I need Ideas...

[Crazyland]

I haven't built my coop yet. Still working on finances and whatnot.

But I need some ideas from you all. I know you have some fabulous ones!

I have plenty of land, almost 6 acres, but plenty of predators; coons, dogs, hawks, owls. I want to free range the hens as much as possible. Not interested in breeding.

We have a 10x10 welded wire kennel we bought from TSC that we want to use.

We want to have it under our carport. So imagine our carport in this picture, just with the kennel , wood (lots), a tractor and the kennel under here right now. The house is to the right. Those woods are all mine.

This is a picture from the field below looking back up so give perspective of distance. Also it is a slight slope up to the house and shed.

Eventually I will have a fence up to fence in an acre around the house, waiting on taxes. The land to the left of my house will be for a horse or two eventually. The land to the right is for dog training. In the woods we have a creek and a pond with beavers. We are cleaning out a lot of the underbrush and young trees that really block that part of my property.

So anyways... back to the subject now that you have an idea of what I am working with.

I do not want to cut any part of the kennel to use. But want to use the washer and drier I have just sitting here. They are the normal top loader xl compacity from kenmore built in '99. Husband has no problem cutting into the shed to have the roosting boxes in there. But the shed is concrete blocks so it gets VERY cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Also it is not insulated and drafty. We do have electricity running to the shed. But if I were to use it now it would take longer to build a coop.

So.. ideas on how to use the washer and drier and the best way to set up the coop would really be appreciated!

Oh, the carport faces the North so it doesn't get the most sunlight. Mornings are best.

 

[Countrywife]

If you simply fence in that carport, and make them a small house, you don't need anything else. I assume they will free range, and I know your weather. I can get hubby to look at the picture if I see him tonight, but honestly, I think you are making it more complicated that you need to start. Go to walmart and get a small dog house igloo, put some hard wire up and Viola'- you have a coop.

 

[The Sheriff]

I don't have any advice just wanted to say it's a love piece of property. Free ranging might get a bit scary with all those woods, creek, etc. I back to a creek and it brings out the predators. Enjoy your adventure!

 

[matthewschickens]

Free ranging is very good but I would train them to scratch by shaking a cup with it in it and then give it to them.
I let mine out from about 9am to 4pm and so far we have only lost one.
When we leave them out later then we do lose them.
Also make your coop predator proof.
Maybe bury some wire so animals can not dig in.

Matthew

 

[matthewschickens]

Quote:
Don't they need roosting bars?
Or do they just need hay?

Matthew

 

[Crazyland]

I can't use the whole thing as a coop. As we use it for the tractor and the wood.

I know I am making it complicated. I am picky like that. lol I just want it as perfect as possible before I bring any home. I just have a lot of things in my way before that happens.

They won't range on the lower property without me with them. Once I get the other fence up they will have all around the house.

And thank you Warden for the compliment.

It really is pretty during the summer with everything in bloom and green.

 

[gsim]

Nice looking piece of land. Very level and so easy to do things with it.

If you are fencing the yard, you might consider doing a 6 ft welded wire fence around the whole place and put a fence-charger on it. Have to have a clear strip of grass on outside all the way around that to keep weeds/vines off of the hot wires. You will get no climbing predators and only have to worry about airborne predators. Should also take steps to deter tunneling preds. Would be good to also put 2 ft tall roll of chicken wire around the whole thing at ground level to deter smaller preds. If free-ranging, be prepared for lots of poop where you do not want it and lots of ripping and digging where you do not want it too. That and predator losses go with that territory.

Since you have so much room, may be that a really oversized run would let the chooks have a lot of space to have a good happy daily life and still keep them away from where you do not want them? I have 24 (too many) and am glad we did it that way. We did a 2,000 sq ft run. If not, they would be up here crapping on our patios, sidewalks, porches, deck chairs and tables, and rooting up my landscaping.

 

[bwboot]

Nice spread! as far as roosts go the easyest one ive seen is an extention ladder leaned up against the side of my friends garade under the eave. All 10 of his birds squese up to the top three rungs and completly ignore the fancy wide roost he had built for them. if simplicity is your goal you could just fence in one section of the carport set up a ladder and give them a few nesting boxes and call it good.

 

[Countrywife]

hubby just looked at it and said what I did. Keep it simple for now, you are just starting, and don't have a ton of money for the project. You could easy build a roost in there, and still have room for everything else. Some wire, a simple shelter and a roost- and for just few starters it would be perfect. I am not trying to discourage anything, but as you spend more time in chickens you will want to do more with them, but start simple and add in when you want/need to. I have some perfect little starters for you, but I don't know what they are. Just that I have a couple young hen/roo pairs, and I have to get rid of some of these roos.