A Simple and Effective Coop Plan for 50 standard-sized chickens

[speckledhen]

Rules of thumb are just guidelines, certainly. Going by the 4 sf rule, I myself have about 4-5 more birds in there than I should. They do okay, but the moisture from the poop and respiration of that many will make the ammonia worse and harder to deal with. I've found it much harder to keep the smells down and mine do not stay in the coop during the day; they freerange most of every day. Just depends on how much work you want to do daily, really.

Cant comment on a concrete floor other than be sure it's smooth. Very rough concrete may lead to abrasions and in turn, lead to bumblefoot infections.

 

[Preservation Acres]

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Great advice. Thanks.

How are your vents set up? I'm thinking about 9 inches covered with fine mesh wire all around the coop where the walls meet the roof. Is that enough?

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

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That makes since. Most of the reading Ive done recommends at least 2 sq ft per bird, but I do see where youre coming from. More sq ft per bird will be better, just as long as youve no less than 2 sq ft per bird. Like you said thats just the guideline I go by.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Great advice. Thanks.

How are your vents set up? I'm thinking about 9 inches covered with fine mesh wire all around the coop where the walls meet the roof. Is that enough?

Sounds like it's probably enough. Here's a pic of my coop and you can see all along the entire length at the top is a vent that has a hinged board for a cover. I can open it as much or as little as I want. There are also, in the entire 20' coop, 3 windows and on the back part a small bsmt type vent, concrete-block size.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Ive never had nothing but a dirt floor in my coops, but I would think a concrete floor would work great.

My wife thinks I'm nuts for wanting concrete. She thinks a dirt floor would be fine. Have you had any problems with predators?

3 of my coops have dirt floor - so far the worst "predator" is mice - they dig through and get into the feeders. But then, the big coop has a wooden floor, and they come in through any small opening anyway, so concrete would probably be ok.

It will get cold, but if it has bedding, that should take care of the cold part - plus being in TN (are you east or west?) you shouldn't have it THAT cold for long. I'm in south central KY, and we have had pretty decent temps, lately - only had that cold snap that hit everyone for awhile. I had my free rangers stuck inside once this fall, and that was more because of biting wind and rain than the temp, so much.

They get upset and give me the stinkeye if I make them stay inside, so they go out wind, rain, sun or whatever. Of course, they hide in the garage, if it is too bad

, so they have shelter even free ranging. They also have the option to go back into the coop (I leave the door open) but they never do, except to lay an egg and go back out again.

Unless it turns truly ugly outside, I let them out every day to free range, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, also, in your part of the country.

meri

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
My wife thinks I'm nuts for wanting concrete. She thinks a dirt floor would be fine. Have you had any problems with predators?

3 of my coops have dirt floor - so far the worst "predator" is mice - they dig through and get into the feeders. But then, the big coop has a wooden floor, and they come in through any small opening anyway, so concrete would probably be ok.

It will get cold, but if it has bedding, that should take care of the cold part - plus being in TN (are you east or west?) you shouldn't have it THAT cold for long. I'm in south central KY, and we have had pretty decent temps, lately - only had that cold snap that hit everyone for awhile. I had my free rangers stuck inside once this fall, and that was more because of biting wind and rain than the temp, so much.

They get upset and give me the stinkeye if I make them stay inside, so they go out wind, rain, sun or whatever. Of course, they hide in the garage, if it is too bad

, so they have shelter even free ranging. They also have the option to go back into the coop (I leave the door open) but they never do, except to lay an egg and go back out again.

Unless it turns truly ugly outside, I let them out every day to free range, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, also, in your part of the country.

meri

I'm south of Nashville. Mice shouldn't be much of a problem. I want to raise and breed Buckeyes. Word on the street is they're better than barn cats at hunting down mice.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
Great advice. Thanks.

How are your vents set up? I'm thinking about 9 inches covered with fine mesh wire all around the coop where the walls meet the roof. Is that enough?

Sounds like it's probably enough. Here's a pic of my coop and you can see all along the entire length at the top is a vent that has a hinged board for a cover. I can open it as much or as little as I want. There are also, in the entire 20' coop, 3 windows and on the back part a small bsmt type vent, concrete-block size.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h49/ClutchHutch/DCP_7281.jpg

That's a GREAT setup.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

well, I have one worthless cat (she is 17 years old, and she retired from mouse chasing long ago) but the dog is good at catching mice, and I've seen the chickens catching then fighting over mice, but I seem to have more of them this year than last.

Must have been good weather conditions for breeding mice this year.

meri

 

[Preservation Acres]

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If everything goes as planned, more mice will mean more food for my Buckeyes and less money spent on feed.

 

[speckledhen]

Here is a detail of the vents on my original coop when under construction. Buckeyes are a great heritage breed (I see you joined our Yahoo group already)