As with everything in our home, it starts with me saying " I want to start....." then I let my husband take over with the big stuff..... ha ha ha.
This time it was I want to start getting chickens so we can collect eggs. That was a few months ago, and he reminded me of the fiasco we had about 8 years ago when I got some chicks at TSC and then started with the coop. This time I am playing it smart and put the thought in his head and let him think on it before I started to make my plans.
Chick will be delived in June. It will be hot here in Georgia, and I am worried about how the chicks will handle the travel. But to get the breed we both agreed on, that is the best delievery date I could get.
He started on the coop this weekend. I will post photos when I can find the camera. It is not close to the house but is visable from the backside of the house. The coop will be build connected to the shop so I can have power (lights, heater, fans...) Water I have two options, there is a spigot about 30 feet, or if I ask sweetly I could have him connect to the waterline, but that would require digging and more work than I think is necessary..
The outside measurements of the coop are 19 by 11, divided into three sections, 8 x 11, 7 x 11 and a 4 x 11 in the middle for storage and a brooder for the chicks.
What should the floor be?? we are thinking pea gravel or dirt but I wanted suggestions from pros.
I have been doing a lot of reading about coops and have gotten what looks to be some good suggestions. There was one where a shelf was build under the root and covered in Sweet PDZ to make cleaning up dropings easier.
Been looking at a form of gravity water system, we can set up a water tank in the 4 x 6 area and run the PVC along the back wall under the roost.
Is there a good plan for feeders so the chickens don't knock them over, spread feed around?
Also starting a mealworm farm now so I might have treats for them by summer or fall. Been looking at a pond so I can grow duckweed.
I am hoping we have about 6 to 12 viable hens after taking into consideration all the things that could go wrong. How big do the nesting boxes need to be? Should we build several small nesting boxes or a couple of larger nesting boxes?
I know I will have many more quesitons as we get closer to the chicks arrival, but these are the first ones and will determin how we configure the coops.
This time it was I want to start getting chickens so we can collect eggs. That was a few months ago, and he reminded me of the fiasco we had about 8 years ago when I got some chicks at TSC and then started with the coop. This time I am playing it smart and put the thought in his head and let him think on it before I started to make my plans.
Chick will be delived in June. It will be hot here in Georgia, and I am worried about how the chicks will handle the travel. But to get the breed we both agreed on, that is the best delievery date I could get.
He started on the coop this weekend. I will post photos when I can find the camera. It is not close to the house but is visable from the backside of the house. The coop will be build connected to the shop so I can have power (lights, heater, fans...) Water I have two options, there is a spigot about 30 feet, or if I ask sweetly I could have him connect to the waterline, but that would require digging and more work than I think is necessary..
The outside measurements of the coop are 19 by 11, divided into three sections, 8 x 11, 7 x 11 and a 4 x 11 in the middle for storage and a brooder for the chicks.
What should the floor be?? we are thinking pea gravel or dirt but I wanted suggestions from pros.
I have been doing a lot of reading about coops and have gotten what looks to be some good suggestions. There was one where a shelf was build under the root and covered in Sweet PDZ to make cleaning up dropings easier.
Been looking at a form of gravity water system, we can set up a water tank in the 4 x 6 area and run the PVC along the back wall under the roost.
Is there a good plan for feeders so the chickens don't knock them over, spread feed around?
Also starting a mealworm farm now so I might have treats for them by summer or fall. Been looking at a pond so I can grow duckweed.
I am hoping we have about 6 to 12 viable hens after taking into consideration all the things that could go wrong. How big do the nesting boxes need to be? Should we build several small nesting boxes or a couple of larger nesting boxes?
I know I will have many more quesitons as we get closer to the chicks arrival, but these are the first ones and will determin how we configure the coops.
