Well, the teens are just getting too big to keep in the house. Alas, they've outgrown their room! If I could sex them and sell off the extra boys, the gals could hang around a bit longer, but since I'll have to wait to find out whos-who, they are going to have to go outside earlier than I had planned (hoped?). Naturally, I have a bunch of questions.
1) Their 'coop' is the converted back end of our cement floored garage/shed. I like that nothing can dig in, but how do I keep the floor dry enough for them?
2) Their 'coop' measures 8'W x 12'L. How many chickens could live comfortably in this size coop, as I plan to add more...<<smiles evilly>> The wall can be moved out to make the coop either 10'W or even up to 12'W and still leave my hub plenty of storage space on the other side.
3) Per #1, what do I do for bedding? Should I put down hay and then top it with shavings? Just shavings? Just hay?
4) Warmth....the coop is not too drafty, but it still gets good ventiliation, and the temp gets down into the 50's at night. Sometimes a little lower. What wattage bulb would keep them sufficiantly warm in a coop that size until they finish feathering out completely? I have a 250 Watt red bulb. Would that do it?
5) Will they be OK out there all alone? I am accustomed to hearing their every peep in the room next to mine that they've lived in for the past almost 4 weeks now. I wont be able to hear them outside. Their coop is totally predator proof (that we know of...haven't found a way anything could get in anyway...) and they'll be locked up tight at night...but, as a new chicken mom, I worry about my little dears.
6) They have a nice size pen attached to their coop already ready for them. If we move them out next week (which we are planning) are they going to be old enough for me to start opening their coop door in the a.m. to let them explore the pen when its warm enough out, or should I wait a bit yet? I have been taking them out during the day already to get them used to the sights, sounds, smells, etc but they've only been out about an hour at a time. Would 4 weeks be too soon to let them out all day (on nice weather days only of course)?
7) The coop doesn't have nestboxes yet, but I've put up a nice long roost about 12" off the floor for them, that runs the width (8'L) of the coop. I can raise it up and add the other roosts as they grow, but I figured the one would be sufficient for a little while. How many chickens can use an 8'L roost? I will be adding more chickens!
I'm sure I'll probably think of more before they go out, but this is what I came up with for now. My hub thinks I've completely lost my mind!
1) Their 'coop' is the converted back end of our cement floored garage/shed. I like that nothing can dig in, but how do I keep the floor dry enough for them?
2) Their 'coop' measures 8'W x 12'L. How many chickens could live comfortably in this size coop, as I plan to add more...<<smiles evilly>> The wall can be moved out to make the coop either 10'W or even up to 12'W and still leave my hub plenty of storage space on the other side.
3) Per #1, what do I do for bedding? Should I put down hay and then top it with shavings? Just shavings? Just hay?
4) Warmth....the coop is not too drafty, but it still gets good ventiliation, and the temp gets down into the 50's at night. Sometimes a little lower. What wattage bulb would keep them sufficiantly warm in a coop that size until they finish feathering out completely? I have a 250 Watt red bulb. Would that do it?
5) Will they be OK out there all alone? I am accustomed to hearing their every peep in the room next to mine that they've lived in for the past almost 4 weeks now. I wont be able to hear them outside. Their coop is totally predator proof (that we know of...haven't found a way anything could get in anyway...) and they'll be locked up tight at night...but, as a new chicken mom, I worry about my little dears.
6) They have a nice size pen attached to their coop already ready for them. If we move them out next week (which we are planning) are they going to be old enough for me to start opening their coop door in the a.m. to let them explore the pen when its warm enough out, or should I wait a bit yet? I have been taking them out during the day already to get them used to the sights, sounds, smells, etc but they've only been out about an hour at a time. Would 4 weeks be too soon to let them out all day (on nice weather days only of course)?
7) The coop doesn't have nestboxes yet, but I've put up a nice long roost about 12" off the floor for them, that runs the width (8'L) of the coop. I can raise it up and add the other roosts as they grow, but I figured the one would be sufficient for a little while. How many chickens can use an 8'L roost? I will be adding more chickens!
I'm sure I'll probably think of more before they go out, but this is what I came up with for now. My hub thinks I've completely lost my mind!