I need advice, suggestions, and Help

[Akrnaf2]

That coop is incredibly small for 6 hens, and I hope they are only in that at night to sleep. I know the box says it's made for xxx hens, but that really is incorrect, and it's a shame that the coop manufactureres get away with that kind of mass disinformation.

Anyway, this isn't really egg-laying time of year so you shouldn't try to force eggs out of them with artificial light unless you relish the thought of death by ovarian cancer. (I know you don't, that is just the consequence of excessive ovulation that kills the vast majority of all laying hens.)

It's good for them to NOT lay because laying eggs incessantly takes a huge toll on their bodies and eventually precipitates reproductive disease that kills them. You will wish they never laid at all when you're holding their little dying bodies in your arms and watching them gasp their last painful breaths in the final stages of ovarian cancer.

Do you really think that a bird thst lays 259-330 eggs a year (without any supplemental light) is natural?! The red jungle fowl lay 2 clutch of 15 egg each in average, a year. Everything beyond that is caused because humans manipulation . There is nothing natural in chickens! They are human manipulated laying machines.
I give ALL YEAR LONG light and what I get?
1. Constant laying with pauses that the chicken fesyology and endocrinology decided.
2. Less stressed chickens
3. The most important thing is that my chickens have very very miled molth and in the SUMMER TIME and not in winter as the most of you do, there is no logic of loosing feathers at the time when chickens most need them!

 

[lazy gardener]

Excellent points, Arknaf2.

 

[Redsoxgirl]

No I use my cell ... LOL or do a screen shot and print it off. There are so many great people here willing to help you. Where state are you from. I am sure if you ask around in the state thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/where-am-i-where-are-you.26/ you may find other member from your area willing to help you with your coop also. Chicken people love helping other chicken people and their flocks.

Hi, I'm in Massachusetts

 

[Redsoxgirl]

You may also want to check your garden and areas around it to see if your hens are hiding eggs. They love doing that especially if they free ranged before.

No they didn't lay in the garden, they all huddled together and had a great dirt bath, and tried to eat my tomatoes & green peppers. LOL

 

[Redsoxgirl]

Red, that small coop could very easily be converted into a coop that would most likely be large enough for them. Then, with your added run, you would be all set for space, AS LONG AS you don't add any more birds. Depending on your location, you could even use tarps to close in the whole coop. Better yet would be to put plywood siding on it, cause that will increase the strength of the building. Surely, you must know someone who has the required tools and skill set? Perhaps you could barter services, garden produce or eggs to get the panels cut to the right dimensions. Or, you could go to Harbor Freight and buy a skill saw. I'm a 61 y.o. biddy, and have more fun with shop tools than I ever do with indoor stuff. And, I still have all my fingers and toes. If you do close in the coop, remember that they need, must have, (not optional) lots of ventilation. If you oriented the coop so the open end of it faced south, you could even leave the entire south end open. Plan on allowing approximately 6 sq. feet of open space for ventilation. In order to get good ventilation, you must have at least 2 openings so that air will move into the structure, and still have somewhere to exit.

I don't want to try to add more birds, my girls are a tight knit group. They have enough ventilation, but I'm concerned about winter.

 

[Redsoxgirl]

Once you get the bigger run you could just take the current set up and enclose the whole thing making it into a bigger coop. Since the run is framed you could even use inexpensive OSB board which is very easy to cut and work with.

What's OSB board? I apologize, I'm not familiar with different kinds of products to build with.

 

[biophiliac]

What's OSB board? I apologize, I'm not familiar with different kinds of products to build with.

It's like a particle board ... Oriented Strand Board ... I know there are other names. It's very cheap ...although there has already been a price jump since hurricane season. I get you a photo, brb...

 

[biophiliac]

 

[Redsoxgirl]

View attachment 1130837

Oh ok, now I know what you mean. LOL thank you so much : )

 

[Cntry1958]

Hi, I'm in Massachusetts

Ventilation is what you need as long as you have some in the top and the roosting bars are below that you will be find. And I mean the eves of coop. (the top of the side walls) Not the roof. This allows air to come in for ventilation and your birds will be ok during the cold winters. Your nesting boxes need to be out of the way of the roosting bars and also a lot lower if not on the floor of the coop. Is there a window in your coop. YOU may want to add one to the next coop you make or purchase. This will give them light during the day if its snowing and they don't go out.