Whiskybear
Songster
- Jan 4, 2022
- 225
- 378
- 166
I’ve been on BYC for a year now but keeping to the quail forum where I belong. Now I’m looking to get into chickens and know BYC is the place to look for guidance. I’ve been around chickens a bit, but never been the one really responsible for managing them. What I have seen are problems I would like to avoid in my setup. I have the beginnings of a plan and intend to start building very soon; I’m hoping y’all can help me flesh out that plan before construction starts the wrong way. Even bad advice will give me more to think about. Thanks in advance.
The plan : build a double coop with a shared wall, attached to a large chicken wire fenced in area; up to maybe a quarter acre (I have plenty more space available, but this is how much I’m thinking ((and I’m lazy)). Divide that area into runs with gates so I can divert birds into different runs like rotating pastures with cattle. One side of the coop will be just for half a dozen layers and a rooster. The other side will be for meat birds. Probably 18 - 24 at a time (per year). The layer side will have nest boxes and roost poles; the grow out side will be bigger, but all floor. The structure will be near an outbuilding with electricity so I can use water heaters in winter and probably ceramic heat bulbs for its extreme nights; keeping the layers year round, raising the meat population over the warmer months.
The entire fenced area will be covered with netting to keep my birds in and raptors out. (We have hawks out the wazoo.) The outside fence will be fortified around the bottom edges against digging by foxes, yotes and raccoons. I’m entirely dismissing snakes as the largest we have around here might get some eggs but can’t swallow a half grown chicken. (Might be able to kill one, but I figure the others will likely kill it right after.)
What I’m trying to avoid mainly is mucky ground where they end up walking on mud balls as feet. I’m thinking moving them into one “pasture” for a couple weeks while the grass comes back in the other. That’s 4 distinct runs of different sizes for the 2 populations.
That’s about as far as my thinking has progressed. I’d like feedback as to how large the areas need to be for those numbers of birds? How quickly will they trample paths into mud? Am I underrating snakes? (We also have mink around here.) What about the area/entrance right in front of the coop doors; how much or should I cover there? What about bedding inside the coops- straw? Have I overrated chicken wire vs raccoons?
I expect this is a start and learn as you go thing like with the quail and so many other things in life, but this one is going to involve a significant initial investment of labor, not to mention money. So if your pointers can save me from some idiot missteps out the gate… I’m all ears.
The plan : build a double coop with a shared wall, attached to a large chicken wire fenced in area; up to maybe a quarter acre (I have plenty more space available, but this is how much I’m thinking ((and I’m lazy)). Divide that area into runs with gates so I can divert birds into different runs like rotating pastures with cattle. One side of the coop will be just for half a dozen layers and a rooster. The other side will be for meat birds. Probably 18 - 24 at a time (per year). The layer side will have nest boxes and roost poles; the grow out side will be bigger, but all floor. The structure will be near an outbuilding with electricity so I can use water heaters in winter and probably ceramic heat bulbs for its extreme nights; keeping the layers year round, raising the meat population over the warmer months.
The entire fenced area will be covered with netting to keep my birds in and raptors out. (We have hawks out the wazoo.) The outside fence will be fortified around the bottom edges against digging by foxes, yotes and raccoons. I’m entirely dismissing snakes as the largest we have around here might get some eggs but can’t swallow a half grown chicken. (Might be able to kill one, but I figure the others will likely kill it right after.)
What I’m trying to avoid mainly is mucky ground where they end up walking on mud balls as feet. I’m thinking moving them into one “pasture” for a couple weeks while the grass comes back in the other. That’s 4 distinct runs of different sizes for the 2 populations.
That’s about as far as my thinking has progressed. I’d like feedback as to how large the areas need to be for those numbers of birds? How quickly will they trample paths into mud? Am I underrating snakes? (We also have mink around here.) What about the area/entrance right in front of the coop doors; how much or should I cover there? What about bedding inside the coops- straw? Have I overrated chicken wire vs raccoons?
I expect this is a start and learn as you go thing like with the quail and so many other things in life, but this one is going to involve a significant initial investment of labor, not to mention money. So if your pointers can save me from some idiot missteps out the gate… I’m all ears.
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