Florida Girl here… first time Chicken raiser!

Date sort Score sort
BlueChick62

BlueChick62

Chirping
5 Years
Joined
May 15, 2014
Messages
117
Reaction score
9
Points
58
Location
Chiefland, FL
I've always loved birds! I just hatched a dozen chicks from an incubator in my classroom. I kept 5 of the 12( but the runt just died). Thus, I have four chicks left now. One "mutt" and 3 blue Cochins. They're eight days old. My brother in law is coming to build a coop for me this weekend. :) I am hoping to design a nice coop. He can build anything I want. Have any of you used chain link? I'm worried about predators. Wish me luck! I'm already in love with my title boogers! My students loved the incubator project and my principal was more than supportive!

:)
 
awesome and welcome
welcome-byc.gif
 
Lots of people use chain link by repurposing old dog runs . If you do it's best to add perimeter fencing - by using 1/2" inch hardware cloth about 18" tall on the outside. This will keep predators, especially raccoons from biting off any body parts they can grab. If hawks are prevalent in your area you may decide to put a top on the run, this could be as simple as deer netting. Raptors don't want to injure they wings by trying to fly thru it. If you use a solid top, it would also provide some shade and rain/snow protection.

The Learning center is a great place to start. ps
welcome-byc.gif
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new chicks! Be sure to check out the Coops section for some ideas, lots of really cute coops, a lot of them have detailed instructions on building them www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coop_Designs
drumstick diva gave you some good advice, chain link is also nice since it is usually pretty dog proof, and X2 you might like to check out the BYC Learning Center, lots of good articles on all aspects of chicken keeping. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
And it is always fun to check out your state thread for chicken keeping neighbors and any suggestions they may have for a coop that is good for your weather https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/305793/florida-always-sunny-side-up
 
images


Welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community!

Kelsie has left you several great links to follow for the learning. I have used chain link for runs and I have covered with 1/2 inch hardware cloth to keep all the critters from getting in.

Enjoy your new flock and good luck with your build! Welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to BYC
frow.gif
Glad you joined us!
 
Thanks to everyone! I have lots of chain link going to waste in the front yard that my dog has escaped from for years. However, I only have wooden posts… and yes, there are plenty of hawks around. I hope to bury part of the run down a foot or so deep running around the perimeter… and then make a "skirt" of 24" chicken wire around the outside after the run is finished. I was thinking of bending 12" up the side and the other 12" laying out side flat on the ground to discourage diggers. I'm on a five acre piece of land with lots of woods around… I'm scared to death that predators will get these little birds that I am already so attached to! I'm open to hardware cloth as well. There's so much to learn!
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom