Hello,
I've posted on here several times prior to a formal introduction since I had some serious sickness issues. On August 26 we started out with 24 baby chicks (21 bantams and 3 naked necks) and we're down to 18 (have lost only the bantams).
We bought the place (that we are currently living) a little over one year ago and inherited a chicken coop and run. Not an impressive specimen of craftsmanship, but it will do for now. The coop is roughly 9-ft by 9-ft and about 8-ft high at the walls and almost 9-ft tall at the peak. The covered run is 7-ft wide and roughly 40-ft long. We also have another fenced in area (not covered) that they can roam safely from our dogs but there is no overhead protection from aerial predators. We typically let them out there on the weekends, but only in the covered run during the week.
The flock got put out here after 2-3 weeks from coming home. Since that time, they have favored piling on top of each other while sleeping on the floor of the coop. Just recently, they have begun to get up off of the ground and I finally installed some roosts for them. I have a nesting box but I have not installed it yet. I have a gut feeling that they are going to use this as a roosting area and I want to keep that from happening for now. Any advise on when to install this is appreciated. Or if letting them roost in it is okay until they start laying eggs........no clue at this point.
Anyway, some pics are attached.
Jellyroll
I've posted on here several times prior to a formal introduction since I had some serious sickness issues. On August 26 we started out with 24 baby chicks (21 bantams and 3 naked necks) and we're down to 18 (have lost only the bantams).
We bought the place (that we are currently living) a little over one year ago and inherited a chicken coop and run. Not an impressive specimen of craftsmanship, but it will do for now. The coop is roughly 9-ft by 9-ft and about 8-ft high at the walls and almost 9-ft tall at the peak. The covered run is 7-ft wide and roughly 40-ft long. We also have another fenced in area (not covered) that they can roam safely from our dogs but there is no overhead protection from aerial predators. We typically let them out there on the weekends, but only in the covered run during the week.
The flock got put out here after 2-3 weeks from coming home. Since that time, they have favored piling on top of each other while sleeping on the floor of the coop. Just recently, they have begun to get up off of the ground and I finally installed some roosts for them. I have a nesting box but I have not installed it yet. I have a gut feeling that they are going to use this as a roosting area and I want to keep that from happening for now. Any advise on when to install this is appreciated. Or if letting them roost in it is okay until they start laying eggs........no clue at this point.
Anyway, some pics are attached.
Jellyroll
Nice to meet you.
