Approve My Final Coop/Run Design

[AmyJane725]

It took me 4-6 months to research and lay out my coop....
....and I have 20+ years experience as an equipment designer.

Well, I don't feel so bad then if it took you that long.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The hens will squat and not run away.

A Hamburg hen is tiny at just 4 pounds.
A cochin rooster weighs in at about 11 pounds.

That is a huge difference. Yes they can literally smash a small hen causing death.

 

[aart]

Well, I don't feel so bad then if it took you that long.

Was thinking as I locked up the chooks this evening,
maybe it took that long because of my design experience.
I know how much better it is to make design mistakes 'on paper' instead of during or after the building part (BTDT!) and a lot of that time was research.
Plus it was during the winter so...
But it also took me all summer to build the coop, had to start slow due to physical issues, despite pretty good experience building stuff too. Also had to empty/rearrange that big shed and 2 other sheds and the garage too.

 

[AmyJane725]

The hens will squat and not run away.

A Hamburg hen is tiny at just 4 pounds.
A cochin rooster weighs in at about 11 pounds.

That is a huge difference. Yes they can literally smash a small hen causing death.

Oh dear. Well, that's awful. Ok, might need to rethink the rooster breed then. I want a Hamburg rooster. They're gorgeous. Not as friendly to humans as a cochin though (I hear anyway). I hear they're friendly to other chickens though. Anybody have any experience with this breed? These birds are going to be handled a lot, especially as babies, so hopefully that'll make them more personable/loving towards me. Anybody know a breed of rooster that is still sweet/friendly, but won't literally smash the smaller hens to death? What is the max weight discrepancy that should exist between hens and roosters for safety anyway? 7lbs is too much apparently.

Tell me this isn't the most gorgeous roo you've ever seen. *drool* And only supposed to get to 5lbs.

 

[AmyJane725]

Was thinking as I locked up the chooks this evening,
maybe it took that long because of my design experience.
I know how much better it is to make design mistakes 'on paper' instead of during or after the building part (BTDT!) and a lot of that time was research.
Plus it was during the winter so...
But it also took me all summer to build the coop, had to start slow due to physical issues, despite pretty good experience building stuff too. Also had to empty/rearrange that big shed and 2 other sheds and the garage too.

That could be. I bet a lot of people get done really quickly/easily because they don't even realize all the mistakes they've made. Sometimes knowing a lot can be troublesome. lol

 

[21hens-incharge]

You could switch the rooster OR switch the hens to larger breeds.

Silver laced Wyandotte hens are pretty good sized.
Jersey giants are big.
I adore my big ole dark Brahma hens.

There are a lot of big breed hens that would be able to handle a giant cochin better than tiny Hamburg and leghorns.

 

[AmyJane725]

You could switch the rooster OR switch the hens to larger breeds.

Silver laced Wyandotte hens are pretty good sized.
Jersey giants are big.
I adore my big ole dark Brahma hens.

There are a lot of big breed hens that would be able to handle a giant cochin better than tiny Hamburg and leghorns.

Too bad he has to climb on top of them. If the cloacas have to come together seems like they could just lift their tails and back into each other. lol Picture chickens beeping like a forklift backing up.

Eh, I really have my heart set on the leghorn and hamburg. I'll swap the rooster. I was worried about him being so much taller than everyone else anyway. I was worried he wouldn't be able to fly up onto the roost.

I never realized leghorns were so small. I always figured they'd be like a RIR or BR (just normal chicken sized). Probably because I had a chick as a kid that I thought was going to grow up to be a leghorn (and she was always HUGE compared to the rest of the chicks). Turns out she was a cornish cross, so yeah. Subconscious mind still hasn't accepted that. I only found out in the last month or so.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Bantam cochin roosters are small.

They are not like the creepy video you watched either.

 

[AmyJane725]

Bantam cochin roosters are small.

They are not like the creepy video you watched either.

Do you have a nice bantam cochin that likes you/is hen friendly?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do you have a nice bantam cochin that likes you/is hen friendly?

I had one 20 years ago.
Our little guy was super neat. My son was 9 and could carry the little dude around on his shoulder no problem.


I live in town now so don't have a rooster.