RevRico
Chirping
So I've been thinking about having chickens for a long time. Once, years ago, I had ducks, and was somewhat successful until I learned they could dig.
Time has passed, the internet has grown, and now after much research and debate, I'm ready to start raising birds again. I decided chickens might be best, and could be fun for my 3.5 year old daughter to watch and play with, as well as providing us with eggs.
I should be starting my coop this week, copying some designs from here and making some adjustments to fit my property better, but I do have some concerns which lead me here.
I live in Southwestern PA, in a valley with hills on 3 sides. My yard and all my property is wet year round, to the point tractors get stuck and even on the rare occasions we get back to back days of sunshine, you still sink walking in the yard. Combine with winters that snow, then rain, with occasional dips below zero but no long term freezing, and swamp is almost appropriate.
I've picked a high spot in the yard to place the coop and run, and will be free ranging outside the run when weather and my time allow. From my readings here, I'm going to be digging down about a shovel deep and burying 1/4" hardware cloth under the entire area, then putting the dirt back and possibly covering with woodchips to help cut some of the mud. My deep hatred for snakes and not wanting to find them in the nesting box being the big motivator, but we also have possums, raccoons, fox, bear, deer, and hawks in the area, so I need to be on the offensive when it comes to pet defense.
The coop itself will be 4ftx6ftx4-5ft tall, and built on 4x4 posts with the bottom about a foot off the ground. Hopefully I'll get a year or two before it sinks to ground level. I'll be adding on a nesting box when the birds are old enough to need it, though I may build it in advance and block off the entrance. I have some horrible tinkercad mockups made, but haven't figured out how to post a picture yet.
I'm planning to buy 6 to 8 pullets. I'm actually thinking of buying 10 to account for potential losses so I wind up with 6 to 8 laying hens. I just haven't picked a breed or decided if I should just risk a bunch of straight runs. I'd like to get some Plymouth Rocks, and if I can find them around here some Brahmas, but I'm looking at RIR and Leghorns as well. Chiefly I want good layers with generally good personalities, but I'm also interested in dual purpose birds so if this hobby doesn't wind up as fun as I hope, I can still make dinner.
Aha, I've found how to upload mockup pictures.
The left and right side tops will be left open and hardware clothed over for ventilation, and I'm going to put a window on the front wall for some extra ventilation in the summer, but a good seal in the winter. I don't have concrete plans for the roosts, and as I'm cutting down 40-50 trees soon, I may just use some smaller branches instead of 2x4s.
Depending on how dry I can keep it (60" of rain last year), I want to try doing deep litter, but might try sand for inside the coop. I'd like to be able to use the poop in my compost piles, so still researching the best way to seperate things out.
I still have more to say and ask, but I'm realizing how much of a novel I've written already, so Thanks for having such an awesome community full of helpful people and informative pictures.
Time has passed, the internet has grown, and now after much research and debate, I'm ready to start raising birds again. I decided chickens might be best, and could be fun for my 3.5 year old daughter to watch and play with, as well as providing us with eggs.
I should be starting my coop this week, copying some designs from here and making some adjustments to fit my property better, but I do have some concerns which lead me here.
I live in Southwestern PA, in a valley with hills on 3 sides. My yard and all my property is wet year round, to the point tractors get stuck and even on the rare occasions we get back to back days of sunshine, you still sink walking in the yard. Combine with winters that snow, then rain, with occasional dips below zero but no long term freezing, and swamp is almost appropriate.
I've picked a high spot in the yard to place the coop and run, and will be free ranging outside the run when weather and my time allow. From my readings here, I'm going to be digging down about a shovel deep and burying 1/4" hardware cloth under the entire area, then putting the dirt back and possibly covering with woodchips to help cut some of the mud. My deep hatred for snakes and not wanting to find them in the nesting box being the big motivator, but we also have possums, raccoons, fox, bear, deer, and hawks in the area, so I need to be on the offensive when it comes to pet defense.
The coop itself will be 4ftx6ftx4-5ft tall, and built on 4x4 posts with the bottom about a foot off the ground. Hopefully I'll get a year or two before it sinks to ground level. I'll be adding on a nesting box when the birds are old enough to need it, though I may build it in advance and block off the entrance. I have some horrible tinkercad mockups made, but haven't figured out how to post a picture yet.
I'm planning to buy 6 to 8 pullets. I'm actually thinking of buying 10 to account for potential losses so I wind up with 6 to 8 laying hens. I just haven't picked a breed or decided if I should just risk a bunch of straight runs. I'd like to get some Plymouth Rocks, and if I can find them around here some Brahmas, but I'm looking at RIR and Leghorns as well. Chiefly I want good layers with generally good personalities, but I'm also interested in dual purpose birds so if this hobby doesn't wind up as fun as I hope, I can still make dinner.
Aha, I've found how to upload mockup pictures.
Depending on how dry I can keep it (60" of rain last year), I want to try doing deep litter, but might try sand for inside the coop. I'd like to be able to use the poop in my compost piles, so still researching the best way to seperate things out.
I still have more to say and ask, but I'm realizing how much of a novel I've written already, so Thanks for having such an awesome community full of helpful people and informative pictures.
We are glad you joined this flock!
