How many chickens will fit? 8?

[black_cat]

Deep litter and composting are 2 different things really.
Deep litter is just deep litter......and crap builds up literally.
Composting involves moisture and ground contact so the good microbes and critters in the dirt can do their work.

Personally.....I would ditch the poop boards in a coop this size and just clean it all out at least one or twice a month.

When I had poop boards......under there in the farthest corner to access was EXACTLY where they put eggs.

Shoot. Another Reason I was hoping to use poop boards is because I was hoping to brood in coop, possibly under one of the poop boards. I know that I sound like I'm trying to cram a lot in, but when brooding chicks in there the coop would be at half capacity, with only four birds in it, or less, so I wouldn't be cramming them while brooding.

 

[black_cat]

There is no danger of extra chicks because MyPetChicken uses heat packs instead of extras for warmth.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Shoot. Another Reason I was hoping to use poop boards is because I was hoping to brood in coop, possibly under one of the poop boards. I know that I sound like I'm trying to cram a lot in, but when brooding chicks in there the coop would be at half capacity, with only four birds in it, or less, so I wouldn't be cramming them while brooding.

If you are starting out with 8-9 birds.....you won't have room to add more later. I wouldn't worry about brooding in there at this point.

To save you big $$$ on shipping.....check with your local feed stores that carry chicks and see if they will special order yours to ship with their order. Ours here do that and will happily add whatever a person wants.

 

[black_cat]

If you are starting out with 8-9 birds.....you won't have room to add more later. I wouldn't worry about brooding in there at this point.

To save you big $$$ on shipping.....check with your local feed stores that carry chicks and see if they will special order yours to ship with their order. Ours here do that and will happily add whatever a person wants.

We don't have a local feed store. the nearest tractor supply is about 1 hour away, whereas the post office is less than 10 minutes. I can't drive, so it falls to my parents. I don't mind paying the extra. I'll be starting with 2-5 birds, then getting 3-6 a year after.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We don't have a local feed store. the nearest tractor supply is about 1 hour away, whereas the post office is less than 10 minutes. I can't drive, so it falls to my parents. I don't mind paying the extra. I'll be starting with 2-5 birds, then getting 3-6 a year after.

If TSC is your only feed store.......yeah order from the hatchery.

 

[black_cat]

If TSC is your only feed store.......yeah order from the hatchery.

Yeah, no feed stores near me. MyPetChicken is also in Connecticut, so the shipping shouldn't be too long.

 

[3KillerBs]

Personally.....I would ditch the poop boards in a coop this size and just clean it all out at least one or twice a month.

I don't use poop boards.

In my 4'x4' coop I have had to clean out anywhere from once a month (I'll never use straw again), to once in 12 weeks (cool winter weather). I just add more shavings, etc. every couple weeks until it gets deep enough to be spilling out the door and/or I get noticeable odor.

It's deep bedding, a dry system, rather than deep litter, a moist, composting system, but I never had any odor issues due to my Little Monitor Coop's excellent ventilation.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yeah, no feed stores near me. MyPetChicken is also in Connecticut, so the shipping shouldn't be too long.

My understanding is MPC is kind of like a broker.....they don't hatch or ship the birds. They contract with hatcheries like Meyers to fill orders.
I could be wrong but that is what I have read.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Nesting boxes are accessed from outside. Poop boards are kinda in an L? Here's the sketch that I did:
View attachment 2306662
In the top left corner you can see the sketch. It's to scale, with one square being 6 inches square. The poop boards are 2 feet off the ground so there is plenty of space for the chickens to be under them. There is a ramp up to the poop boards for easy access.

Minus the roosts and poop boards, that looks like my coop

 

[black_cat]

My understanding is MPC is kind of like a broker.....they don't hatch or ship the birds. They contract with hatcheries like Meyers to fill orders.
I could be wrong but that is what I have read.

My friends have all had good success with it, and it offers the breeds I want, so I'm going to go for it. They also have excellent customer service. The lower minimums is the main driving factor, though. I'm just going to go with it.