Am I on the right path?

[aart]

Thank you. What would you recommend based on the breeds I have decided upon?
(Light Sussex/Bielefelders/Basque)
Ideally I would like 2 Roos per flock, as a back up ( we need to replenish meat ) and in the event something happens to one. However, 20 hens and 2 Roosters per breed is currently way above my comfort for now and I have been unable to choose below three breeds. HAHA.
BTW, about my earlier post. I come off, at times, as blunt and abrasive, but I do not hold on to it. I say it and let it go. I do appreciate the attentiveness you have shown me since my arrival and your knowledge and experience are invaluable. I am learning and have a long way to go, but I don't want you to think I am using you for information. I sincerely very seldom hold a grudge. I hope it is the same at your end and we move on, no harm no fowl ( pun intended ).

2 males per breed?
Since you're not keeping the breeds separated, IMO it will be a problem having multiple males in the same enclosure. So you'll either have to choose a breed or make separate enclosures(coop and run) for each breed.

No problem, I certainly 'get' blunt and abrasive

 

[Eggcentric One]

2 males per breed?
Since you're not keeping the breeds separated, IMO it will be a problem having multiple males in the same enclosure. So you'll either have to choose a breed or make separate enclosures(coop and run) for each breed.

No problem, I certainly 'get' blunt and abrasive

Thanks. You advise shall be heeded. You are a riot.

 

[aart]

True, which is why I said MINIMUM standard.

But it's not a 'minimum'....unless you have hundreds of birds in a commercial setting.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Aloha @Eggcentric One and welcome to BYC! We are so glad that you joined in and I look forward to seeing and hearing about your adventures, I know that I will learn from you.

Glad you have used this site and as an additional resource for your research on the beautiful, elaborate and potentially costly coop. I admire what you are working to accomplish (as many on this site do, I am certain) and I wish you the best of luck.
I am a fellow tropical dweller too and have been through two hurricanes w/ cat 4 Iniki being a direct hit. Ouch. But, not on the HHH alley like you, on very hot side of island. It seems our weather pattern have changed a bit, less prevailing trades and the scarier weather.
My personal experience with chickens has been awesome but my best thoughts and planning did not prepare me for the heat and tropical parasites @aart has mentioned, or the chicken math...
I doubled, now currently am tripling everything coming into my second year. My coops are as open as possible (took out any walls because the heat has been an uncomfortable killer and my girls sleep and smell their best with air. I can always wrap the coop if heavy weather comes in but harder to un-stifle with walls. Figure I will box my girls in a safe house if/when we get a hurricane. With rising sea levels, the water will be the killer so I'll let the wind blast through my open coop and repair what survives. Till then i need them to be comfortable cuz if not they get sick and/or don't lay as well. (no meat birds)

Also, chickens eat EVERYTHING. Be prepared emotionally for that. They are major forager/destroyers of all things green. It is a hard and heartbreaking balance for gardeners/chickens admirers.
Please post what you have going, how you like it, what works for you so we can all continue to learn and take the best from each others good ideas. And thank you for sharing. I admire your strength and enthusiasm (intelligence and planning)!!!
See you around!!!

 

[Cryss]

But it's not a 'minimum'....unless you have hundreds of birds in a commercial setting.

What ratio would you reccomend for a new chicken tender with 4 hens? 6 hens? 10 hens? Do you have a rule of thumb for small non commercial backyard chicken tenders? There must be some sort of figure/figures we can use to advise newbies. I certainly don't want to give incorrect information.

 

[Eggcentric One]

Aloha @Eggcentric One and welcome to BYC! We are so glad that you joined in and I look forward to seeing and hearing about your adventures, I know that I will learn from you.

Glad you have used this site and as an additional resource for your research on the beautiful, elaborate and potentially costly coop. I admire what you are working to accomplish (as many on this site do, I am certain) and I wish you the best of luck.
I am a fellow tropical dweller too and have been through two hurricanes w/ cat 4 Iniki being a direct hit. Ouch. But, not on the HHH alley like you, on very hot side of island. It seems our weather pattern have changed a bit, less prevailing trades and the scarier weather.
My personal experience with chickens has been awesome but my best thoughts and planning did not prepare me for the heat and tropical parasites @aart has mentioned, or the chicken math...
I doubled, now currently am tripling everything coming into my second year. My coops are as open as possible (took out any walls because the heat has been an uncomfortable killer and my girls sleep and smell their best with air. I can always wrap the coop if heavy weather comes in but harder to un-stifle with walls. Figure I will box my girls in a safe house if/when we get a hurricane. With rising sea levels, the water will be the killer so I'll let the wind blast through my open coop and repair what survives. Till then i need them to be comfortable cuz if not they get sick and/or don't lay as well. (no meat birds)

Also, chickens eat EVERYTHING. Be prepared emotionally for that. They are major forager/destroyers of all things green. It is a hard and heartbreaking balance for gardeners/chickens admirers.
Please post what you have going, how you like it, what works for you so we can all continue to learn and take the best from each others good ideas. And thank you for sharing. I admire your strength and enthusiasm (intelligence and planning)!!!
See you around!!!

What kind words. Thank you very much!
I am going to use cooltubes and a raised (additional hardware cloth) ridge vent on the roof. Natural convection will draw cool air in through the tubes and hot air will rise, escaping through the, peak located, full length ridge vents.
In addition to that I plan 4 4'w x 3' high awning style full open windows on the solar southern side, with hardware cloth to open and the sliding glass door screen will also be "rebuilt" with hardware cloth for even more, this doesn't even include a 2' x 2' solar west vent window or the 3 ( I have changed this per BYC members advise) 18" x 18" coop doors on the solar east side.
Being a tropie, you know CBS does well in structural integrity and offers great thermogenics. It wasn't that long ago that most lived in CBS with windows and lanai doors wide open and no A/C. It would be no big deal to keep all windows open if needed.
Since CBS blocks are inexpensive ( $1.50 ea ) we can dry stack them and place the rebar and do all the carpentry work required, the expense will not be bad. The only thing I will have to call someone in for will be the pump truck for pouring into every other channel. Still fairly inexpensive for a single truck.
I have live through Hurricanes David - CAT 2, Hugo Charleston CAT 4 , Andrew Marco Island CAT 5 and a few CAT 1's since. I know what they can do and want to offer them to capability to be secured safely with as little stress as possible. I can't take a flock if I have to evac.
So while I could build stick cheaper, I look at these guys as an investment and I am responsible for their well being, barring acts of GOD and small children.. haha The actual investment over, what I hope to be the remainder of my life, will be minimal.
I have altered a few things at the suggestions of BYCers and plan to ask @aart if I should reconsider the finished floor in leiu for dirt. She appears to be on top of it and an experienced flock keeper. So that may change as well.
To be honest, this is one reason I came here and joined now. I wanted to prepare for my flock in a manner that was as environmentally friendly... for all of us.... as possible and to make changes before I made mistakes.
You guys have not disappointed me with you assistance, education and, quite frankly, quite a few laughs.
Thank you for taking your time out for me.

 

[Eggcentric One]

What ratio would you reccomend for a new chicken tender with 4 hens? 6 hens? 10 hens? Do you have a rule of thumb for small non commercial backyard chicken tenders? There must be some sort of figure/figures we can use to advise newbies. I certainly don't want to give incorrect information.

This is what was somewhat confusing to me as different breeds, different sizes and different "info sites" seem to all say something different.
I have even been told four hens to a Roo. I don't want him to destroy them. I also don't want him to die early from intimate exhaustion with 15 - 20 hens to service. Further, I don't want them fighting with one another! I have read many times that multi flock with each having its own Roo results in little conflict as long as you have the proper ratio.
If someone knows please do clarify. Thanks!

 

[aart]

What ratio would you reccomend for a new chicken tender with 4 hens? 6 hens? 10 hens? Do you have a rule of thumb for small non commercial backyard chicken tenders? There must be some sort of figure/figures we can use to advise newbies. I certainly don't want to give incorrect information.

There really is no hard number...too many variables with live animals.
@Cryss, you know that even one male can be a PITA.

Part of my ratio blurb.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cocks and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

 

[TropicalBabies]

What kind words. Thank you very much!
I am going to use cooltubes and a raised (additional hardware cloth) ridge vent on the roof. Natural convection will draw cool air in through the tubes and hot air will rise, escaping through the, peak located, full length ridge vents.
In addition to that I plan 4 4'w x 3' high awning style full open windows on the solar southern side, with hardware cloth to open and the sliding glass door screen will also be "rebuilt" with hardware cloth for even more, this doesn't even include a 2' x 2' solar west vent window or the 3 ( I have changed this per BYC members advise) 18" x 18" coop doors on the solar east side.
Being a tropie, you know CBS does well in structural integrity and offers great thermogenics. It wasn't that long ago that most lived in CBS with windows and lanai doors wide open and no A/C. It would be no big deal to keep all windows open if needed.
Since CBS blocks are inexpensive ( $1.50 ea ) we can dry stack them and place the rebar and do all the carpentry work required, the expense will not be bad. The only thing I will have to call someone in for will be the pump truck for pouring into every other channel. Still fairly inexpensive for a single truck.
I have live through Hurricanes David - CAT 2, Hugo Charleston CAT 4 , Andrew Marco Island CAT 5 and a few CAT 1's since. I know what they can do and want to offer them to capability to be secured safely with as little stress as possible. I can't take a flock if I have to evac.
So while I could build stick cheaper, I look at these guys as an investment and I am responsible for their well being, barring acts of GOD and small children.. haha The actual investment over, what I hope to be the remainder of my life, will be minimal.
I have altered a few things at the suggestions of BYCers and plan to ask @aart if I should reconsider the finished floor in leiu for dirt. She appears to be on top of it and an experienced flock keeper. So that may change as well.
To be honest, this is one reason I came here and joined now. I wanted to prepare for my flock in a manner that was as environmentally friendly... for all of us.... as possible and to make changes before I made mistakes.
You guys have not disappointed me with you assistance, education and, quite frankly, quite a few laughs.
Thank you for taking your time out for me.

Great, again i do hope you share your process with us. Yes, "hollow tile or CMU" as we call it on this side of the PAC lol. My DH would have committed or divorced me if i had suggested that. As is, we don't even bother with footings on our coops. Post and pier. I am a big composter (X) gardener (they ate my bananas trees!!!) I love the deep liter method, always mulch to be had in the tropics if you shy away from a pad. I do see the logic with a pad too though. But hey, resources and pockets and commitment. Have fun!!!

 

[Cryss]

@Cryss, you know that even one male can be a PITA.

soooo true!