Critique me!

[bamitsbrittany]

I just got 5 chickens and my Coop was finished last week. The whole thing is 8 by 8 by 4. They have 3 HUGE nesting boxes. We are in Florida so they chickens have open access to the run. I want to start letting them free range during the day but Im scared. Right now they have bedding in their boxes.. the bottom is made out of chicken wire. They have roosts all over, 6 total. I clean it out everyday with a hose. Is this ok? Also my chickens are on dumor start and grow... fresh water all day... and I started giving them grit. they are young chickens still.

I could use all the help I can get. This is all new to me. =]

 

[JanetS]

Very nice coop/run. Your chickens should have plenty of room as they grow. I did notice a few things. The wire you are using looks like chicken wire in the pictures. Chicken wire is not strong enough to keep out predators. You need 1/2" hardware cloth. It's a little pricey but worth it. Is that lattice wood on the bottom of the coop? I'm not sure that will keep out predators either. Maybe someone else will have another opinion about that.

If you free range your chickens you will probably have some losses. We no longer let our chickens out in the yard after we lost one to a bobcat. We expanded their run and they are pretty happy.

 

[bamitsbrittany]

I wanted to update on my experience and the past events with my girls! I now have 8 Chickens.

Barred Rock Hen-Susan
RIR hen-Reba
3 EEs-Fiona, Jill, and Rachel
Cochin Hen-Ronnie
Cochin Roo-Remi
Polish/Sultan Cross-Alice

I want a silkie and a Roussian Ollaff =] Looking to get those this week.

My girls all free range during the day and I tuck them in the coop at night. I have had a couple of losses since I first started due to one of my dogs. He is a wolf hybrid and he pretended to like the chickens and when I turned my back he ate a couple and injured a couple more. =/ Other then that no other deaths. We have all been healthy and happy.