California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote: Most sources say 3 to 4 feet per large fowl. A coop that large would easily hold 20 chickens. You can have a smaller coop with more chickens than the experts say if you give them a large run for daytime. They really need a secure coop at night to protect against predators.

Make sure they have a foot of roost per chicken. Three 8 foot roost boards would be good.

Commercial chickens get less than a foot per chicken and are not given enough room to stand up, so three feet is great for them.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

Most sources say 3 to 4 feet per large fowl. A coop that large would easily hold 20 chickens. You can have a smaller coop with more chickens than the experts say if you give them a large run for daytime. They really need a secure coop at night to protect against predators.

Make sure they have a foot of roost per chicken. Three 8 foot roost boards would be good.

Commercial chickens get less than a foot per chicken and are not given enough room to stand up, so three feet is great for them.

Ron

Thank you! I am in the talks with hubby now. I want Buffs but since this is my 'test run' to see if I like raising chickens for eggs (vs ducks which I am currently doing)- I see some wisdom in trying a couple other kinds.

I keep changing my mind as I talk to friends and window shop. I love the ugliness of the turkens too. Maybe Buffs and Turkens?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Does anyone know how many chickens can stay in an 8x8 coop?

16 will fit perfectly. 4 square feet per bird of inside space. 1 nesting box for every 5 hens at a minimum. (I have more so they don't fight over nests) Make the roosts higher than the nest boxes or they will sleep in the boxes.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

so true. I sometimes have 4 sleeping in the nest box. need some higher roosts

 

[Meg2000000]

My boyfriend, Johnny, and I spent Saturday through today building a chicken coop! We also picked up our new Marraduna Basque chickens yesterday from an amazing BYC member (ronott1)! Talk about a busy 4 days!! It was hard to be off BYC for that long! I haven't had a chance to catch up on the thread but wanted to post the pictures of our coop and our 8-week old new friends while I have a minute.

The coop is 8x4 and tall enough for us to walk in. We built the coop using reclaimed wood, chicken wire, elbow grease and a lot of guess work! I don't think it was the best idea to begin building with no blueprint or construction knowledge but I think it came out fabulous! The roof still needs asphalt paper and shingles, and the inside still needs permanent roosts and nest boxes (hence the tarp over the wood slats on top.)

Johnny working hard with our dog Wilson watching:


Coop Pics:





Me in the coop with the Basque's


The ladies on their temporary roosts looking at our little roo:


Getting to know eachother



Note to self: Leave off all shiny jewelry when taking care of the chickens. I had a pearl ring on that they all went nuts over and they kept pecking until I took it off. Notice how my toes are curled? I thought they were going to see my toe ring and peck at my toes!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Meg, that's a great coop! You guys did a good job and I think very well designed for on the fly. I think it'll serve you well. Cute, cute new girls too! I love the picture of the one girl cocking her head checking you out.

 

[zooweemama]

My boyfriend, Johnny, and I spent Saturday through today building a chicken coop! We also picked up our new Marraduna Basque chickens yesterday from an amazing BYC member (ronott1)! Talk about a busy 4 days!! It was hard to be off BYC for that long! I haven't had a chance to catch up on the thread but wanted to post the pictures of our coop and our 8-week old new friends while I have a minute.

The coop is 8x4 and tall enough for us to walk in. We built the coop using reclaimed wood, chicken wire, elbow grease and a lot of guess work! I don't think it was the best idea to begin building with no blueprint or construction knowledge but I think it came out fabulous! The roof still needs asphalt paper and shingles, and the inside still needs permanent roosts and nest boxes (hence the tarp over the wood slats on top.)

Johnny working hard with our dog Wilson watching:


Coop Pics:





Me in the coop with the Basque's


The ladies on their temporary roosts looking at our little roo:

Getting to know eachother



Note to self: Leave off all shiny jewelry when taking care of the chickens. I had a pearl ring on that they all went nuts over and they kept pecking until I took it off. Notice how my toes are curled? I thought they were going to see my toe ring and peck at my toes!

Wow nice job!!! Can't wait to see more chicken pics!

 

[PetRock]

Good job, Meg! Love that your coop is made from repurposed wood!

 

[Meg2000000]

Hello everyone

I live in Fairfield (green valley) and I'm loving this thread, so much good info! I am really new to chickens and have a lot to learn. Right now I have 3 chicks in brooder about a week old. I have an EE, Brahma and White Leghorn. The EE is my fav so far as she is the most mellow and seems to enjoy being held and talked to.

I am also raising 4 humans, lol aged 9,9,7 and 5 years of age. The rest of the clan consists of 2 dogs,3 cats, tortoise, bearded dragon, and of course random fish or two. Of course poor, dear hubby shaking his head at the critters and work involved.

Looking forward to reading more and getting to know you all here.

-Iri

Welcome Iri!! I'm new to chickens too and am having fun learning! I also am raising some humans.. 12, 8, 4, and one on the way (but they're not my little ones... I'm a nanny!) Hope to keep seeing you around here

 

[Meg2000000]

I read and article last year about Celebrities with chickens. It's getting to be very popular.

Good luck getting the Ordinance changed. Roosters should be allowed as long as they follow noise ordinances.

Lots of places allow hens.

Ron

Ron's right! Tori Spelling has a fluffy little chicken that she keeps inside. So cute!