INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[strssdmom]

I have a few Gold Wyndotte Sex-Links.

I bet they are stunning! I would love to see pictures.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

This is not what I wanted to see this morning.

There was a good layer on the steps to the chicken coop, too. I opened that door and my hens took one look at it and gave me a look like I must be joking.

 

[strssdmom]

Your ideas seem great. But i see a few problems. Your coop is way to small for 4 hens! Your size is ideal for just 2 hens. They say 4x4 is the amount of space 1 chicken should have. I would go with at least 8x8 if anything. Then make sure your run is big enough for 4 hens to feel comfortable in. 2 ft is kinda small for height. I have a few hens when they stretch out and raise their heads they stand around 2 foot. If you want hens that are coop ready i would go with some older hens and not chicks. If you get some hens from someone else then they should be coop ready.

Am I confused??? 4' x 4' = 16 sq. ft. Wouldn't that be enough for 4 birds?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

4 square feet per bird is the general guideline, so yes, 4x4 would be big enough for 4 birds assuming that ALL the floor space is available for the birds to use. One thing I've learned, though, is the more room the better--especially once chicken math sets in.

 

[CluckAcres]

^^^Yes that really sucks about Boston, and about your town in lockdown. Probably some kids thinking they are funny. Not. Glad they got one of the Boston bombers alive. Death by 10,000 cuts, I say, and may the death take 10 years.

MrTat Head: You got a lot of advice, it's all good. Read up as much as you can, that's what we did. Our coop is 2 feet off the ground, still a work in progress, but the girls love it going under there. The 3 sides are already secure, this weekend is the run build. You are right about hardware cloth being $$$! We were going to cover our whole 14x12 run in it until we priced it. Now, it will only be around the bottom and in the ground, with 2x4 wire netting for the rest. Our coop is predator proof, so I don't think it's necessary to make the run predator proof also. After all this rain, we are very glad to not have a dirt floor or a floor on the ground.

Make sure you have plenty of easy access for everything.




Cluck: You said 4x4 is not enought for 4 chickens? I've always read that 4 sq ft for indoor space per bird is plenty, and 10 sq ft for the run for each bird is plenty? 4x4 is 16 sq ft, so should be enough? I know more is always better, and when chicken math strikes, look out!

Your right my bad.

 

[PinkE]

I made my chic's a new larger box today, there 5 weeks old now and growing very fast. I hope there all hens

 

[CluckAcres]

Cluck~ I couldn't imagine the "bombs" being real around there. Probably some kids. I hate all the copycat stuff that goes on. Sate Police said the packages were empty after 4 hours of investigating them. Glad my little bro lives in the country near there and not in town.
Do you make tractors? If so I'd like to see pics. I need to build a big one for the chickens I'll be using for meat.

Yes it was a prank. I think it was collage students. The trail went from the college to a bar on the opposite side of town.

 

[CluckAcres]

Am I confused??? 4' x 4' = 16 sq. ft. Wouldn't that be enough for 4 birds?

Yes it is. I need to go back and edit that post. I was tired and my brain wasnt working for some reason.

 

[Kiniska]

Anyone know any 4-H ers looking for project birds? I may have some extra hens, not sure yet, and would love to let a child have them for 4-H. Dorkings, NN, and one mystery chick.

 

[Too Fast]

Your right my bad.

That's what we thought. You must have had too much chickens in the head lol. We are going to make great progress on the run today and tomorrow, I already diagnosed my step-daughters drier issue (broken drive belt and rollers), repaired the no-crank-when-cold riding lawnmower (valve adjustment), done the dishes, and cut some of the grass. Now it's time for the real fun, working on the coop!