Am I on the right path??

[huntsman]

Having read a great many threads on coops and runs, I am planning on doing the following, as I have been given a bantam hen and three chicks and have to collect them tomorrow!

I have a fenced area which is totally secure, including a mesh roof. Built around the corner of our home, the two lengths of the L total approx 125 square feet.

For the coop, I am planning on having a natural floor, inside the fenced area, and will build shelves on the wall against the house for brooding/laying. Boards will be fixed to the fencing to block the wind from the sleeping area, but there will be no door. Corrugated iron roofing will keep the rain out, and roosting will be done on small branches fixed to a small tree which is growing in the area.

Am I insane? Will this work? Please be as cruel as you have to and I will be happy to supply any further info.

Your comments are welcomed...

 

[HEChicken]

Some of it depends on where you are located. If in a warm climate, it sounds like this will work. If in a cold climate, you'd probably want to provide them an enclosed, draft-free area where they can sleep at night.

 

[jacktheknife]

Huntsman Dude,



Howdy,
Yes, 'H.E. Chicken' is right,
in that, what state y'all are in?
is the question.

Now, I live in Texas which doesn't get too cold,
'for too long anyway'.
And other than making sure your poultry can get 'outta the rain'
and 'outta the wind' ...
Yes, they can live outside.


Here's a picture of my 'Show Coop'
I had planned to put up removable walls
so that the coop could be perfect 'temperature wise' in all seasons,
but just never finished it,
as they like it fine as it is, real open.




http://jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/




Thank you...


J. Winters von Knife

 

[huntsman]

Good point!

I'm in South Africa and our weather is a lot like that of So. Cal...

 

[jacktheknife]

Huntsman,

I posted the 'Show Coop' with the picture itself and not just the URL.
The nylon top isn't on yet but that will be crowning touch.


So your in South Africa,
I have a 'home brewing' friend from Tasmania!
Small world...


J. Winters von Knife

 

[HEChicken]

Tasmania is the southernmost state of Australia - quite a long way from South Africa!!!

 

[jacktheknife]

HEChicken,

I know where Tasmania is, I have a 'home brewing' friend down there.
And when I met him, {old Dibby33} I said:
So your in Tasmania, I have an internet friend from near there,
Kiwi's her name she's from New Zealand.
Small world ain't it?

Dibby33 replied:
New Zealand is 2,000 miles from Tasmania.


Thank you


J. Winters von Knife

 

[huntsman]

Jack - Saw the picture and yeah, that does look like the one I will be attempting.

I must say, I was expecting a lot of people to be against my plan, but since no one is thus far, I'm starting in 30 mins.

Have a great week!

 

[catdaddy66]

My mother has had laying hens and her housing did not include a door or a floor. She asked me yesterday (after looking at my sketch) if my coop had a floor, as she had never seen a coop w/ a floor before!

 

[huntsman]

Instead of receiving the expected hen and three chicks last night, I was given the hen, but she came with NINE chicks! This is exhausting!