Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

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 pla for how/where you can easily expand if needed int eh 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 teh right direction, and let you do research into what will work for you personally.

Thank you!
I definitely don't want to have to bend over in there.

 

[RoyalChick]

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 pla for how/where you can easily expand if needed int eh 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 teh right direction, and let you do research into what will work for you personally.

Also, there are lots of really good threads and articles on coop building in the forum dedicated to that topic. I read a lot (I mean a lot!) before deciding what I was going to do.

 

[notabitail]

Also, there are lots of really good threads and articles on coop building in the forum dedicated to that topic. I read a lot (I mean a lot!) before deciding what I was going to do.

I'm still scrolling thru the coop articles. Butt Fluffy Butt Acres distracted me.

 

[bgmathteach]

Thank you!
I definitely don't want to have to bend over in there.

2 ways to avoid that.
1: build a 'person height' coop. Build an elevated coop, so coop is about half height (person wise) but elevated to maybe 3 ft., and UNDER the coop then becomes more space for the chooks, and it is easy to reach into the coop proper without bending. (plus, gives you 'double' the space: in the 14 coops (the second set, not the set of 45), #2, 5, & 8 are excellent examples of this.)

 

[BY Bob]

Chicken Palace

I have often talked here about how the Chicken Palace is built on a steep slope and how the rafters are 11’ up which is why I can’t get Babs or Eli down off their roost at night.

Today I was doing a bit of cleaning and restocking of food and water prior to my trip and I got this picture which I think gives a good sense of the height and the slope down and out to the run where my chair is.

I don’t usually get pictures from this angle and thought it was quite cool so wanted to share.
Does anyone see anything odd? Something that definitely caught my eye.

View attachment 3463947

Let me zoom in a little and maybe you will spot it.

Spoiler: Zoomed in on what caught my eye

View attachment 3463948

Do you see it now?

Spoiler: What I saw

Yes indeed. It is an egg.
I have no idea how long it has been up there. Judging by the size it is a Babs egg. She missed a couple of days laying last week (or so I thought!). She must have laid it early one morning before it was light enough to fly down from the rafters. Did I mention the 11'?

View attachment 3463949

That is one talented lady!

 

[featherhead007]

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.

 

[featherhead007]

Did she lay one of those wrinkly eggs?

Nope. Not Coco, hers are medium sized and normal.
Dakota and Bobo lay those wrinkly ones

 

[featherhead007]

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.....

View attachment 3464045

Hairy Coos?
“Give us a kiss. Come on, just one little kiss!”

 

[bgmathteach]

Taxes for 'questions, lots of questions' @BY Bob

 

[BY Bob]

Spoiler: It Was Over Quickly