Hello I Am New to BYC - building my coop first

[Stuartriver]

Hello my name is Arlene. I have started building my 10 x 10 foot chicken house, the foundation and floor are complete, and I hope to have it completed by the end of May. My run is completed and is 60 x 50 foot with a 4 foot wide X 6 foot tall moat around my garden.

I haven’t gotten any birds yet but am interested in raising both meaties and layers and I have no idea what kind I will be getting.

I live on a small hobby farm on Vancouver Island BC, with my husband and Italian Greyhound. I enjoy gardening and one of my hobbies is working with warm glass.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy Arlene and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Delighted to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC! Best of luck when you acquire your flock!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC and congrats on your new hobby.

Here are some links to key resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3
• Great resource for beginners = https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/learning-center.11/
• Good starting point for browsing the site - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/
• Interesting feedback on how members manage their flocks -https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archives
• Excellent source of local information - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Hi Arlene and welcome!

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
We are glad you joined this flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops.

What exactly did you Google to get here? <<<<<<<<<<<

BYC has an APP!

 

[Caileys_Chickens]

Welcome to BYC!!!!

 

[IamRainey]

Hi from a certified BC lover! We've been able to live in Vancouver for extended periods and I couldn't be more smitten with my home away from home!

What predators do you have out on the island? I know there are areas that could be relatively predator-free and areas with bear and raccoons.

You've got to prepare for the worst when you're preparing your coop and run. My predators are coyote and raccoons and I use 1/2" heavy gauge hardware cloth buried 18" into the ground. Hardware cloth will keep out raccoons. I'm not sure I'd trust it with bear. Maybe you'll want hardware cloth for the tight mesh and some supporting chain link for the strength.

You've got to also make your access ports secure -- your doors and nest box access, for example. For those ^%$% raccoons make sure everything has a secure latch that can be reinforced with carabiner clips (or even padlocks). Those suckers are smart, agile and determined but I haven't had one open a carabiner yet.

Finally, you've got to plan for all that rain and make sure you have a sturdy, well-drained roof with really wide overhangs. That sturdy roof will also give you protection from birds of prey.

Good luck! Have fun! Stop by often!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Arlene, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Good luck with the rest of your coop build.

 

[Melky]

Welcome to BYC!​

 

[Cadence A Waller]

Welcome to BYC! Good luck finishing up your coop!