Through an iron site.... Sorry, just finishing your sentence for you.
Howdy
- Thread starter georgem
- Start date
Hi again!
Ten square feet is (barely) enough for three chickens!! Also, the recommended ratio is one rooster for TEN hens. I suggest that you get JUST hens until you have a bigger space!! All the folks here recommend that you build a MUCH bigger coop than you think that you will need since you will want to EXPAND shortly after getting your first chickens!!!
Another thing to keep in mind is that is NOT easy to add chicks/chickens to an established flock!! So you may want to give some thought to the ultimate flock size before you begin!!
Cindy
Ten square feet is (barely) enough for three chickens!! Also, the recommended ratio is one rooster for TEN hens. I suggest that you get JUST hens until you have a bigger space!! All the folks here recommend that you build a MUCH bigger coop than you think that you will need since you will want to EXPAND shortly after getting your first chickens!!!
Another thing to keep in mind is that is NOT easy to add chicks/chickens to an established flock!! So you may want to give some thought to the ultimate flock size before you begin!!
Cindy
Glad to have you here! Your coop is coming along great.
As for adding chickens to an established flock, it's not impossible. It is suggested that you quarantine the new birds for about a month, just to make sure they have no sicknesses they can pass on to the established flock. As well, you'll need to watch out for injuries once you add the new birds to the flock, since during the first week or so they'll be rearranging the pecking order. There are lots of hints and tips on BYC about how to do this successfully.
I agree you'll be adding more hens, but it sounds like you're well aware of what the banties you're getting are used to and that your friend has made suggestions and given you input.
I actually foresee this coop for your banties and a bigger future coop for your bigger hens once you are lured more completely to the wonderful world of chickens! Either that or how many times do we read that people wish they had an isolation coop for sick birds or for new hens!!
And introducing new hens is not THAT difficult, just takes some close observation for a while, especially if you get them from known sources and can keep em separated till youre sure all is well. People do it all the time. Yes, bad things CAN happen, but caution and patience are good things.
Dont let people scare you! We worry a lot sometimes! Youll see! You'll be just as bad in NO time!!
Welcome to BYC! Your coop looks great so far and your plans sound good, too.
The one thing I want to caution you about is using chicken wire. Although it will definitely keep your chickens in, raccoons and dogs have gone through it. It's not very good at keeping larger, stronger predators out. If you look through the predator and pest section, there are quite a few stories over the last couple of years, where this has happened.
There are a few different ways to get around this. One is locking them up in a secure coop at night. The other is to layer a stronger wire, like a 2x4 welded wire, over it. Some people have a guard dog in the yard for protection. Or you could just try to get a hold of some hardware cloth and use that, instead. Different solutions work for different people.
I hope I didn't discourage you too much. I'd just hate for you to go through all this effort and end up with a lot of heartbreak, later. Chickens are actually a lot of fun and really interesting to have around. I hope you enjoy yours!
The one thing I want to caution you about is using chicken wire. Although it will definitely keep your chickens in, raccoons and dogs have gone through it. It's not very good at keeping larger, stronger predators out. If you look through the predator and pest section, there are quite a few stories over the last couple of years, where this has happened.
There are a few different ways to get around this. One is locking them up in a secure coop at night. The other is to layer a stronger wire, like a 2x4 welded wire, over it. Some people have a guard dog in the yard for protection. Or you could just try to get a hold of some hardware cloth and use that, instead. Different solutions work for different people.
I hope I didn't discourage you too much. I'd just hate for you to go through all this effort and end up with a lot of heartbreak, later. Chickens are actually a lot of fun and really interesting to have around. I hope you enjoy yours!
- Thread starter
- #20
What a warm welcoming, backyardchicken people are awesome! I really appreciate realistic advice from the vantage of experience -- it's invaluable and deeply appreciated.
I do intend to build a larger structure in the future -- this little coop is temporary housing until the requisite materials are amassed for a more appropriate building.
Just as PortageGirl suggested, and I hate to admit to "thinking ahead", it did cross my mind that this enclosure could possibly find utility as a quarantine.
Regarding coop security: the plan is to use chicken wire to contain the birds and welded 2x4 wire around the parameter and extending beneath the soil to create a barrier against digging. I might lay large rocks around the edge as well. The only non-domestic mammalian predators that seem to have a presence at the farm are opossums. I have never seen a coon nor have I observed evidence such as foot prints along the nearby stream. A bobcat was spotted once but that was before we had a dog smelling up the place. Honestly, I would be more concerned about coons due to their dexterous little hands.
There is a population of docile barn cats and on occasion this leads to feral tom cats wondering onto the property however the breeder assures me that his chickens, upon maturation, will be adept at defending themselves from cats.
I guess the lineage of these guys and gals is traced back to a local chicken fighting ring that the authorities appropriately put the kibosh on in the early 80s. Since then the birds have been selectively bred in a way to ameliorate the issue of aggression. Yet, they supposedly maintain a robust ability to defensively ward off smaller predators whilst being inclined to reciprocate the affections of their human caretakers given the attention they receive is adequately caring.
You aren't discouraging me too much, besides, as a neurotic caffeine addict, dwelling on the worst-case-scenario is sort of my forte. haahaa it's a big hit at dinner parties
:
I do intend to build a larger structure in the future -- this little coop is temporary housing until the requisite materials are amassed for a more appropriate building.
Just as PortageGirl suggested, and I hate to admit to "thinking ahead", it did cross my mind that this enclosure could possibly find utility as a quarantine.
Regarding coop security: the plan is to use chicken wire to contain the birds and welded 2x4 wire around the parameter and extending beneath the soil to create a barrier against digging. I might lay large rocks around the edge as well. The only non-domestic mammalian predators that seem to have a presence at the farm are opossums. I have never seen a coon nor have I observed evidence such as foot prints along the nearby stream. A bobcat was spotted once but that was before we had a dog smelling up the place. Honestly, I would be more concerned about coons due to their dexterous little hands.
There is a population of docile barn cats and on occasion this leads to feral tom cats wondering onto the property however the breeder assures me that his chickens, upon maturation, will be adept at defending themselves from cats.
I guess the lineage of these guys and gals is traced back to a local chicken fighting ring that the authorities appropriately put the kibosh on in the early 80s. Since then the birds have been selectively bred in a way to ameliorate the issue of aggression. Yet, they supposedly maintain a robust ability to defensively ward off smaller predators whilst being inclined to reciprocate the affections of their human caretakers given the attention they receive is adequately caring.
You aren't discouraging me too much, besides, as a neurotic caffeine addict, dwelling on the worst-case-scenario is sort of my forte. haahaa it's a big hit at dinner parties
Last edited:
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