i have 46 chickens and 22 are laying, i have the metal nests 3 high 5 across, they only use 3 of them.I'm thinking the same thin @Sylvester017 !! Man, that's a lot of nestboxes!
post your chicken coop pictures here!
- Thread starter chickenlover237
- Start date
Neither of my children have given me grandkids - they're too old now and no adopted GKs either - so I feel for you missing yours!!Really missed my grands today. They had helped me so much getting my coop chicken ready.
Got the nests closed off but what do you all do when you have some chickens who are right on the verge of laying but there are others in the coop who are probably 8 wks away and want to sleep in the nests?
My hens have always slept in our little coop nestboxes. The perch was never higher than the nestbox ledge so they've always felt more secure inside the boxes (3 walls are open wire). Don't fret about it. You could try a 2x4 plank flatside up as a roosting bar to entice them to roost there. Leave one nest open for your soon-to-be layer girls. In 8 weeks open all the nests. Does it get humid in NC? We are experiencing overly humid weather that our chickens are spending the whole day under the Orbit Mister under the canopy outside. They are miserable in the coop and we've taken off the tarp to expose all 3 wire walls at night and leave the nestbox door dropped down to allow as much air as possible for them. One of us stays at the sliding door to watch the coop since we never leave any coop doors open at night but they are so uncomfortable. We had to bring our Ameraucana (my avatar) into the house to cool down she was making uncomfortable noises in the coop.
You might want to think about a drop down ventilation lid on hinges across one of your walls (of course covered with hardwire for when the lid is open) for those unbearable humid nights. The ammonia odors can wreak havoc on chickens' respiratory systems. Our coop is clean but when there is heavy moisture in the air coupled with heat the smells will reek.
I have the eggdoor across the back of the coop lined with hardware...I used screws/washers to put it in place. Do you think it would be safe to just leave that open at night? I open it first thing in the morning right now. Also, I only got the roosts in yesterday.(a story all in itself) When I went in last night, they were all perched up on the high one so I think I might be safe to open the nest boxes. Thought about making curtains and put them across all but one. I really need to start work on the run but I pushed it yesterday and I'm give out. The really need to get out of the coop.!! Also, I couldn't get the sand right away so I put shavings down...hate them. Love my sand!!
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I'm trying to draw up a floor plan to build a bigger coop for my 10 black australorps but I'm not 100% sure if 8x8' is to big now lol... I've been researching and some say it's good for up to 20 birds, others say just 10-15 birds... But that's a lot of $$$ for supplies, would a 6x8' work or stick with the 8x8' plans? That's with 4 foot ceiling slopping to 3.5 for rain drainage...
I have an 8x7 coop. Their nests are on the back wall but its facing the front window, about 6' away. The coop is 6' at the front and about 5'6" at the back where the nest are located. Pretty cozy for a group of 7 chickens. There's not a huge amount of light but the curtains would help wouldn't they? One will be going to be rehomed (roo)...possibly another one. So the entire group won't be but 5 hens.
- May 29, 2014
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I'm trying to draw up a floor plan to build a bigger coop for my 10 black australorps but I'm not 100% sure if 8x8' is to big now lol... I've been researching and some say it's good for up to 20 birds, others say just 10-15 birds... But that's a lot of $$$ for supplies, would a 6x8' work or stick with the 8x8' plans? That's with 4 foot ceiling slopping to 3.5 for rain drainage...
8x6 would hold 12 large birds, 8x8 = 16. (if they will have a run or free range) Remember to subtract floor area for nest boxes, feeders, fountains etc. Bigger is better according to "chicken math" People almost always get more chickens. Will you store feed inside our out? Do tou think you well need an introduction/separation pen for new chicks?
Head room. You will be happier if you can stand in it, my opinion.
To cut cost check out craigslist for recycle wood etc. Good luck
Thanks so much... And yeah, my husband said make it at least 5.5 so I could stand... I noticed he said 'me' not 'we' lol... For him it would be 6' lol... And now suddenly he starts talking about making it 10'x 10' , building two and adding more for meat birds... Incubating another 40 next year AND even adding a miniature cow!!! HAS HE LOST HIS MIND?! Help!!!! The farming bug has nipped my husband in the butt but we only own about an acre of land... With a house on it... I keep noticing he says I will be the one carding for and slaughtering these animals when the time comes... I guess he wants me to be a stay at home mom and farmer lol... I can work with that but he needs to start adding a WE not just a ME into these plans lol... The only good thing about this plan is that before I got injured last year I worked as a meat cutter at our local store... I know how to cut them up, the killing them part will be new... Any ideas on how to SLOW MY HUSBAND DOWN TO EARTH, at least until we get our court case settled and get some cash lol...
8x8 or 8x12 are better dimensions, as things like plywood come in 4x8 sheets, and most other materials are usually cut similarly (if you're using fresh lumber). Keep in mind that a cheaper foot price on an awkward length of wood ends up costing more. No use building it smaller than you could with the same lumber. Sure, it's a bit more surface to paint, but that will only add a fraction of your total price to it.
I'm trying to draw up a floor plan to build a bigger coop for my 10 black australorps but I'm not 100% sure if 8x8' is to big now lol... I've been researching and some say it's good for up to 20 birds, others say just 10-15 birds... But that's a lot of $$$ for supplies, would a 6x8' work or stick with the 8x8' plans? That's with 4 foot ceiling slopping to 3.5 for rain drainage...
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