coop questions for newbie

[BYOChickens]

Nottingham chicks...any chance of taking a few pix of the inside of this coop. Very neat, clean lines. How many laying boxes are inside? Thanks to all the other post so far. I figured I would get help from all of you. Merry Christmas!

 

[gsim]

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Visit 'My BYC Page' and check out my operation. For a family of 5 if you want to NEVER run out of eggs, then two dozen will do it well even if lots are molting and it is winter time you are not likely to run out of eggs. When they molt, they do not lay eggs until their feathers re-grow. If you can tolerate running out of eggs in winter or during molting, then you might do well with about 18 . Do not forget that chickens lay fewer eggs each year. Within 3 years you might not have but 60% egg volume that you had in their first year. Regarding consumption of eggs, my wife and I eat 6 total every morning. Then there is egg salad and deviled eggs to have with other meals and evening snacks. I am in Tennessee and I have four breeds, being Barred Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Golden Comet (Tan sex link) and Black Austrolorpes. All handle heat well and all lay well during winter months too. The aussies are the quietest and most shy, but very sweet natured. The Barred Rocks are the friendliest. Be certain to allow lots of room both in the coop and roost area, as well as an oversized run. This causes them to be more harmonious and fight less. That adds up to better healtlh, and more eggs. I gave about $2.25 each for mine from Meyers Hatchery of Ohio. Took about 3 days for me to get them. You have to teach them to drink when you get them. Tepid sugar water best.

I did 128 sq ft for my coop at 8 x 16, and 1900 sq ft for my run. I ordered 24 pullets.

Gerry

 

[patandchickens]

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No offense meant but I would have to gently disagree with this. The only cost that a person has a reasonably large chance of HAVING to shell out significantly for is safe run fencing, but you can make a pretty good daytime-only run for half a dozen (or a dozen more crowded) chickens with maybe $100 worth of fencing and posts. So the cost needn't be exorbitant for the run. Obviously a larger or roofed run will cost a good bit more; but OTOH it is sometimes possible to scrounge much or all of the materials for cheap or free, if you look around enough.

As for the coop itself, is of course quite EASY to spend a lot but it is by no means NECESSARY. Not even if you don't have lots of stuff lying around. Scrounging is good, as is designing around the materials you have. So it can certainly be done on a shoestring if desired.

Also many people have structures that can be converted (in whole or in part) into chicken housing, so that you're back to only needing a run.

I am only posting this so that people do not get scared off by thinking that they HAVE to have many hundreds or thousands of loose-change dollars in order to have chcikens

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[donrae]

I'm with you, Pat! I'm married to a scrounger, which is frustrating at times but great when I want to build something! True, my buildings aren't as pretty, but I'm okay with that. Plus, some folks here have made really nice looking coops out of pallets and other recycled wood. Chickens are like kids and other pets, you can spend as much as you want on them, but they can get buy on suprisingly little, money wise.

 

[annaraven]

Welcome!

Buff Orpingtons are a great beginner breed. They lay a very pretty large light-brown egg. But there are a lot of great breeds. I like having a variety. Make sure you read plenty here, and find your local chickenfolk so you can get yourself some pullets from people you can trust.

And watch out for chicken math. That's what says "I want a couple hens" and end up with 5. Or 15.

Oh and check out the ordinances in your locality - if you're in a town/city, make sure you know how many hens you can have. And remember that most towns/cities don't allow roosters, so if you're starting out, you may want to buy sexed pullets (baby hens) so you don't have to deal with the "it's a roo, what do I do now?" issue.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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Sure, I will take some pics tomorrow and post them for you.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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When I went out to tend my girls this morning I got some pics of the interior. I hope they help!

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img]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/66797_019.jpg[/img]

 

[BYOChickens]

Nottingham...thanks for the pix. How many hens did you say are in this coop? Looks very nice. How many windows open as for vent purposes? Thanks

 

[darkmatter]

See my BYC page for pics of my Coop and Run that has been in use over 15 years. I use the Deep litter Method in the Coop on a sub-ground level dirt floor. The Run has plantings that are there just to provide free food for the chickens. I don't have water or electricity run to the Coop. I collect the rainwater for them off the Coop roof. The Run shares a fence with the Garden and they get let into that in the fall for glean and fertilize duties.

 

[Claudias Coop]

I ordered my first Coop online a week ago, and since then have Read,Read, Read! I was surprised there was so much to learn. Hope to get my new girls in a couple weeks.
I joined several Groups & all have valuable information. Good Luck