Hey everyone, new to the site, I have an introductory video!

[JerseyChickhens]

Hello everyone, the name's Brandon and I live in northern Jersey. I have been raising my two hens for 3 months now and would like to show you all my setup. I have made a quick video earlier today and was hoping some of you can check it out for suggestions/comments. I am fairly new at the backyard chicken thing but I have much enthusiasm for the hobby. Thank you all very kindly. The link is below to the YouTube video I uploaded.

Quick background: I bought these two beautiful hens at a hatchery in Quakertown PA (Moyer's Chicks I believe). They hatched the same day I picked them up. They are "Red Rocks" which I believe are the cross between a Rhode Island Red x White Rock chicken. I also think I may have misspoke in the video where I said "White Rocks" which is clearly not the case. My apologies in advance. I got them Sept. 30 2016 and have raised them in a makeshift brooder I had until early November where I migrated them to the coop I managed to buy/build/modify in my backyard (which you will see in the video). They are very social/friendly and seem to be very healthy so far and have had no problems. I have done extensive research especially on this website's forums and Learning Center. I just want to join the forum in a friendly manner and hope to make chicken buds (as corny as that sounds). Thank you all. I am also new to this forum so sorry for posting this in an inappropriate section of the forums.

 

[Trefoil]

That's the best use of a store bought coop I've seen. Unlike most, you aren't overcrowding and the upgrades you've made are great. Good Job.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Greeting JerseyChickens and

I just watched your whole video! Nicely done! And love your chickens, they look sweet.

Here are my comments:

Really truly - get rid of the heat lamp...they really don't need it. My 12 week old birds just came through a week of 20 degree weather without a hitch here in Washington. They acclimate! And if you don't let them acclimate, and then you have a power outage because of a storm they will really suffer for it. They are 100 degree little heaters with down coats on. They are made for it! Really!

Raccoons - You said you have them around. They aren't country raccoons, they are city raccoons! Those suckers are super smart and are very crafty with their little finger like paws! Get the top of that coop more secure asap.

Coop - Great coop, lovely design. But keep it to two chickens, anymore would not be enough space. You didn't say you were getting more, that's just my suggestion. The manufacturer's of those coops always say more than what they really should hold.

I think that's it! You've done great reading at the learning center!

 

[JerseyChickhens]

@Bridebeliever Thank you very much for your feedback! I will definitely not be turning on the lamp. Just to be clear, even when it goes below 0 degrees F, it is still wise to keep it off? It gets like that here around mid January sometimes. I am just inexperienced and a bit paranoid. The raccoons have not yet been an issue but they are more active during the summer so I will make sure to further raccoon proof it for sure. I have caught a few city cats on the roof of the coop but they seem harmless behind the hardware mesh and I never leave my chickens unattended while they are out roaming the backyard. Again thank you for the feedback!

 

[JerseyChickhens]

@Trefoil Thank you very much, I appreciate that. I just want to make the best out of it due to the fact my budget was low and at the same time I want my hens to be happy and safe.

 

[Bridebeliever]

@Bridebeliever Thank you very much for your feedback! I will definitely not be turning on the lamp. Just to be clear, even when it goes below 0 degrees F, it is still wise to keep it off? It gets like that here around mid January sometimes. I am just inexperienced and a bit paranoid. The raccoons have not yet been an issue but they are more active during the summer so I will make sure to further raccoon proof it for sure. I have caught a few city cats on the roof of the coop but they seem harmless behind the hardware mesh and I never leave my chickens unattended while they are out roaming the backyard. Again thank you for the feedback!

No worries, cats won't get in to that. But coons...

they are just SO crafty! There are folks on here from SUPER cold places that even leave the pop door open on their coops...and no heat...ever. Check out postings that member Blooie has posted...she's a great reference! I have to be honest, I was freaked out about my babies during that 20 degree week but my chickens sailed through it as though nothing was different! Two things you have to watch, ventilation and draft/wind. It looks like you have those things covered.

 

[azygous]

Thanks for the great intro-video, and welcome to BYC!

Yep, get rid of the heat lamp. It's overkill in a small coop when the chickens will supply all the heat necessary to warm the coop. They really are little walking heaters. And raccoons can flip those door hooks easy as pie. Don't wait to see how clever and devious they are.

My winters are very cold, too, and I only have an oil-filled electric heater in each of my coops set on the lowest setting to keep things from freezing inside when it gets down into the teens and below, making it easier to clean in the mornings. But the chickens do not need the heat. Heat lamps are just too darned dangerous to trade off any benefit.

Do you have names for your girls yet?

 

[JerseyChickhens]

Thanks for the great intro-video, and welcome to BYC!

Yep, get rid of the heat lamp. It's overkill in a small coop when the chickens will supply all the heat necessary to warm the coop. They really are little walking heaters. And raccoons can flip those door hooks easy as pie. Don't wait to see how clever and devious they are.

My winters are very cold, too, and I only have an oil-filled electric heater in each of my coops set on the lowest setting to keep things from freezing inside when it gets down into the teens and below, making it easier to clean in the mornings. But the chickens do not need the heat. Heat lamps are just too darned dangerous to trade off any benefit.

Do you have names for your girls yet?

@azygous Thanks for the reply! For names, no not yet actually, I am very indecisive when it comes to naming my girls but i'll come by it eventually. Any suggestions for locking mechanisms for raccoon prevention?

 

[azygous]

Maybe those spring-loaded door hooks ? I've had every predator you can name except for raccoons, being too far from a water source. Perhaps other folks who have had direct experience can show you a coon-proof locking mechanism.

Let us know when you name the girls. Some chickens respond to their names, so names can be useful.

 

[aart]

Nice to see reasonable population and weatherproofing on one of those tiny coops.

Ditto.... forget about the heat, take the lamp right out of there.
Ventilation is much more important that heat....dryness is key as you already know.

Good thoughts on security...but not quite enough.
City coons are probably well versed in bungie cords.
I use hasps with carabineers thru the loops, some folks say coons can get those off and only a padlock will really deter them, my coop has not faced intrusion so I cannot say for sure. You can get hook and eyes with spring releases on them too, which would be an improvement over the ones you already have.

Another thing with those coops, the roost is too low, they may roost(sleep) and poop, in nests when you open them after they start laying.
If you can raise the roost up 6" or so that should keep them there instead of in the nests.