Hello, thanks and a question

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higginskzoo

Songster
7 Years
May 15, 2018
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Hi! New chicken mama here. Thanks to this site for all the great information and for everyone who contributes for making my first eight weeks go so smoothly! Decided to register because I need advice.

I have a nice big coop (5x10)and a not-so-big (4x20) very secure run within a heavily landscaped 40x40 “chicken garden.” Back of chicken garden has 4 foot wire fencing, side facing our house has lots of shrubs and trees with a two foot wire fence winding throughout to serve as something of a barrier. (And lots of vinyl hardware cloth to protect all those plant roots!) We have twenty acres, so they can free range, however we do have coyotes & hawks so my hope is to keep the chicken garden interesting enough that they won’t venture out too far very often.

I have six chicks (2 orpingtons, 1 Brahma, 1 Wyandotte, 1 australorp, 1 Easter egger) scheduled to arrive next week when I knew I would be done with chicken garden. Chicken math hit prematurely when I spontaneously brought home 4 chicks (2 RIR, 2 Barred Plymouth ) from local farm & fleet a couple months ago. ‍♀️

I am wondering if I should cut back my order to just 4 chicks since my secure run is sized for just 8 birds according to the standard guidelines? Guy who built it for me said it would be fine since I will be letting them outside the run, but watching how the current four play so energetically in the run i wonder if they will be too cramped with 10? I live in southwest lower Michigan where we get lots of snow so wondering if that affects the equation. Also not sure what the likelihood is that I will lose a couple to disease or predators. Hate to have to decide between any of the six chicks I picked, but want them all to be happy!

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Yes, snow definitely requires that you allow MORE room in the coop than the BYF standard. Plan on going into the winter with as many birds as you start the season with. Losses are always unplanned, and are actually quite infrequent.

Your coop will be adequate. But run will be on the small side. Is it a walk in run? If so, making it a deep litter run will help immensely. If you have an option to give them some more run space, I would do so. But, you are "on the edge". So, it may be ok.
 
welcometoBYC.jpeg

I would not cut back the order. You will be fine
 
G'Day from down under higginskzoo :frow Welcome!

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

BYC has Topic of the Week discussions which I have found to be a great resource, informative and sometimes entertaining; so definitely worth checking out.

If you would like to share Pictures and Stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out ;)

Including your general location on your profile will assist others. Location, climate, season etc can be important factors when members are responding to any questions you may have and vice versa.

You might want to also Find Your State Thread and pop in and say hello.

You may be interested in this article:
 
Thanks for opinions everyone! Expanding secure run would involve some major land grading as area runs down a slope. Definitely something I may consider down the road, but don’t have time this year.
Lazy, nice to connect with another gardener. DH claims chicken coop was just an excuse to landscape another area of yard. He’s not wrong....... :)
 

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