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Witchychickens
Chirping
I'll start with 'anything else'
We have researched or handled 1-4. We plan on a total flock of 6, 8 would be my absolute max and I think with a coop and run the size I’m planning, it could work. I don’t think I could manage more than that. They need to be cold hardy, good layers, we will not have a roo (not allowed here). We do understand better layers live shorter lives. We will replace them as needed. I was planning pullets vs chicks, I know they’re more expensive, we’ve weighed that option. I don’t think raising chicks is for my family at this time. I may change my mind after I research more. I was considering Rhode Island reds, Isa browns, or Red Sex Links.
It’s hard to verbally explain an entire coop plan in type which is why I didn’t go into extreme detail. I did realize after I initially posted that I can run an extension cord for water heating and maybe a light (not for constant light but to help if I need to go out at night).
The plan is for the front that faces the deck (my compost is right there) to have 3 doors one hinges out and down, the other open traditionally. This would allow me to shovel the deep bedding into a wheel barrow and compost directly behind me in the compost. I am 5’2” and can crouch and climb in through that opening if needed. It would be essentially 3 doors of opening space. There will be a 12 inch interior wall in the back to hold up to 12 inches of bedding behind that will be a door in the floor with a ramp to the lower run, the run under will be 24-30 inches high, (we still need to research that) the run will extend behind the coop by 2-3 feet (it’s deceptive in the picture but there is probably about 10 more feet of land behind those shrubs to the actual corner of the fence, it’s usually used for garden crops (wheat this year) and a small columnar cultivar of apple tree to the back right. We plan to set the roosting perches against the left wall that will abut the second shed. This should allow for a cozier roosting area, Away from vents. We discussed a roof vent and 2 gable end vents with overhang to protect from the elements. The back side will have a window for south facing sun and another access door that drops down. I’m considering having the egg boxes bump into the adjoining shed on the left as well. Not sure specifics with the roosts being there, too. I think I can still swing it. I thought wedging it between those two areas would serve as a good wind break. We would prefer it here as the yard is small and this fits the best.
I was referring to anything else related to the coop. (I didn’t mean this in a rude way, just that I didn’t explain any of that because I didn’t want to put it in the wrong forum).Step 1 - Check your local laws and ordinances. There are lots of sad stories on the board about how everything was okay, my neighbors loved the chickens ... until everything wasn't okay and somebody didn't love the chickens. If you have to fight city hall, you want to make that fight BEFORE you start your chicken journey. Some places limit the number of chickens you can own or whether or not you can have rooster. Often there are offset requirements that dictate where you place the coop relative to your own hour or to your neighbors property.
Step 2 - Try to determine what you want from your chickens. (and consider how likely your plans are to change) Do you want eggs? Do you want meat? Are you looking for fertilizer? ... there are some people on this board that care little to nothing about the eggs and just want the poop. Do you want 'farm animals' or do you want 'pets?' If you are looking for eggs, how many do you want in a week/month? If you are looking for meat, how frequently do you plan on harvesting a chicken?
Step 3 - Think about the lifespan of a chicken. Some of the biggest egg producers often live not much passed two years. Some can live 10 years. As chickens age their production slows down - in most cases quite considerably. Do you plan to cull and replace or, will you support older hens in their 'retirement?' Based on your answers in 1 & 2, plan on how you plan on continuing the flock. If you have a rooster will you let a broody hen raise a clutch of chicks? (Some breeds are more conducive to raising chicks than others and requires more research.) Will you buy more chicks? Will you buy pullets? If you going just for eggs, it can make sense to work your way up to your maximum number of chickens over a coupe of years. Otherwise, you can go from feast to famine.
Step 4 - Investigate poop management and what looks like it will work best for you. The two most common coop approaches are deep bedding (keep adding more material / clean out 1-2x / year) and poop boards (placed under the roost and cleaned daily or very near to it)
Step 5 - Now you are ready to start thinking about a coop placement. Keeping in mind steps 1-4, your next concern is property location. You want to avoid your run being in a low spot in the yard. If the place you want your run is often swampy and muddy, you want to pick a different spot. It is much easier to place the run in an ideal location than to try and deal with your run in a swampy location.
Step 6 - Now you can start thinking about coop FEATURES. If you will be introducing pullets, you should have space to quarantine the new birds to keep them away from the existing birds (research and understand quarantining) Introducing pullets or chicks you raise to pullets, at some point you'll need to keep them together but separated so that they older birds don't hurt the newer ones. (they can be shockingly mean.) If you intend to have hens raise chicks, mama bird typically protects the chicks when they need the protection, but they still need space as well as making sure a nesting box is setup somewhere that functions well for chicks. If you intend to do deep bedding, you need to have sufficient space in the bottom of the coop for the bedding .... it's going to build up and get deep. If you use poop boards, you'll need to be able to access those.
Step 7 - Research coop functionality. You want to make sure that you have the space and ventilation required for your maximum expected number of birds. I highly recommend reading @Yakisugi Coop 's coop page: it has lots of thought out points on things like roost height / ventilation height, etc. You may make different choices, the but linked reference will help you make those decisions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yakisugi-coop.76398/
As @aart pointed out, building a coop up against a fence corner presents some challenges .... especially for a larger one. You'll want accessibility to get in and work in that coop/run. If a coop is above ground and not walk-in, most any coop I've seen needs at least 1 side for clean out and 1 for egg collection
Two important points on insulation. ... It's a GREAT place for rodents to overwinter and stay longer if they like it there. There is almost no way to trap in heat without trapping in the air - especially at the top of the coop. Bad things happen if you trap in air - especially at the top of the coop. Unless you are in the northern parts of Canada, don't worry about insulation but instead worry about stopping drafts while having ventilation.
The almost singular alternative to not having a means of heating water is to bring fresh water to the chickens 1st thing in the morning, 1 hour before sundown, plus as frequently as necessary throughout the day to make sure they have regular access to fresh water.
We have researched or handled 1-4. We plan on a total flock of 6, 8 would be my absolute max and I think with a coop and run the size I’m planning, it could work. I don’t think I could manage more than that. They need to be cold hardy, good layers, we will not have a roo (not allowed here). We do understand better layers live shorter lives. We will replace them as needed. I was planning pullets vs chicks, I know they’re more expensive, we’ve weighed that option. I don’t think raising chicks is for my family at this time. I may change my mind after I research more. I was considering Rhode Island reds, Isa browns, or Red Sex Links.
It’s hard to verbally explain an entire coop plan in type which is why I didn’t go into extreme detail. I did realize after I initially posted that I can run an extension cord for water heating and maybe a light (not for constant light but to help if I need to go out at night).
The plan is for the front that faces the deck (my compost is right there) to have 3 doors one hinges out and down, the other open traditionally. This would allow me to shovel the deep bedding into a wheel barrow and compost directly behind me in the compost. I am 5’2” and can crouch and climb in through that opening if needed. It would be essentially 3 doors of opening space. There will be a 12 inch interior wall in the back to hold up to 12 inches of bedding behind that will be a door in the floor with a ramp to the lower run, the run under will be 24-30 inches high, (we still need to research that) the run will extend behind the coop by 2-3 feet (it’s deceptive in the picture but there is probably about 10 more feet of land behind those shrubs to the actual corner of the fence, it’s usually used for garden crops (wheat this year) and a small columnar cultivar of apple tree to the back right. We plan to set the roosting perches against the left wall that will abut the second shed. This should allow for a cozier roosting area, Away from vents. We discussed a roof vent and 2 gable end vents with overhang to protect from the elements. The back side will have a window for south facing sun and another access door that drops down. I’m considering having the egg boxes bump into the adjoining shed on the left as well. Not sure specifics with the roosts being there, too. I think I can still swing it. I thought wedging it between those two areas would serve as a good wind break. We would prefer it here as the yard is small and this fits the best.
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