How does this sound so far?

[Silverlocks]

I am planning my first chicken coop/run.

I am pretty sure that I want to build it on top of an abandoned 10' x 20' raised vegetable bed. It already has chicken wire buried underneath, and this means there will be a built in 12" redwood lip all the way around it.

I live in Southern California in view of the ocean so the weather is mild year-round. We've had one frost in 10 years, and it almost never gets up to 90F. Mostly it's 55-70F. I'd like to build an open air coop (more of a shelter), U-shaped at one end of the structure. For this I would use the lumber from several old 5x10' redwood beds. So, there would be a wall at one end, and side walls would extend 5 feet from there along the 20 foot length of the run. I would roof the 5x10 area.

I'm still working on how to fence in the rest of the 10x20 feet, but it will be fenced somehow.

Questions:

1. Does the fencing on top, covering the run, need to be seriously predator-proof, or is netting and shade cloth enough? (I can expect coyotes, skunks, raccoons, hawks, owls, squirrels, rats--and tiny potential for a mountain lion .)
2. Am I giving the chickens enough protection from the elements?

I hope my descriptions were clear. I'm not a builder, so I'm just feeling my way through this, and Dh is useless with tools.

 

[longranger]

I am in a similar climate. The shelter should be just fine. You may want to have some hooks to put a tarp loosely along the open side of the shelter for our few heavy rains.

With the predators you listed you need serious wire everywhere including the top of their run. The least expensive and easiest to install fence I have found is used chain link panels from craigslist. For the top I have used 2x4"welded galvanized fence material. I am very paranoid about my own dogs so I also put wire under the entire run. Can get a 48" tall 100' roll for about $70 at Lowes last I checked.

 

[Silverlocks]

Thank you Longranger. Good thought about the tarp.

One more question--since this is fair weather open air kind of design, how would I calculate chickens per square feet? In other words, how many of my 25-chick McMurray order would I have to share with friends?

50 sq feet on one end is walled on 3 sides, out of the total 200 sq feet.

There is a little organic farm stand up the road willing to trade for eggs so I'm not afraid of too many.

 

[JessHall]

I too live in So.Cal.

I'd recommend a roof on your coop, and very strong hardware cloth all around the coop. Raccoons are awful!

A roof will also help your bedding out, it is pretty moist by the ocean ( you're so lucky) and I know Deep Litter is a real pain when it gets wet.
Everything sounds great. Good luck and post lots of pictures

Oh yeah, and

 

[JessHall]

Figure 8 or 10 sq ft. per bird... so if you go on the skimpy side, you could have 25. But remember you need to provide enough laying boxes and roosting space which will take some room too

Also, keep in mind that the more room the happier, healthier, and more productive they'll be. Are you going to free range them at all during the day or will they spend 24-7 in the coop?

 

[longranger]

Should be able to keep your whole order of 25 even if it is pullets. Figure you will end up with a couple of Roos in that 25 with all"pullets". Can't keep those in most coastal socal locations because of local regulations, Zoning etc..
If these are straight run you will have plenty of extra room once you place or cull extra Roos. Even with 25 hens a well designed open 200 square feet makes for happy hens as long as there is adequate roost and nest boxes. More than one roost zone,boxes etc amuses the hens and allows the weaker birds to avoid being picked on.

Word of warning starting with 25 pullets or so you will still want more or just different varieties as you enjoy this wonderful hobby. Make sure you are getting what you want if you are filling the coop and run all at once. Perhaps consider getting high quality birds from breeders including BYCers locally. You can find eggs, chicks and adult birds of almost any variety locally if you are patient. That aproach also forces you to learn more about each variety. Then again if you know exactly what you want you are using the right hatchery. You can always cull or trade later if you want to switch your flock members.

 

[Silverlocks]

Quote:
I think they will be able to free range. How much depends on how well they can do it unsupervised and how far from the coop they want to go. I had originally planned to free range all day and just have them sleep in a secure coop (no run). But this idea was located closer to the house, more to the center of the property (at least 100 feet to the fence on all sides), under the cover of trees. Then I began to worry about who would let them out and put them away if I was out of town.

The old raised veggie bed seemed like it would be a really good foundation for a coop/run, but it's only about 50 feet from the 5-foot front fence. So if I go down there, I lose the cover of trees and I'm closer to the street. But--I have that nice buried chicken wire floor, and solid redwood perimeter.

I just don't know yet how far they'll want to wander, and how dangerous this area is for them. I'm certainly open to free ranging.

 

[Silverlocks]

Quote:
Ah, is that how the all-pullets order turns out? My Dh will not be pleased with a rooster. *I* like to hear them. We're zoned RR, rural residential. Municipally speaking, I'm allowed 20 chickens per acre, which technically allows me about 70 chickens. Surely a rooster would be expected at that point . . .

Perhaps consider getting high quality birds from breeders including BYCers locally. You can find eggs, chicks and adult birds of almost any variety locally if you are patient. That aproach also forces you to learn more about each variety. Then again if you know exactly what you want you are using the right hatchery. You can always cull or trade later if you want to switch your flock members.

Good idea! But how do I find chicken breeders? I would much rather buy juveniles or adults than brood chicks at this level of my experience.​

 

[elmo]

I would also encourage you to try to find local breeders. You can see the condition the birds are kept in before you buy, and the birds are spared the stress of shipping. I always like to buy locally whenever I can. Plus, I found a "chicken friend" practically in my neighborhood.

Google, craigslist, this forum, yahoo groups, your local newspaper, these are all ways to look for breeders in your area. I'll bet other people here can think of more ideas, too.

 

[Silverlocks]

Wandering around the yard today I started rethinking the use of the old 10x20 raised bed. It really is out in the open, and somewhat visible from the street. Although I'm zoned for chickens, I do have a neighbor on one side who gets cranky. And I still have to find a way to enclose it.

Now I'm thinking about tucking an enclosure back under that shady grove of trees I mentioned, but they are pine. There is a layer of pine needles several inches thick--and there are several large specimen cacti close by.

Questions:
1. Will chickens hurt themselves on a thick layer of pine needles? I wouldn't want to walk on it barefoot.
2. Will chickens hurt themselves if they range next to cactus?