Back at raising layers again!

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PaulOlson68 said:
I am so excited to be raising chickens again. I did this about 10 years ago and then lost my access to property to raise them so had to give it up. I have recently moved to an area where I have my kids living as renters on a farm that was more than happy to have me start a coop with layers. I am a local pastor who loves being outdoors and hobby farming but don't have the property so I use other people's and they are so gracious and helpful. I in turn mow their acerage and do some gardening for them and now give them eggs. I have 5 kids ranging in age from 15-25. My wife of almost 29 years is so supportive and sees the live it feeds into me to be part of this fun adventure.

My carpenter son, Zack and I built a coop that we are very proud of. I purchased 26 chicks (Rhode Island Reds) from Alberta and had them mailed to my in Abbotsford BC Canada. We got them the last week of July so you can tell we are now just starting the hens beginning to lay. Over the past few days we have had 9 then 15 and today we had 14. It is all over the map as they are just starting out and we couldn't be happier. We have not roosters so it is all hens and are thrilled to be greeted each day I show up by my ladies waiting to be greeted. So friendly and so social. We just came through a crazy few weeks of very unusual weather here in the Fraser Valley. We had record low temps of -23 C with wind chill and over 1.5 feet of snow. So unlike this area but my hens made it through with some help from me and my kids. We have learned lots and they all survived so that is the main thing.

I am looking forward to getting to know many of you over time and sharing ideas and growing together. Thanks for allowing me to join and be part of this.

PaulView attachment 3360987View attachment 3360988
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Welcome to BYC!!
 
DobieLover said:
Hello Paul, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
You may want to visit the Coop and Run Forum and read up on ventilation. I would add a lot more ventilation to that coop.
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Hi there...thanks for your reply. I have asked several other about my coop and they believe the way I have the roof vents that it is ventilated adequately. I have 5 inch vents on South and North top and 2 inch along the East and West sides. I was thinking about putting in a window but some have told me no need but I still think it needs more natural light. Do you think these vent spacing are still not enough? I am very interested in your thoughts. It has been this way since September when I moved them in there and I have not had a strong smell of amonia...mind you I keep a very clean coop as I clean it out weekly.
 
PaulOlson68 said:
I have 5 inch vents on South and North top and 2 inch along the East and West sides.
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When ventilating coops, one needs to think in terms of sq ft not sq in.
PaulOlson68 said:
Do you think these vent spacing are still not enough?
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I don't.

This is my coop in winter.
Ventilation.png


All light coming in high is open year round ventilation which also includes a ridge vent. The roost level windows are closed when the temperature drops into the 30s.
There are two additional windows away from the roosting area that are left cracked open year round for more ventilation as well as a second pop door.
 
Kenneth Zweerink said:
Welcome to BackYard Chickens. Thank's for sharing the picture's your Chickens are Beautiful! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.
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Hi Kenneth. Great to hear from you. What kind of coop do you have and
Kenneth Zweerink said:
Welcome to BackYard Chickens. Thank's for sharing the picture's your Chickens are Beautiful! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.
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sorry hit send to soon. lol. What kind of chickens do you have?
 

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