Hi. New coop coming. I decided on sand. Here is my layout.

Lawrosa

In the Brooder
7 Years
May 26, 2012
40
1
24
Hello,

I have been searching hi and low for the best method for raising chickens for eggs. I have a smaller property and the coop will be between a shed and a pool. I have 1000 sq ft garden and although deep litter sounds appealing, I made the jump and added sand today. I need to keep them more confined because of the garden. Possibly in the winter I may let them free range.

So I am going the sand method. For 24 bucks I got a pick up truck of construction sand with pebbles in it. I boxed out a 4 x 8 for the coop and a front area that I will fence in for additional space.

I cant let them free range until the fall when my garden no longer exists. ( See pics)

Also I live in NJ and will put sand in the raised coop. People say what about winter?, but I will wing it. Possibly add pine shavings on top to keep them warm or remove sand and add pine shavings.I am getting Buff orpingtons and Speckled sussex. These are cold hardy breeds so I think people baby the chickens too much with heat lamps and all that.

IMO you do more damage to the chickens adding heat lamps.

So this is where I stand as of this memorial day weekend. Hopefully the coop will be ready in 3 weeks.

I will keep you updated. What do you all think?

Boxed out. No sand yest just dirt.





Sand added and 1x6 for front area that I will fence in. Plus 1x6 to retain sand.





Another pic




Here is the coop I am getting made.


Feed back?

Mike NJ
 
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Bump.

Anyone have any feed back? I figure no feed back is good, I must be doing it right.

Mike NJ
 
will your run be covered too? between the heat in the summer and snow in the winter it worked out well for me,
I think you might need a heat lamp for day old chicks, right now my month old chicks only get the heat lamp at night,
soon not at all, sand is good for the run, I use a cat litter scoop to clean up, very easy
good luck!
 
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Yes coop and run will be like the video I posted. It is coop and roof over the run.

The section in the front that I added sand to will not be covered. I can always put a tarp or beach umbrella over it.

Mike NJ
 
The coop part is 4x3 The whole run including under the coop is 4x8.

I boxed out an additional area in front of the coop 8x7.The 8x7 part will be open though with no roof and I will put a fence around the perimeter.

I am having the builder change the location of the run entrance door from where he shows it in the video to the side with the window.

I am also having him more the clean out door to the nest box side and the nest box gets moved to the window side.

Also thanks for replying back.

Mike NJ
 
The coop part is 4x3 The whole run including under the coop is 4x8.

I boxed out an additional area in front of the coop 8x7.The 8x7 part will be open though with no roof and I will put a fence around the perimeter.

I am having the builder change the location of the run entrance door from where he shows it in the video to the side with the window.

I am also having him more the clean out door to the nest box side and the nest box gets moved to the window side.

Also thanks for replying back.

Mike NJ
I think you have a great plan. My only suggestion is to get some bird netting that ppl use to cover fruit trees to keep the birds out. That will protect from predators of any kind and it is cheap. Tarps dont last. And my birds like the sun at times. Looks good tho. Just dont get too many birds or they will peck and fight. I think any more than the 6 the builder suggests would cause problems. I also have a garden and I just put up 30 inch rabbit fence from tsc around it with stakes and my birds stay out.
 
Thanks josh,

Yeah they will not be free ranging until the garden is gone come fall. They will stay entirly in the sand areas.

Then you can see part of my garden behind my boxed 12x12 area. That garden is 6x75ft. I was thinking of getting the rabbit fence as you describe and make a path to the garden area for them come time the garden is done in the fall. You can see I have 2ft areas on each side of the sand area and I can easily stake it with rabbit fence to make a path to the garden area.

But most of their time will be in the coop run and the area I added. 88 square ft total

I hope it makes sense.

Mike NJ
 
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