Building new coop

[aart]

16ft x8ft

Is that the coop and run....or just the coop?

Am guessing coop and run is 8x16 and the coop itself is about 6x8....which is nowhere near big enough for 15 birds.

Why do you have 2 cock/erels?

What is your climate?
Putting your location in your profile can help folks give better answers/suggestions.

Welcome to BYC!!
Looks forward to watching your build progress.

 

[jebus84]

Day 3 location is south texas So weather won't be an issue. For hens and rooster ration found that was the best ratio online and yes it's a coop and a run coop is 6ft by 8ft.

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[jebus84]

Rotated picture*

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[Mahlzeit]

I know most people on here tend to work off of the number of 4sqft per bird for inside the coop but I myself prefer to base my opinion on how many birds I can keep in my coop on my birds themselves. I have had a 6 x 8 coop in the past with more than the "recommended" amount of birds without and health or happiness issues. There was no feather picking or bullying. My chickens are not kept in the coop all day. They really are only inside for sleep, egg laying and to grab a bite to eat from their hanging feeder. The rest of the day they enjoy being out in their run even in winter. Just my two cent opinion.

 

[Beekissed]

Was looking at comet chickens since they have the most eggs per year from what I have seen online

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So...what are your plans for the Comets after their year of good laying? Going to eat them?

 

[jebus84]

Not into eating my pets

. Was thinking of doing the same of letting them free range for a couple of hours before sundown but I'll have to wait and see.

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[Beekissed]

Not into eating my pets

. Was thinking of doing the same of letting them free range for a couple of hours before sundown but I'll have to wait and see.

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So...when they are done laying you are through with egg production and will just keep them as pets? Sounds like an awful lot of money, time and effort spent for a group of birds that will start dying on you in 2-3 yrs, maybe even earlier.

 

[jebus84]

Thought their average lifespan was arround 7 years and good egg laying of 2 years and gradually decrease from that point on. But if I can give them a good life then I'm happy with that.

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[Beekissed]

Thought their average lifespan was arround 7 years and good egg laying of 2 years and gradually decrease from that point on. But if I can give them a good life then I'm happy with that.

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Nope...not even close. I've rarely seen one that lives past 2 1/2-3 yrs and the good laying lasts around 1-1/2 yrs. The problem is, when they start to suffer from their usual reproductive issues before they die, will you be able to give them mercy? Usually when someone says they "won't eat their pets" it means they won't kill them if they are suffering either. Just thought to give you the heads up that this type of chicken doesn't live long, suffers...and I do mean suffers...from reproductive issues due to their genetic design of production laying and all of that needs to be taken into consideration before one takes them on as pets.

There are many other breeds that will lay well and live longer, healthier lives that are more suitable for pet keeping if you aren't too set on getting Golden Comets. Black Australorps are one breed, in particular, that are more well suited to plenty of eggs and the pet life. You'll get more bang for your buck out of the BAs than you will the Comets.

 

[islandgirl82]

@Beekissed has great points. Birds bred for high production tend to suffer excessive health issues, whether they be high egg production or meat and their lifespans are considerably shorter than dual purpose or those for show. If your absolutely set on comets, you may want to consider starting with fewer birds and adding a few each year as you lose your older birds to keep your egg supply steady instead of being buried in eggs during just their first year or two of laying. Are you planning on selling eggs or just for you/your family?

You may also want to reconsider having more than one male. The typical recommendation is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. Some are perfectly content with fewer hens and others most definitely need more but two males with such a small number of hens in a confined space won't do well.