Chicken Newbie questions on coops and runs.

[Gordon_H]

Ok, I live in Mississippi. Today (April 13) it will be around 80+ degrees. We have REALLY mild winters here, though we may see a snowflake or two (and when we do, we roll up the streets and tie plywood to the 4 wheeler and see how fast the kids can stand to go!). I need to seal up the coop so that the chickens don't get drafts - is there anything that will seal up cracks that chickens can live with? I would not want them to get sick or find them lifeless one morning because I has used STUFF to chink up the cracks in the coop. The have already pecked holes in the lawnmower box in the garage, so I know they are curious worry warts.

The coop was built with all scrap lumber - and looks like it was built by an all-thumbed guy who was building his first coop with scrap lumber. You can imagine I have some spaces that need filling.

And does each chicken need its own nesting box? Is a roost crucial?

Also, the run is not huge but that is because a man only has so much scrap lumber. If I include the space under the coop, ithe run is 9 feet long and a little over 4 feet wide. We have 7 chickens altogether. 5 EE 1 Buff and 1 White Crested black polish.

The run is going to be well secured when finished and has the obligatory wood (albeit scrap wood) along the bottom and I am going to incorporate some cinderblocks in my worry spots so that I don't worry. I am planning on covering the run with aluminum/tin roofing. I am also going to provide some cover for the coop even though it will have a wooden roof - the aluminum/tin will only provide some shade for it. We don't have cold winters, but we have some terribly hot summers. We will most likely let the chickens roam some during the days (under supervision), but how do you get them back in the run/coop? food? soft music? charts and graphs? We have a 6ft wood fence that is well maintained and will not allow the neighborhood pests to roam. Though cats climb straight over it.

Thanks again

 

[dbounds10]

rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird inside the coop and 10 sq feet of run outside the coop. sounds like you are a little short. Not sure what to tell you about the cracks as i dont know how large they are but when we built ours, we caulked the bejeses out of it and painted over it with 3 coats of non toxic barn paint. But we only had minor gaps to fill. I would for sure give them something to roost on

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I read that the most important thing is to make sure that the place were the chickens roost is draft free in the winter.

My coop is like a wire box inside a very old stone building. Too many holes to plug up every one! So instead for the winter I took a piece of plywood and nailed it to the wire box part to block any drafts on the roost from the north side. In Mississippi I would be more worried about the heat. The more ventilation the better!

I would say a roost is critical. Birds that roost on the floor are more likely to get parasites.

I have read anywhere from 4 -7 birds per nestbox. I have 8 chickens and 4 nestboxes. All of my chickens use the bottom two...the top ones are always empty!

If I need to catch my chickens during the day I use a tupperware container of scratch grains. I shake it and they come running to the sound! They love scratch grains!

 

[EggyErin]

Chickens will usually go back to the coop on their own, if they know the coop is home. Mine toddle in just before dusk. Roosts are a must. Lots and lots of ventilation!!! Chickens usually have more trouble with heat than cold.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Quote:
That just means you did it right!

Oh, and hello from Hancock County.

edited to add: I think you'll find this worth looking at: http://www.plamondon.com/build-chicken-coops-and-brooders.html

 

[gryeyes]

Once you put your chicks outside, lock 'em in the coop for a week. That tends to seal in the concept of "This is where we live. This is where it's safe. We're safe in here at night." And they will most likely go back into it all on their own as the sun goes down.

 

[Gordon_H]

I didn't know we had so many Mississippians on here!

Ok, I stopped by Sutherland's last night and picked up some lumber since I was out of scrap lumber. After fixing the dryer when I got home (and eating dinner) the whole family ventured out to enlarge the coop for my 7 chickens. I also bought some fence posts, but I am not sure what I am doing with those yet...I only got the floor of the addition layed before dark and mosquitos convinced me to go in.

The front flowerbed may lose a timber or two as a chicken coop sacrafice. I will post pictures soon.