Deciding on a coop and whether I need a run

[MarkRWC]

Hi All,

I'm just getting into chickens. I don't have any yet, but I have a couple friends who are enjoying theirs. I am thinking of getting 3 or 4 hens. I live on half an acre in a somewhat rural area; my backyard slopes down and is mostly shady with several oaks. It's a fenced yard, with a 6' tall 2"x4" wire mesh fence in most parts and a 5' tall all-wood fence everywhere else.

For the coop, I'm thinking of a 4'x4' or a 4'x'6' pre-built. Because of the hill, I think a tractor is out of the question. I've noticed that some coops have wire mesh floors while others have solid floors. Do you experts have a preference?

I oftentimes travel for several days at a time. When away, I have a pet sitter stop by to feed my (indoor) cats. But he only comes by once a day. One question I have is whether I need a run, or would an automatic door opener work? Are they reliable enough? The last thing I want is to feed the local abundant raccoon population. Also, there are hawks in the area; would they feast on my birds during the day, if not penned in a run? Finally, if I do build a run, how big would you make it? 40 square feet?


Thanks!
Mark

 

[Chicken03]

A run makes letting your chickens out alot easier. You can make a fairly strong run and just make a small door for that you can leave open all the time. If you cover it then hawks shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Zahboo]

You definitely need a run to avoid heartbreak. I suggest a 4x6 coop and a 6x10 run, because you can't possibly stop at 3-4 hens

What are your weather conditions like? That helps decide how your run is constructed. If it's non stop sun for half the year you need a covered run or lots of shade. If it rains a lot I suggest sand in your run to help it drain. What kind of litter method are you using. I like wire floor for my quarentine coop, but not for my regular coops. The .5 inch wire holds all the poop, but the other wire catches their toes. Also, if I need to get over to a corner, I like a solid footing. I would cover the run with welded wire or hardware mesh, since your raccoon population is large, they'd have fun with deernetting. Have a good lock, coons can undo easy locks. An automatic door is up to you. I suggest a hanging feeder and waterer for ease of cleaning. Were you thinking inside or outside nest boxes. Since its a small coop, i suggest external. Have you seen any coops/sheds that you like? Craigslist has some usually.