2018 Newbie Chat!

[llombardo]

From what I’ve read 1sq ft per hen. If I where building one from scratch, I would have the whole South facing side open! This would be into a covered run area to keep the inside dry. On those windy days last winter we had snow blowing in if we had the windows open. My repairs this summer took that into mind. We get “nor-easters” with strong winds from the north and east. Our run is to the north. I built a whole new run and mocked down half of the south wall. In the picture above the Camra is pointing West. That upper area that’s covering the new opening has the east face.

With a new coop I would also include fixed roost poles above poop trays. Power to keep the water warm in winter along with lights so I can see the birds at night. Plenty of nest boxes too! Food and water is moving out to the covered run for us. It should help keep everyone happy by having multiple feed/water stations. Also we have a small tractor/loader we use in the garden, we load weeds and dump them to the grils to compost. Having a gate big enough is important to us!

The south side on this coop would actually be where the door is going to be. East will the door for the chickens to go into the run. The north side of coop will be facing a bunch of trees. The good thing here is that it's not a wide open area like in the country, so done if the coverage like trees and the fence to the yard is going to stop quite a bit of the wind. I don't want to put the door on the side because it won't be in my line of vision, but on the other hand if I do that then the open ventilation area will be in my line of vision and less accessible for predators. Not a bad idea.

 

[Cbarr00]

One of my RIR laid a nice dark egg yesterday!

 

[Cbarr00]

So my husband went to TSC yesterday and they had chicks again. They had some labeled as "ameraucana" who knows for sure but I was sure willing to try. He was a no go tho I would love to have a colored layer after seeing yalls eggs! He said maybe next year. Eh guess I'll wait.

 

[llombardo]

So my husband went to TSC yesterday and they had chicks again. They had some labeled as "ameraucana" who knows for sure but I was sure willing to try. He was a no go tho I would love to have a colored layer after seeing yalls eggs! He said maybe next year. Eh guess I'll wait.

They had chicks and ducks last week by me. I had to talk myself out of a duck out loud in front of people...

 

[Chickassan]

You already got a suprise faverolle! I can imagine the conversation though as iv'e had to talk myself down from the chick and duck bins too. Just an interesting tidbit, mumbling to yourself "the chicks are hot lava don't touch!" Will get you all kinds of personal space in tsc.

They had chicks and ducks last week by me. I had to talk myself out of a duck out loud in front of people...

 

[PNW_Peepers]

So I'm looking at building a coop--it won't be before the winter, so we will get through this one as best as we can.

Ventilation
I was thinking of putting the Ventilation on both ends at the peak above the roof and oppisite that side. There will be windows on the side that is open in the picture and a window oppisite that. Is that enough ventilation?

View attachment 1508528

I would try to add ventilation to all four sides if you can. The goal is to get a cross breeze in the warmer months.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

So my husband went to TSC yesterday and they had chicks again. They had some labeled as "ameraucana" who knows for sure but I was sure willing to try. He was a no go tho I would love to have a colored layer after seeing yalls eggs! He said maybe next year. Eh guess I'll wait.

My husband is a no go for more birds right now too. We just butchered one last week and I’ve been eyeing penedesenca chicks to add to the flock. Ugh next year is where I’m at too!

 

[CannedMonster]

I’m cured of chick fever for now.
Probably because I have chicks lol!
Our TS hasn’t had anything remotely interesting to me.
Plus I’m absolutely sick of integration and I think my birds are too.
Kudos to dear Red the sex link for taking it all in stride and never being mean to newcomers.
I had no clue she’d be such a great bird.

Unfortunately one of my EE chicks seems to be getting a suspiciously pink looking comb...
I’ll keep telling myself it’s just my imagination

 

[CannedMonster]

Awwww well done to Angus! Such a clever boy, he is proving to be a great protector. I actually lol'd @ tractor story - I totally love the way you tell your stories.

Do you think Angus sees you as a rooster - like alpha male type thing?

I think he’s trying to figure that out.
He’s trying to understand where my place is in the scheme of things.
I don’t want him to think of me as an alpha rooster!
I want him to think of me as the human who brings good things to him and his girls and is not to be trifled with.
I want him to understand I will not hurt his girls.
I don’t mind him watching or showing concern but he mustn’t attack me.
OR the dog!
He pretty much ignores the dog but my black NN pullet Agatha tries to bite Charlie sometimes.
Agatha is extremely bold for a pullet and will challenge other creatures.
Her behavior is concerning.

 

[CannedMonster]

This will be our first winter with our flock - we usually have mild winters rarely reaching below zero, an extreme winter for us is -5, but this is rare, do you think we'd need heated roosts or some sort of heat? Just is I'm getting a lot of mixed opinion/advice, some say no heat needed as our winters are so mild, others say both chickens and ducks need extra heat regardless of winter being mild, what do you think?

You want to consider the fact that chickens are furnished by nature with what they need to survive.
If we give them supplemental heat and things like that what happens if the power goes out?
The birds will be acclimated to the extra warmth and will be shocked when they don’t have it.
I want my birds to be acclimated to natural conditions.
Ventilation in the coop is key.
You want the ventilation to be above the roosts near the roof.
The moist air will be drawn out in winter.
Condensation in the coop is very bad!
That is what really causes a lot of frostbite.
Windows are really more for light and extra airflow in the summer months.
Other than ventilation and roosts that don’t conduct cold (no metal roosts) you really only need a draft free space for them and that’s it.
Mine were perfectly fine last winter in the prefab coop with the sliding windows open a couple of inches even at night.
I would’ve opened them more but they’re poorly positioned closer to the roosts than I like.
Our winters here are probably similar to yours.
Our lows can be around zero (F) or even less and our winter highs can sometimes be in the teens but they’re usually in the 20s.