Fuzzy's Farm

[Savannah Soliz]

Thanks for advice! I'm taking everyone's input. I need it . My coop is 10 by 10 . And will set up off the ground. I'll post a pic as soon as it gets here and I get it together.

 

[NovaAman]

Holy, that is a big coop for off the ground. Is it going to be up on blocks or legs?

 

[NovaAman]

Robin... don't know how often you check out the fav thread... but check out this shirt this lady made!
Quote:

 

[Savannah Soliz]

Holy, that is a big coop for off the ground. Is it going to be up on blocks or legs?

 

[Savannah Soliz]

My bad it's 7 by 7 and is gonna be off ground.. My sister told me it's plenty big for a dozen or so chickens? It's got a lil ramp that comes out of house, then it all fenced in outside. With top covering. So I should dig a trench to put the fencing down in around all perimeters?

 

[Savannah Soliz]

And it on legs

 

[teeville5]

Ya feeling better today tee? Mom2?

Oh, HE didn't even make it up this morning. yup.

Didn't see that one coming, did you?

Thought I was feeling better this morning, but now I'm back to blah. Took my DS and youngest DD to the dentist where I had to sit through her appt because she is terrified of them. The high pitch squee of the sonic thing they used has set my head to banging. Now I'm just super tired and achy and waiting for the med to kick in for relief. I definitely see a nap in my near future.

 

[Savannah Soliz]

Lol! Are you excited? We just suddenly got chickens, and built the coop afterwards, so we did things a bit differently. 

 

[Savannah Soliz]

I thought about just fencing in area for short time but we have feral cats, dogs, coons possums, all kinds of varmints. Plus bout five miles from here few days ago man killed a wolf!

 

[NovaAman]

aA 49 sq foot coop is not big enough for 13 birds. You are talking just over 3sq feet per bird. If you have to keep the birds locked up for longer periods of time you will have injuries. Birds peckign at each other, fighting for space. You want to have a minimum of 4 sq feet of floor space per bird, with a foot of roost space per bird. This floor space does not include the space for nest boxes or feed stations. Nest boxes and feed stations really will cut into that 49 sq feet. You want at minimum 10 sq feet per bird in the run. You'll just need to settle for fewer birds. Say 10 hens and 1 roo.

NOW, that being said... if you are going to have FREE RANGING birds, you can get away with the smaller coop for them all. If you are not, you really need to have a much more extensive run. 130sq foot minimum, that'd be a 10x13 foot run... Personally, I'd double that length. Say a 13x20. Trust me, you'll be happier for it, since the birds will be happier for it. Yes bury the whole perimeter of the fence. By having it be long and skinny, you can roof it easier with PVC and tarps, to create shade, or even dry area. My run is 12x28. PVC is makes the roof frame, and a tarp. The sides are plastic covered for the winter. I will leave the tarped roof on for the summer as well, to keep a dry area that is always shaded. ALSO, able to make separate pens and coops with in that space if needed. I have 4 coops with in that space, all up off the ground so I can crawl under as needed.. I used to let my birds free range all day, and lately have had to lock them up more often, the hawks have been horrible on them... SO, I am happy that I have that much run for them. They've all got enough space. They aren't happy being locked up, but they aren't dead either.

So, all in all, if you are going to have a coop that small for 13 birds, then you really need to make the biggest possible run that is predator safe. I even have roosts in the run, and a lot of the birds prefer to sleep on those instead of in the coops. I only allow that though because I am pretty confident that nothing is going to get in... You need to be confident nothing can get it...