Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Well, Momma hen is happy, if shrieking and growling is what makes you happy. She settled right down last night after a few minutes and she now has 4 eggs. I did not let her out of the cage today as I want to make sure she is really accepting of her new nest spot. She took a few drinks of water and ate a tiny amount that I gave her earlier. She also tried to eat my hands and wrists but that is typical Momma hen. Tomorrow I will give her a chance to come off the nest. I'm hoping once she does she comes back to her eggs and does not head straight for Gryffyn. Once she has fully accepted her spot I will be able to leave the door open and let her come and go at will.

That's wonderful! Glad she is 'happy'

What eggs did you give her? I can't remember if you said.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hmm, a coconut??

I must be slow today not to get that one!

 

[LhickenChicken]

I must be slow today not to get that one!

I am fast today in that case! I got it after 30 seconds

 

[lightm]

I'm just curious, but does anyone have any ideas for a coop for around thirty chickens? We have seven that are big and sixteen chicks.

chicken math: 7+16 = 30

I see people building their own coop for so many birds. I also see many people turn a shed into a chicken coop by adding ventilations and windows.

 

[Ponypoor]

I'm still trying to read though the whole thread.
Everyone here seems to love pictures

Yes we are all really proud of our feathered friends. And we all like seeing each other's beautiful chickens, like GregnLety's sebrights

And Saturdays it's Caturday (dedicated to cats); and Sunday is Pony Sunday, for ponies, hairy coos (cows), goats, dogs, camels, emus, battle cassowary.....

 

[notabitail]

chicken math: 7+16 = 30

I see people building their own coop for so many birds. I also see many people turn a shed into a chicken coop by adding ventilations and windows.

That's what I was thinking.
Yes, I applied chicken math to it. I figured we might get more chickens in the figure. As of right now we are in a small yard so we want something big enough for them that can be disassembled and moved to a bigger yard.

 

[notabitail]

Yes we are all really proud of our feathered friends. And we all look be seeing each other's beautiful chickens, like GregnLety's sebrights

And Saturdays it's Caturday (dedicated to cats); and Sunday is Pony Sunday, for ponies, hairy coos (cows), goats, dogs, camels, emus, battle cassowary.....

View attachment 3464045

Cats? Oh no. My Nana hates cats. They poop everywhere over here. Our neighborhood is overrun with feral cats.
My sister wants a horse. I want more chickens.

 

[ValarieF]

Be sure it’s Greek yogurt. They won’t eat any other kind!

it is greek yogurt

 

[notabitail]

it is greek yogurt

Our chickens ate normal yogurt.

 

[bgmathteach]

I'm just curious, but does anyone have any ideas for a coop for around thirty chickens? We have seven that are big and sixteen chicks.

Depending on your keeping arrangements, there are LOTS of options. I would read lots:
General info on needed coop size (Note, this is a general recommendation - again, your keeping arrangement will GREATLY influence this. For example, if this is the only protected space, and you have either really hot weather, and/or really cold weather, you will want more space as they will be confined to it at times during weather extremes - if not by you, by the weather itself. If they have a huge run with some protected spaces and/or free range a lot - with some protected spaces like carports, etc...then you could maybe get away with a bit less.)

45 free coop plans Most of these are too small for your needs, but they can certainly be scaled up - and some of these are great food for though.

This is another set of coop ideas. Numbers 2, 5, and 12 would be easy to modify to have more of the 'run' enclosed to make the coop space larger. Numbers 8 & 9 would probably be fine as they are for your numbers.

That said, look at as many coops as you can, think about what would work for your space (both how it would fit and aesthetically), then, if you are able...see if there are any current chicken owners near you that would allow you to view their coop, and answer questions about what they like about their coop, what they hate about it (if anything), and what they might 'tweak'. Also make SURE you design it for ease of access (to nab a 'hiding chicken' if needed) AND ease fo cleaning. You are MUCH more likely to clean it regularly and more thoroughly if it is easy as opposed to difficult. Finally, keep safety in mind. Some people/places will suggest using chicken wire. Chicken wire is really only good for keeping chickens in/separated, not keeping predators out. (i.e. you might, inside an already secure coop or run, decide to section off an area to separate out an injured bird, or to separate out a mating pair/trio, and/or to introduce safely new flock members (juveniles and/or adults) after quarantine in a slow/safe manner.

Finally, there are LOTS of knowledgeable people on this thread who will chime in as well. Think seriously about what will work for you, what will work for and be in the best interest of the birds, and, finally, I encourage you to plan for chicken math. It seems it is already gotten ahold of you once! [remember, happy birds are healthy birds. plenty of space and 'enrichments' in the run, places to 'hide'. So, either build a bit more than you need, or build with a plan for how/where you can easily expand if needed in the future - and still work for both you and the birds.

Sorry, I know this is a LOT of generalities but so much depends on your situation, that this is the best I can do - point you in the right direction, and let you do research into what will work for you personally.