Knowing my procrastinative tendencies, I built an extra large (2' X 4' X 4") brooder for my 18 layers of different varieties, hoping they wouldn't get too big or too ootsy before I had time to complete the coop. Fortunately, aside from occasionally bumping their combs on the overhead netting, they seem okay with current digs-and could conceivably go on like they are for a while before the quarters would get too crowded or so it seems. But they all have their true feathers (they are between 6-7weeks old) and there's no denying that new digs are called for. And they're starting to stink up the place (we've got them inside where our 2-yr-old can amuse herself with them).
At any rate, in two days, I'll have walls up on the new coop and they'll be in it in a week or two. The run will follow. I would just like to run what I have planned by some of you who have been at it awhile and see if there's anything missing.
I've got a 5/8" Advantech floor on a 8' X 8" deck, pressure-treated, set on posts about 1.5' off the ground. It will be a 2x4-framed structure, with gable roof pitched about a 5/12. There will be a front door about 30" wide and on the adjoining right wall (opposite the entrance from the run) will be the five nest boxes, elevated slightly, plus a s**t chute immediately on the other side of the boxes. Boxes will be outside style and basically that whole wall will be eaten up by boxes and the egress for manure.
Above the entrance (opposite side, left of door) will be one roost and directly opposite the door will be more roosting opportunities ,maybe 30" up or varying heights.
I plan to ventilate the gable ends with conventional louvered pop-ins and provide two other doors, maybe one above the nest boxes and one opposite, above the roost, which can be swung and locked open when needed. There will be hardware cloth inside both of these.
I've walked the run and it looks like about 70 linear feet of six foot chicken wire. I will be burying about 80' of 2' hardware cloth , about 18 inches down, around the whole perimeter, plus the two sides of the coop which are not contained by the chicken wire. I will be using a 2X4, pressure-treated framed structure to support the chicken wire and one section will be roofed over with something, not sure yet; they'll have that for rain cover plus they can always go under the house for protection Where there is no roof I plan to use deer fencing.
My wife works/plays at home and therefore there is almost always someone here to watch over things.
We plan to free-range them as soon as possible. To that end, we are converting some land to grass. We are really looking forward to the tick-protection I imagine they will provide...based on my observations of them in the brooder, I'm sure they'll be as good as they say the guinea fowl are at spotting and dispatching pests.
Anyway, this is long and windy but I'm enjoying a glass of Malbec and the tongue wags a tad when thus stimulated. Any and all comments appreciated and welcomed.
At any rate, in two days, I'll have walls up on the new coop and they'll be in it in a week or two. The run will follow. I would just like to run what I have planned by some of you who have been at it awhile and see if there's anything missing.
I've got a 5/8" Advantech floor on a 8' X 8" deck, pressure-treated, set on posts about 1.5' off the ground. It will be a 2x4-framed structure, with gable roof pitched about a 5/12. There will be a front door about 30" wide and on the adjoining right wall (opposite the entrance from the run) will be the five nest boxes, elevated slightly, plus a s**t chute immediately on the other side of the boxes. Boxes will be outside style and basically that whole wall will be eaten up by boxes and the egress for manure.
Above the entrance (opposite side, left of door) will be one roost and directly opposite the door will be more roosting opportunities ,maybe 30" up or varying heights.
I plan to ventilate the gable ends with conventional louvered pop-ins and provide two other doors, maybe one above the nest boxes and one opposite, above the roost, which can be swung and locked open when needed. There will be hardware cloth inside both of these.
I've walked the run and it looks like about 70 linear feet of six foot chicken wire. I will be burying about 80' of 2' hardware cloth , about 18 inches down, around the whole perimeter, plus the two sides of the coop which are not contained by the chicken wire. I will be using a 2X4, pressure-treated framed structure to support the chicken wire and one section will be roofed over with something, not sure yet; they'll have that for rain cover plus they can always go under the house for protection Where there is no roof I plan to use deer fencing.
My wife works/plays at home and therefore there is almost always someone here to watch over things.
We plan to free-range them as soon as possible. To that end, we are converting some land to grass. We are really looking forward to the tick-protection I imagine they will provide...based on my observations of them in the brooder, I'm sure they'll be as good as they say the guinea fowl are at spotting and dispatching pests.
Anyway, this is long and windy but I'm enjoying a glass of Malbec and the tongue wags a tad when thus stimulated. Any and all comments appreciated and welcomed.
