Arizona Chickens

[Parront]

Does that also apply to reports when #$%^&**((( neighbors create unnecessary noise nuisance, with their music too loud???

Cops can't write an expensive ticket to those people, so I guess that they might not save it on their computer! I think they do keep track of the complaints about the noisy neighbor, but I think they want him for something more interesting.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

For coop space, does the height not matter as far as sq ft? We're planning 8ft L × 4ft W × 5ft T, the nesting boxes will be attached outside so they don't lose floor space. There will be 2 8ft roost bars just above the top of the nesting boxes and either 3 or 4 4ft roost bars 1.5-2ft higher than the lower ones. Around the edge about halfway up the wall will be an L shaped ledge with a ramp to get up there on 2 walls. We decided on 5 nesting boxes, 3 individual boxes on one side and 2 larger communal boxes on the other. We're planning to expand when we can afford more materials but does this sound ok for 15 chickens starting out?

 

[BlueBaby]

For coop space, does the height not matter as far as sq ft? We're planning 8ft L × 4ft W × 5ft T, the nesting boxes will be attached outside so they don't lose floor space. There will be 2 8ft roost bars just above the top of the nesting boxes and either 3 or 4 4ft roost bars 1.5-2ft higher than the lower ones. Around the edge about halfway up the wall will be an L shaped ledge with a ramp to get up there on 2 walls. We decided on 5 nesting boxes, 3 individual boxes on one side and 2 larger communal boxes on the other. We're planning to expand when we can afford more materials but does this sound ok for 15 chickens starting out?

At 5 ft. tall, you'll either have to be short or bending over when you have to go in there to clean out the coop, or for any other reason. Mine is too short, so I know. My run is made from out of old horse panels.

 

[springvalley123]

For coop space, does the height not matter as far as sq ft? We're planning 8ft L × 4ft W × 5ft T, the nesting boxes will be attached outside so they don't lose floor space. There will be 2 8ft roost bars just above the top of the nesting boxes and either 3 or 4 4ft roost bars 1.5-2ft higher than the lower ones. Around the edge about halfway up the wall will be an L shaped ledge with a ramp to get up there on 2 walls. We decided on 5 nesting boxes, 3 individual boxes on one side and 2 larger communal boxes on the other. We're planning to expand when we can afford more materials but does this sound ok for 15 chickens starting out?

8x4 = 32 sq ft, enough for 8 birds, bare minimum, unless you're planning on locking them in there, overnight in the summer when the heat of the day is right at roost-time. Even if you have the fourth wall completely open (hardware cloth only), you'll want ventilation a good couple feed above the roost so they don't get drafts in winter. so a roost bar at 4 ft, you'd want ventilation starting at 6 ft and going upward to keep the winter drafts off the birds. or, you could have a lean-to or gable roof, where the low side was 6 ft, then use the gable or lean-to triangle as ventilation, but probably not enough ventilation. You'll need at least 1 sq ft ventilation per bird, in our climate I think I'd double that.

The way building costs are, a lot of people are turning to hoop coops (and hoop runs). they'd be made of cattle panels with hardware cloth to prevent reach-in from predators and escapes by birds. Shade cloth or tarps for wind break and to keep them dry.

As @BlueBaby mentioned, there's another good reason for the height (for you to get in and clean up), plus one member (don't recall who) got a trip to the ER because a low-hanging rounded hook got her scalp!

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

I may have another cockerel here, too. Gabby's comb is twice the size of the combs on the other two chicks at only 3 weeks old! Is that too early to tell or be sure?

 

[BlueBaby]

I may have another cockerel here, too. Gabby's comb is twice the size of the combs on the other two chicks at only 3 weeks old! Is that too early to tell or be sure?

Maybe you could post a current picture of Gabby here?

 

[Parront]

I may have another cockerel here, too. Gabby's comb is twice the size of the combs on the other two chicks at only 3 weeks old! Is that too early to tell or be sure?

For some breeds, 3 weeks is enough. Leghorn?

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Maybe you could post a current picture of Gabby here?

I'll take one and post it in a little bit. Gotta feed all the animals before dark.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

For some breeds, 3 weeks is enough. Leghorn?

Yup. Leghorn.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Here's Gabby at 3 weeks and 2 days: