Hello from Michigan

[speedracer]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I'm also in Michigan. Have you heard of hoop runs? They are nice for the Michigan winters. Cover with a tarp or heavy plastic and the snow slides off.

@Hillbilly Hen That's great to hear! I have three 16-foot hog/cattle panels left over from my garden fence that I was considering using for a hoop run. But, was wondering how that would perform in the snow. You must have read my mind.

 

[speedracer]

Welcome. i get it...I have 24 bosses, 23 chickens and an Akita.

The biggest advice we can give you that we all agree about is do not buy a premanufactured coop. I grew up in Plymouth. Here are some easy to remember things:


1/2 inch hardware cloth is your best friend. Securely cover any holes an inch or greater.
As long as you can keep it secure, bigger is always better...Coop and run. Space solves so many issues; boredom, illness, fighting, etc..
Get a coop you can stand up in.

No premanufactured coop I'm looking to build a shed-type walk-in coop that will also have some storage space for supplies, etc and then a hog panel run (since I have the panels leftover from another project). That seems like the best balance of cost, build simplicity, and functionality...and if we decide that chickens aren't for us after all, a shed is easy to repurpose. That's my thinking anyway.

I lived in downtown Plymouth in the early 2000's

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

@speedracer there's a photo in this thread showing the hoop run in the snow
Thread 'We gave the chickens our bedroom! Pic Heavy!' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/we-gave-the-chickens-our-bedroom-pic-heavy.386902/
We ended up getting rid of chickens and selling the hoop run. However this spring we decided give it another go. And we built a longer run than the first one.

 

[triciayoung]

No premanufactured coop I'm looking to build a shed-type walk-in coop that will also have some storage space for supplies, etc and then a hog panel run (since I have the panels leftover from another project). That seems like the best balance of cost, build simplicity, and functionality...and if we decide that chickens aren't for us after all, a shed is easy to repurpose. That's my thinking anyway.

I lived in downtown Plymouth in the early 2000's

I graduated from Plymouth Canton High School.

Make sure to cover that hog panel with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. That way, when you fall in love with your chickens, they won't get attacked by the many animals that kill chickens.

 

[speedracer]

@speedracer there's a photo in this thread showing the hoop run in the snow
Thread 'We gave the chickens our bedroom! Pic Heavy!' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/we-gave-the-chickens-our-bedroom-pic-heavy.386902/
We ended up getting rid of chickens and selling the hoop run. However this spring we decided give it another go. And we built a longer run than the first one.

Thanks for the link @Hillbilly Hen. Your run looked fantastic. I was considering a tarp and maybe some shade cloth in the warmer months and greenhouse plastic for winter. It’s so helpful to see that it worked well for you. How wide were your hoops set?

 

[janiedoe]

@sourland Yep, you've pretty much summed it up . I'm sorry for your loss.


View attachment 4143852
@N F C Here she is surpervising me while I work in the garden. No chickens yet. I won't get any until we have a coop sorted out.


@janiedoe She pays in hugs

Now thats what I call a generous wage! She is gorgeous!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Thanks for the link @Hillbilly Hen. Your run looked fantastic. I was considering a tarp and maybe some shade cloth in the warmer months and greenhouse plastic for winter. It’s so helpful to see that it worked well for you. How wide were your hoops set?

The new one is 7 & 1/2 ft apart and 29 ft long