John and Tiffany
Chirping
We are getting close to starting our first coop. I wanted to describe our situation and get your feedback on anything I might be missing.
We live in Knoxville, tn city limits. We can have 6 chickens. Of the 6 they all have to be hens.
We are planning to order 3 golden comets and 3 light brahmas for our first flock. We plan to order through cackle hatchery and get the vaccines with that.
I built the coop into the back third or so of my tool shed. I framed up a wall with a door for access, the she'd has vents and I built 2 roosts at four ft and two foot heights with steps to each. I made three 18x18x18 nesting boxes just off floor level and used laminate on the floors for easy cleaning.
The enclosure is roughly 600 sq ft and has it's own access door and a full overhead enclosure.
What should I expect during the first few weeks? Can we keep them outside from the start? It's already in the 70s regularly and we plan to wait till around mid March to order. The golden comets are for eggs of course and the brahmas are more for our enjoyment than anything. What are some tips for ensuring a happy healthy flock?
We live in Knoxville, tn city limits. We can have 6 chickens. Of the 6 they all have to be hens.
We are planning to order 3 golden comets and 3 light brahmas for our first flock. We plan to order through cackle hatchery and get the vaccines with that.
I built the coop into the back third or so of my tool shed. I framed up a wall with a door for access, the she'd has vents and I built 2 roosts at four ft and two foot heights with steps to each. I made three 18x18x18 nesting boxes just off floor level and used laminate on the floors for easy cleaning.
The enclosure is roughly 600 sq ft and has it's own access door and a full overhead enclosure.
What should I expect during the first few weeks? Can we keep them outside from the start? It's already in the 70s regularly and we plan to wait till around mid March to order. The golden comets are for eggs of course and the brahmas are more for our enjoyment than anything. What are some tips for ensuring a happy healthy flock?