I really want a hen house.......

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Oobhakeb

Oobhakeb

Chirping
9 Years
Dec 9, 2010
100
0
89
Lancaster, Kentucky
Hi, I've really been wanting a hen house to raise farm fresh eggs for my family since we eat a lot of eggs. When I was searching for a home, I went to look at a house and in the backyard, the lady had a chicken ark and 3 hens. I talked to her about her chickens for about 30 minutes while looking at her house. Every since then, I've been stuck on the idea of raising my own chickens. I have two daughters 5 and 7 and a step son 7 and I really think they would enjoy this also.
I've been in my new home for about a year (ironically a few houses down from this ladys house) and it came with a nice sized lot. I have off and on been researching this for a year and I overheard a co-worker talking about wanting to start a hen house and of course I had to put my two cents in!!! soooo, now he's planning to drive to a hatchery and get his chicks so he doesnt have to pay shipping charges and can order a smaller amount. Only thing is to do this, he has to get a minimum of 15 chicks. So, he said if I wanted he could pick up my order too. :) which, brings me to this forum because I am now in the stages of planning my coop but now I'd like some advice as to the best practices on raising happy and healthy chicks and chickens.
There is so much information out there and some of it is contradicting. I would like some advice from people just like me......So any advice I would Love to have as far as best supplies what to do, what not to do. I am trying to do this the most economic way possible. I have already seen some good topics I will have to visit. So please don't hesitate to comment...
I have decided on having at least 9 chickens and NO rooster and the breeds are as follows: White Plymouth Rock, Barred plymouth Rock, Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, Light Brahma, Buff Brahma, Dark Brahma, Rhode Island Red, Araucana-Ameraucanas. I will have one of each. I chose these for their cold hardiness and Dolcile nature as well as their color.
 
Welcome! I'm new too and in more or less the same boat (but starting with fewer chickens, as history suggests I will fall victim to Chicken Math
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). I'm reading everything I can find both on the Internet and from the library. It's true that there's a lot of conflicting information out there, but I'm finding as I read more that there tends to be either 1) general agreement among most chicken-keepers with a few outlier opinions; or 2) two (or three, or more!) schools of thought with lots of experienced keepers in each. If it's the latter, I feel pretty confident picking the one that suits me best for whatever reason. For the former, I'll follow the herd (not my natural inclination
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) and then tweak my setup after I've used it for awhile and know what works and what doesn't.

Good luck to you!
 
Sounds like you are going to get hooked. Welcome. You might want to get a dark egg layer since you will already have a variety.
 
welcome you two to the forum first think came to my mind when u want a " hen house" why do want a house for the ladies of the night lol.

ok down to business
so it sound like u have 5 people in you family. do u want eggs very day or every other day? do u want meat chickens or only to eat the eggs.

houses
i would recommend that have 12 chickens but i would build or buy a building that would be big in enough 25 chickens you would want more too
large chickens[lf] will give u bigger eggs med to exlarge eggs the floor space would be 4 sq ft per bird. the Bantam size per need 2 sq ft but they will give you a small egg i found when cooking i would need 3 eggs to a large egg. you would need a place to keep your feed in. and your feeder and water[ in winter] and you would have 1 nest box/4 birds.you would need ventilation in the house. i would have a walk in house[coop] with a chicken door in it. i would make sure you have electric to go there.and be able to have a water pipe near by to get water

pen area if you decide to pen them in
lf need 10 sq ft per bird
Bantam size 8ft per bird
do not waste your money on chicken wire it only keep the chicken in not predators out. get small fence wire and make it at least your height so you can walk into the pen out you may have to cover it due to the sun or the birds flying in or out. and where pen in not in where it floods or standing water.
you can see my set up on my web page.
there is alot of ideas below in
Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=9
good luck
 
wow, thanks for all the great info sunflowerenvy. My family goes through a lot of eggs. We would probably want them every other day or every three days and Im most certain my mom will want some fresh eggs as well. I planned on having the chickens only for their eggs. I plan on building my coop myself...well with my honeys help.
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I also plan to free range my chickens while im working in the garden as well as provide a run for them. I love in a rural "neighborhood" so I need for the house to look nice as well. I have found a few plans I really like and I think my honey and I have decided on a plan I found on this website. I planned on have 6 nesting boxes and a plan that was about 6 x 8 at the very least. with larger run. Thanks for the response and I will definitly check out your pics!!! Thanks
 
i forgot couple of things too
in the winter time to keep your water from freezing
you could makeyour own heater to and set your water on it too

cookie tin heater by hinkjc
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=107951
you can get after xmas half price 4 winter next yr

Terracotta heater by BrewedInNh
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5163484#p5163484

Thermo Cube
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Thermostatically Controlled Outlet
http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...t/stock-tanks-accessories/stock-tank-heaters/
or

EasyHeat Plug In Thermostat
http://www.lowes.com/pd_21563-72436...syheat&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=easyheat
 
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YES, I WILL DEF NEED A HEATER. and they seem so expensive but i may wait until after christmas to get the half off version. working on my coop plans right now and wont get the chicks until spring. chicken mom where did you get your chicks? thanks hollywood. I chose them because they are cold hardy and all look different and have a variety of colors and patterns, and are fairly docile breeds. I AM limited to the breeds since i am adding to an order a coworker is going after and he is particular to this mt healthy hatchery. I AM interested in having a dark layer as well but they don't have any at that hatchery...hoping to find some locals i can perhaps buy a dark layer chic off of but we'll see. I've always loved the barred plymouth Rocks and Rhode island reds though. The roosters are gorgeous but I will not have a roo in my flock due to my neighbors.
 

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