Am I on the right path?

[Eggcentric One]

Yes. And if you ever come across regular leaves and wood chips, those are great to add in too.


Well, I'm from the camp that believes you can never have too much ventilation. The only time you'd want to eliminate direct drafts is probably in freezing temps, or as a shield from hurricanes. Chickens will appreciate a cool breeze, or any air flow through the coop on hot days and especially warm nights... my windows are open all spring, summer and fall when the weather is down to the 30-40s. Like I said, if you face the coop in the right direction according to weather patterns, you can have an entire wall open all year. Here's the original book for the open air "woods coop" and a couple byc examples
http://gnipsel.com/files/chickens/mfaph.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/



I haven't had the opportunity to let a broody raise chicks, I've only heard broody moms can be pretty protective, just depends on her personality whether she lets you handle them much. If you're worried about using an incubator or raising the chicks yourself, there are many nice folks here who can help you through the process. I personally do NOT like heat lamps for chicks, so I use a heating pad and it's very easy and safe. A commercial chick-heating-plate would probably be even easier. And the chicks would be able to bond with you much quicker.


Have you read the meat bird section to understand the difference between dual purpose and other meaties like Red Rangers compared to what you're used to eating from the stores... likely Cornish Cross? There's quite a difference in texture and taste and especially size. CX might not be what you wanted, but they're big and ready to process by about 7-10 weeks. Dual purpose breeds will take a couple more months to grow to a good process weight, which is still much smaller. Then there's the feed-to-meat/egg ratio to think about during the grow-out time.
Even with pure breeds, there are still many temperament and behavior variations, they may not all turn out like the description says. Some of the best layers and meat birds are actually hybrid crosses.


Well, you want to make sure she's a dedicated broody so she doesn't get fickle and abandon the nest halfway through incubation. And the eggs all need to be the same age, or at least same stage. You can collect the eggs you want to hatch, hold them aside, then when you know you've got a good broody, place those eggs under her. Most people mark the eggs just in case other hens lay more in that box you know which ones to remove. A staggered hatch is rarely successful as once the first chicks have hatched, the mama will abandon the remaining eggs. She may even push out an egg she knows isn't viable before hatch.


Chickens will usually return on their own in the evening... if they don't happen to find a spot they like better in the trees lol! If the weather gets bad and they're out, they might find someplace else to take shelter. Mine always come to my covered patio instead of their own coop. So teaching them to come to you is a good idea for when you need it. But if they happen to range a couple acres out, it might be difficult getting them to come back before dusk. Keep in mind almost everyone loses birds to predation at some point while free ranging.


Many people compost with chickens, they definitely do enjoy it! You just have to be careful what you put in it. I have my compost in the chicken yard and my first year I put all our kitchen/dinner scraps in there, my birds loved it so much! But after about a year, a hen turned up very lethargic and I couldn't find an illness figure out how to help her. She died, and I did my own amateur necropsy and found an inch layer of visceral fat with probable organ failure. All those carbs (bread, pasta etc) did her in, she was the one who ate veggies last. Now I only use the compost bin for old bedding and scooped droppings, lawn clippings and weeds, and occasional fruit and veggie scraps. There are lots of worms and bugs living in there, so my chickens still really enjoy scratching through it. I make sure never to put anything that will draw unwanted critters, but rats always manage to find a way to invade. I set an alarm to go out and close up the feeders early.

I wouldn't. My birds like to dig holes for dust bathing and I would hate to deny them that joy. I do have some 12" square concrete pavers in the runs that seem to be enough, and they file their beaks as well. I move them occasionally to reveal more bugs and goodies underneath.

A run space of 90x150 is a very good size. You wouldn't even necessarily have to free range. There's lots of ways to add enrichment in a contained area. More links to read!!
Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging
Key Points to Successful Free Ranging

Dear Mentor ( haha ), Absolutely everything you have said makes complete and total sense and some REALLY good ideas. Sorry about you lost compost hen . I will most definitely be reading all the links you provided. I know information isn't the same as hands on, but I feel I get a better idea of absolute do's and don'ts and am learning that what works is often up to the individual Chicken. I had no idea they were so much like people.. haha

 

[Eggcentric One]

@CindyinSD makes a really good point here:


Eggcentric, what's wrong with starting small? Even with just one breed for the first year so you can experiment with breeding, get to know life with roosters and broodies, all without the added complication of separating individuals for so many weeks.

Here's an entertaining thread to look through
What were your mistakes when you first started?

I am the queen of leaving links!!
But please do read them... valuable info there

I think that might be a good idea. Start with one breed and add others as my knowledge and comfort grows. I will still build a large coop, because chicken math.. haha

 

[Eggcentric One]

I’ve been reading through this thread... I’ll offer a few comments before I forget (I’m old... ) First, if you want to do true deep litter that composts in-coop, you’ll need a dirt floor. I achieve the actual composting action in only one place: in my cow barn with dirt floor, and I’ve tried diligently in both floored coops. Added starters, the whole thing. Deep bedding does help manage the manure and smell, but it won’t compost in place unless your floor is dirt.

No, don’t pave your run and yes, do provide shade there. You can provide alternating (rotational) runs if you like, accessible from differing coop exits, so the grass isn’t ruined by perpetual chicken occupation. Then you could also isolate a breed and provide them with their own private run when you want them to reproduce according to their kind.

The other thing... If you’re set on using broodies, get some broody-breed hens... silkies, game breeds, bantam varieties. They can incubate your eggs for you. It *is* fun using an incubator, though. The broodies will need their own areas, not in the general population. A broody house would ideally provide each broody with her own little living space. Once the chicks are hatched and mama is ready, they can go to the general broody area, supplied with a run, to raise the chicks and recover from the physical demands of incubating eggs.

Thanks!!!!

 

[aart]

Thank you for taking the time to assist me.
You have a lovely flock. One can look and see how unhappy there are.. hahaha (joking)

My acreage has just recently been secured and it is my intention to build my coop (s) and run as my contractors build my home. Thus, getting them at this stage isn't feasible, since I am not on property daily yet. But we plan to begin the building within the next month and to locate the coop about 400 feet off the back patio, giving them ample backyard and the paddocks to free range in.
I know, to some it may appear that I am wasting time, since I will not be able to get any birds for at least 6 months, but I don't feel I am. Whatever is built will be in my backyard and a permanent structure that I will have to live with for the remainder of my days, as will my flock.
I could easily get them and put them in temporary or mobile coops, sooner and without much effort, but my concern there is the awful storms and hurricanes we get ( even if only the edge it can get over 100 mph winds, falling trees and flying debris) that destroy anything not secured to the ground and structurally sound, thus the coops and most of the chickens. My plans may seem excessive, but livestock or not, it would break my heart to not be able to offer them the most safety I can.
I wish I could start acquiring immediately, but since I can't, I figure it would be a good idea to learn as much as I can and have my intentions evaluated by people who actually know what they are doing, as I clearly do not... haha

I know, to some it may appear that I am wasting time, since I will not be able to get any birds for at least 6 months, but I don't feel I am.

It makes perfect sense to me
I spent 6 months reading and learning and designing,
then 4 months building the coop,
then I got my birds and spent another 2 weeks building a run.
...and I wasn't building a house at the same time.

I took in so much information my head was spinning,
took so many notes and saved so many links in files that much was edited and rearranged along the way. I avoided a lot of newbie errors by "proper prior planning" (my drafting instructors adage).
Much of that info didn't come into play until situations arised and then those tidbits clicked into place.

 

[feathermaid]

Start with one breed and add others as my knowledge and comfort grows. I will still build a large coop, because chicken math.. haha

Yep, chicken math will happen!
I really think with your goals in mind, that starting with one breed, and letting them all run around and "do their thing" will be the best way to gain knowledge without too much confusion and stress.

I'm really jealous of the giant chicken palace you get to build, and putting such effort into your planning and research first will definitely pay off. Of course no one does it perfect the first time around, but that's part of the fun of chicken keeping, and what you learn along the way makes it that much more rewarding in the long run.

 

[IronFeather]

I am in preparation mode and require the advise and opinions of the experienced flock keeper. In the provided photo you will see my intentions and many questions answered.
My grandparent had chickens when I was small. However, the only consideration was for the eggs produced and the meat attained. Temperament most definitely was not a consideration, nor their comfort and safety. Predators would occasionally have a feast and storms would decimate their coops. I have no intention of being the same.
While most would consider my plans to be an unnecessary expense, I look at two things, first longevity of investment expense, minimal as a DIYer, AND if I am happier in a nice home, why wouldn't my charges be as well.
I look forward to your responses and input. Thank you all for you time!

I love this design and especially the reasoning behind it. I'm moving soon and will build this in my new place, with the addition of large enclosed runs on either side. Two runs to move the chickens from one side to the next, and putting my garden in the "empty" side each year.

 

[VJK]

I am in preparation mode and require the advise and opinions of the experienced flock keeper. In the provided photo you will see my intentions and many questions answered.
My grandparent had chickens when I was small. However, the only consideration was for the eggs produced and the meat attained. Temperament most definitely was not a consideration, nor their comfort and safety. Predators would occasionally have a feast and storms would decimate their coops. I have no intention of being the same.
While most would consider my plans to be an unnecessary expense, I look at two things, first longevity of investment expense, minimal as a DIYer, AND if I am happier in a nice home, why wouldn't my charges be as well.
I look forward to your responses and input. Thank you all for you time!

Looks like a fabulous design and you'll have some very lucky chickens! I didn't notice feeders and waterers but I'm guessing you'll have them in various locations for easy access. Well planned.

 

[LoneOak]

[QUOTE="Eggcentric One[/QUOTE]

Obviously you have much more money than I had when I started raising chickens 20 years ago.

 

[aart]

Obviously you have much more money than I had when I started raising chickens 20 years ago.

That's kinda beside the point, isn't it?

 

[aart]

I love this design and especially the reasoning behind it. I'm moving soon and will build this in my new place, with the addition of large enclosed runs on either side. Two runs to move the chickens from one side to the next, and putting my garden in the "empty" side each year.

Interesting design, tho 'open air' is a term often misused, and not too bad a video....might subscribe just to see how it works out thru the next Michigan winter.
Concerned about predator protection and summer ventilation on that coop tho.
Thanks for sharing it....
....and Welcome to BYC! @IronFeather
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