Building new coop and new to Chickens

[shgreen1]

Currently have 4 silkies and plan to have Buff Orpington's. Currently using a run with temporary coop until the new coop Is built.



The footage for the run will be 8 x 12. the coop will be a 4 x 8 inside the run 2 foot off the ground.

I have placed a cement footing that is roughly 5 to 6 inches deep for the foundation. Hoping this would prevent any predators from entering underneath.


I live in Northeast Texas so I'm not too concerned about cold freezing winters. I'm planning on having a open floor for the coop instead of a sheet of plywood. Are there any recommendations as far as using hardware cloth or see next picture or other options for flooring that would make it easier to clean the coop and provide ventilation for the hot summers in Texas?


Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

About the concrete footing, how did this work out for you? I'm planning something similar. I plan on building an 8" high cinder block wall, buried in the ground to serve as the footing for the run fence. I was thinking the same thing, that this would prevent animals from digging under the fencing. Did you find any problems?

 

[dustnik]

The way I did mine was i measured out the dimensions used a string line Pulled tight this show me where to dig the trench so I stayed in a straight-line I used a sharpshooter Shovel and Doug down about 6 inches and the shovel was about 6 inches wide. i then poured dry 50lb bags of sack Crete into the trench that I dug. Placed L-bots / Cement bots accordingly in the dry sack Crete. Over the next three days I lightly watered the sack Crete multiple times a day so the sack Crete turned into concrete.

 

[dustnik]

I haven't had any problems with predators so far. if I do end up having problems with predators trying to dig underneath I made add an apron on the ground.

 

[dustnik]

We added 3 hens 1 rooster that are 2-1/2 months old Buff Orpingtons to our backyard chicken flock today.

 

[dustnik]

Finally after 5 nights of working with the silkies And teaching and showing them how to get into the coop, last night they ALL went into the coop by their selfs for bedtime. But I'm still having to work with them and teach them they go to sleep on the roost by picking them up and setting them on the roost.

The new chicks did pretty good but they thought they should roost on the doorway that goes into the coop.

 

[dustnik]

Added V8 bottles with water nipples on the bottom and add a 3'x7' 1/2" hardware cloth framed and planted some mixed fall greens underneath it for him to eat greens throughout the fall.

 

[dustnik]

Turning the chicken over and setting him down on his back. who would've know that they would turn very calm and almost asleep.

Is this relaxing or defensive turning Possum???

 

[buttercup95]

I have no idea but that's neat!