Adding pullets to the flock. Will the battle end?

[aart]

Aart I took your advice and Litchfieldgirls too. Got rid of my boss hen and four of the smallest.

Almost instantly they were polite to each other. My lavenders are actually on roosts for the first time ever. I went out to the coop with a flashlight like a freak to spy on them!! Whew, chickens really do need time to integrate. My coop is only 4x6 with 3 roosting bars. This was just too crowded for 15. Maybe in the spring I will add a second coop and give a go at hatching a few eggs. My husband thinks I'm crazy. Lol

Congrats!

Wait, what?!..... just scrolled back and skimmed the whole thread and I don't think you ever mentioned, nor did anyone ask about, your coop size.
4x6 is kinda, really, too small for 10 birds.....let alone 15.
Good article linked in my signature about how much space your chickens need.

Now that you seem to have solved the immediate integration issue, start thinking about winter management.
-Ventilation...Good article linked in my signature about VENTILATION.
-Liquid water...there are lots of ways to keep them in drinkable water.

You're in Michigan too, here on the west 'coast' snow management can be very important in regards access to coop and run as well as outside space for the chickens so they are not trapped in that small coop all winter(they usually don't much like to walk on the snow).

First year learning curve is steep, so many things to figure out...next year will be much easier.

 

[Sassyhens1]

Aart, the only reason we were able to get away with the small coop was the nice weather. The chickens literately only went in to roost at night. We have three bars in there and they have been squishing in on the top two. I have utilized every inch of this darn coop. Part of the decision to get rid of 5 birds was because winter is coming and I do not really know what to expect. I figured the 'free ranging' days would be slim in January.Ventilation was something that I wondered how to handle in the winter? I have two huge sliding windows in the front of the coop, two 2 ft screen cut outs on the sides, and four 3 in holes along the back. These are old pictures of course. Do you keep these windows open in the winter too? I will read your article and gather info from that.


I figure this now gives them 2.4 ft per bird. There are so many discrepancies about how many feet per bird. I have read 1.5 all the way to 4ft per bird. Our local chicken farmer/breeder said "heck you can fit 20 birds in there." I strongly disagree with him.
.

 

[aart]

Where are your nests?

 

[Sassyhens1]

There are 4 mounted on the wall on the right side.

 

[aart]

What *I* would do with this coop for winter is:
-Move the nests lower and onto one of the 4' walls-probably only need 3 nests.
-Put two 2x4 (wide side up) roosts on the 6' wall opposite the windows and at the height of the lower 2 existing roosts-12' total plenty for 10 birds.
-Remove the white trim board(s?) at the very outside top of the window wall and put hardware cloth on the bottoms of the rafters outside for predator protection.

This will give you nice ventilation up high above roosts....hopefully that wall doesn't face your prevailing winds, or you might need to baffle the ventilation).
You don't want to leave those big windows open all winter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I always err on the side of more ventilation. Chickens can live in trees (till a predator eats them). How do you keep drafts out of a tree?

Huge open windows on both east and west walls.

 

[Sassyhens1]

What *I* would do with this coop for winter is:
-Move the nests lower and onto one of the 4' walls-probably only need 3 nests.
-Put two 2x4 (wide side up) roosts on the 6' wall opposite the windows and at the height of the lower 2 existing roosts-12' total plenty for 10 birds.
-Remove the white trim board(s?) at the very outside top of the window wall and put hardware cloth on the bottoms of the rafters outside for predator protection.

This will give you nice ventilation up high above roosts....hopefully that wall doesn't face your prevailing winds, or you might need to baffle the ventilation).
You don't want to leave those big windows open all winter.

This sounds like a great way to re-arrange things and create some space. However my only problem is the nests. One 4' wall has the door that opens into the coop. The opposite 4' wall is on the opposite side. I would never be able to collect/reach eggs. The only solution would be to build them out and collect from outside the coop? The large sliding windows in the front face South. The smaller vents on each side at the top face East and West.

Also- it is hard to see in the photos but everything has hardware cloth covering it. I even used flat round washers to secure. That tiny coop is like fort knox...lol

So do you snow blow an area for them in the winter?

 

[aart]

Quote: Yeah, I did wonder about that....not sure if you can 'walk' into the coop (bent over I'm sure)...looks like big 'walk in' door, but where the chickens come out too?
Maybe put the nests under the windows?
Outside egg gathering could work, another place for predator proofing and more susceptible to frozen eggs.

I do shovel out part of the run(for several reasons), and part of it is under the coop.
Are you free ranging?

 

[Sassyhens1]

Yep you can bend over and get to the back wall. It is not an easy task though. I thought about frozen eggs with the exterior boxes. Wonder if you could add some sort of insulation?
Under the windows would be my only other option with out building nests. The walk in door is how the chickens come out too. The nests may be in the way. I would need to measure. Spring time I am going to be on-the-hunt for a bigger coop. This one wasn't bad for $90!

They did free range in the beginning until the new pullets came along then I had to build runs to separate them. Now they are in the 15'x50' run. They still free range when I am home and able to keep an eye on them. We have had a couple of coyotes and hawks snooping around lately. Do yours free range?


Here is an old picture with that door area.

 

[Sassyhens1]

Yep you can bend over and get to the back wall. It is not an easy task though. I thought about frozen eggs with the exterior boxes. Wonder if you could add some sort of insulation?
Under the windows would be my only other option with out building nests. The walk in door is how the chickens come out too. The nests may be in the way. I would need to measure.

They did free range in the beginning until the new pullets came along then I had to build runs to separate them. Now they are in the 15'x50' run. They still free range when I am home and able to keep an eye on them. We have had a couple of coyotes and hawks snooping around lately.


Here is an old picture with that door area.

I always err on the side of more ventilation. Chickens can live in trees (till a predator eats them). How do you keep drafts out of a tree?

Huge open windows on both east and west walls.

Chickencanoe I am not sure if I'm ready for the 'S' word yet...brrrrrrr I expect the chickens would huddle together for added warmth too. Did your eggs freeze? I am sure you get the same weather in MO as we do in MI. Do you close everything up when we get windchill temps down in the -30's?