Chicken newbies

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Thank you for your answers! We sure hope they are hens. Btw, this is the husband typing now. I intend to get a couple Rhode island reds or other better egg layers, since we are in it this deep. Anyway, I managed to grab a couple shipping crates from work, to build a quick and temporary coop until the weather gets better. They are about 4 feet by 4 feet and 4 feet high.I read a lot about coops on this site, but some things are still unclear to me. Is 16 sq feet enough for 3-5 birds? They will have a large run as my wife stated. Also I have a plan to put the nesting boxes in that space, so that will suck up some footage. What do you think? And lastly do my nesting boxes need to be level with the floor or should they be raised, and can the chickens jump up into them? Sorry for dumb questions, we are learning.

Not dumb questions at all. You are learning and you have to start somewhere. Most people recommend 4sq ft per chicken. Some people put their nesting boxes on the floor. In most of my pens I have my nesting boxes 2-3 ft off the ground. I think if you had a large fenced in area 16 s ft would be fine. I would recommend putting food and water outside, if it is going to be that small though. Because the coop will basically just be a place for them to lay eggs and sleep. Other than that they most likley will be outside.

 

[Wdchickens]

Alright, so after a long days work, my shipping crate coop is done enough to have the birds in it tonight. Thank god! Even with frequent cage cleanings they can stink up a basement quickly. Not all the work is done however. Tomorrow is another day. All said and done we have a out 60 bucks into a coop, and another 150 to make improvements that will predator proof our run. I think this will be a good experience, and I always like to be more self reliant. I'll post pics when I'm done as maybe we can help a future newbie like ourselves. Thanks for all the input. You are a classy bunch!

 

[glendaschicks]

Could you post pictures of your shipping crate coop when you get time? I would like to see it!

 

[Wdchickens]

Could you post pictures of your shipping crate coop when you get time?  I would like to see it! 

I posted them in this thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/845395/newbies-quick-coop