
Thanks
BB
This message was edited Feb 16, 2009 4:15 PM
Establisng a New Flock
BB, I would think it would depend on what type of birds you plan to get. Like if they were Jersey giants then not enough room for 13. Turkeys some say not to put with your chickens something a bout one carries something that can affect the other, I dont know mine are kept together but my 2 turkeys are outside of the coop. They free range with the chickens for now. It really isnt a good idea to put chicks with bigger birds as the bigger ones can get pecky to the babies. I have my chicks with 2 bantam cochin hens and a silkie hen, the chicks are getting bigger than the hens now.
Sorry not to much help.
Thanks.
I am planning to get a selection of older birds from McMurray. So they will be whatever is in their selection. Don't have their catalog in front of me so I can't check what they are.
So if I want chicks, I should probably get them first and let them a little bigger before I introduce the larger birds?
BB
BB about the Turkeys i wouldn't put them with your chickens theres a chance they could get blackhead.
I bought some turkey babys for my Dh a few years back and i didn't know turkeys get Blackhead from chicken poop.
All 3 of them died when i finally put them out to free range with my hens.
If you will google blackhead in turkeys you can get more info.
Hi there B B! Happy to hear from you. I have my baby chicks in with the layers but I have a seperate pen for the babies. You said your pen was 10 ft high?? Use that wasted space above the chickens like I did. I built a two ft deepx8ft long and three ft high out of 1x3' and drilled it into the studs to hold it at waist high. Modify the pen to fit what you want. I can raise the babies til they are 3 months old and then let them in with the layers. I have two such pens and they will hold up to 25 three month old chicks. I can't do pic's or I would show you how I did mine. If you want to d-mail me your address I will send you some pic's.
Yes to your question about meat and layers together.
I'm so glad your coop is about finished, would love to see some pic's and also of your flock when you get them. Haystack
Wonderful Bronx!!!! I am with Haystack, I keep the babies away from the older chickens. I wait until they are comparable in size. You can put them so the others can see them though. It can make introductions a bit more smooth. I had a problem last seaon adding my new girls. The others wanted to kill them. I had to remove the largest threat and antagonist for awhile then everything was okay. Awhile later I put them back in as well and all went smooth. I really know nothing about turkeys, other than they taste good, so I will leave that to the pros. hehehe As far as space, the average is 3 to 4 square feet per bird. so 80 square feet... 20 to 25 birds sounds right to me. Especailly if they get out to stretch in the sun. I cant wait to see the flock!!!
Haystack:
Are you saying that you mounted a pen for the babies above the nesting boxes? That sounds interesting.
BB
Yes indeed, about two feet above. Why not use that space rather than let it go to waste. With a solid plywood floor, 1x3 frame and I chose hardware cloth, but chicken wire will do just fine. It has large doors on each end for easy accessability. I have had many who raise chickens stop by after they hear from word of mouth to see what and how I designed my coop and they all say "why didn't I think of that. Use all that air space buddy. Haystack