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I have my coop, feed, water, and bedding is everything I have correct ?

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by shannara200, Dec 22, 2012.

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  1. Dec 22, 2012 #1
    shannara200

    shannara200 Out Of The Brooder

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    Hello Everyone, My name is Luis and I am an amature at backyard chicken's. I wanted to post pictures and info about my setup before I look for chickens to put into it, Below are the pictures and I live in Social Circle Georgia, about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta.

    Here is my chicken coop, I had an individual built it for me, I plan to house 5 hens and a rooster in it, I plan to allow free ranging during the day.

    I put several inches of fine sand on the bottom and outside of it...I have it facing south with plenty of sunlight, and air ventulation. The coop is level but the ground is sloped, I figure this will help to let the area drain after rainstorms.

    Will the chickens be ok without heat?
    do I keep the chickens in the coop when it rains?? or let them free range in any type of weather.


    Do I need to add anything to the sand?? I put it in as it was, with no changes (It's severl inches thick since I used it to level the walking are of the coop for the chickens)


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    Here is the beeding I bought for the nesting area in the coop.

    Is it the correct one?

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    Here is the feed I bought, is it correct?
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    any advise people can give this amature will be most helpful, thank you :)
     
  3. Dec 22, 2012 #2
    satay

    satay oz-e-chick

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    Everything looks good except the feed. I think flock block is more of a treat. You will want layer feed of some sort if the hens you get are old enough to lay. If they are younger you will want starter/ grower feed.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2012
  5. Dec 22, 2012 #3
    citychickx6

    citychickx6 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I agree with the food change.
    Nice coop by the way.
    You should not need to heat the coop.
    I cannot let mine free range due to hawks here.
    Please remember that everything thinks chickens are yummy.

    Enjoy the chickening experience.
     
  7. Dec 22, 2012 #4
    tellynpeep

    tellynpeep Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I agree with the others on the food. You will not need heat if the chickens are fully feathered. Young chicks will need supplemental heat. Nice coop!
     
  9. Dec 22, 2012 #5
    cafarmgirl

    cafarmgirl Overrun With Chickens

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    Does the enclosed part of your coop have covered openings for ventilation on any of the other sides?
    You live in the woods so you will need to really be on top of predator proofing your coop against nightime predators who will try to chew through the wire or dig in underneath.
    You can let the chickens choose whether or not they want to be out in rainy weather. Most of the time they don't care about rain until it gets pretty windy and stormy, then they'll come in.
    They don't need heat unless you are getting chicks. Keeping them cool in summer will be your bigger worry. Make sure the coop gets shade if at all possible and is very well ventilated at night. Chickens handle cold a lot better then heat.
    It's already been said but definitely need something to feed them besides Flock Block. If your getting adult birds get them some layer feed.
    As far as free ranging....just know that eventually you are going to loose chickens. It only takes one dog to wipe out your flock and it only takes a fox or coyote a short time to make dinner out of a few chickens. Predators come back until the food source is depleted. Folk's with large flocks can handle the occasional loss but those of us with smaller flocks or just a few birds can be wiped out in a single day. Just something to consider.
     

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