Keeping chickens on another Lot

[Maton1]

Thanks everybody for the responses and the advice!

 

[aart]

I definitely considered the automatic door as I would not be able to be there most of the times at dusk.

Is there power at the property, or will you go solar for the door?
Even with an auto door, they should be checked on every night.

We have permission. Would just have to ask the neighbors. Honestly I'm not expecting a great response but we'll see.

So you have permission from the property owners, but not the neighbors next to the property? If owner says OK(get it in writing), and area is zoned for chickens, but neighbors might object....slippery slope, IMO.

Curious.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, you're right. The fact that I have never owned chickens concerns me also but we'd like to learn to do it but it's just too tight by us. I definitely considered the automatic door as I would not be able to be there most of the times at dusk. Without an automatice door I guess it would be impossible.

For food and water, first thing in the morning is most important but for predators, dusk is the most important time.
If you are anywhere in North America other than high altitude in the Rockies, raccoons will become a problem. If not locked in a secure coop at dusk, you will lose chickens and eventually - all of them.
While raccoons are one of the most pervasive predators, especially in suburban and urban areas, there are many others that will take your birds.
Foxes, coyotes, stray dogs, opossums, weasels, mink, feral cats, hawks, owls, etc.. Your area may have others.
Some of those will take a single bird at a time. Others like weasels and mink will kill everything in a building.
Last year I lost a bird 3 days in a row to an owl that flew into a building just before I locked up at dusk.
Lack of that experience is what concerned me about keeping chickens away from home as your first rodeo.
Maybe you could just get 2 or 3 chickens for your yard as a means of gaining experience.

 

[casportpony]

Shade and protection from the elements is something to worry about too. Would there be adequate shade during warmer days, and what about wind, rain, snow, and mud?

 

[NatJ]

When chickens are in your own yard, you notice any problem much sooner. If you go tend them once or twice a day, any problem continues until you get there and notice it. So if a tree falls on the coop you won't know until you get there, and if a dog regularly runs around the pen scaring the chickens, but he leaves when you come, you might not know at all, and so forth.

Many people build a sturdy, predator-proof chicken coop (usually of wood), and then a less-secure run (fence posts and some kind of wire.) They let the chickens into the run by day, and shut them into the coop at night.

That doesn't work well unless you're there in the morning and the evening.

If you have freezing weather, you need to provide un-frozen water as soon as the chickens wake up in the morning (sun comes up, or light goes on). If it freezes again before night, you should give them thawed water again at least once (so they can drink before they fall asleep), and more often is better.

Of course, a heated waterer can work, but only if there's power to heat it. And you still need to check regularly, to be sure it's working.

I suggest that, if you want to keep chickens at a distance, you should make either a wire-sided coop or a coop/run combo that is ALL predator proof, so you don't have to let chickens out and shut chickens in each day.

One example:
https://www.shedworking.co.uk/2007/10/poultrenon.html
(Built by a friend of mine, years ago).

It's got a concrete floor, and lets in plenty of fresh air and sunlight, while also providing shade and protection from rain. A small number of chickens could live in something like that all the time, with no "run" at all. (Just add plenty of bedding, and stuff for them to peck at.) I think the roosts are up by the roof, where they've got the best protection from blown-in rain.

https://www.construct101.com/8x10-chicken-coop-plans/
Something like this could work equally well, if you make a dig-proof base (concrete, or paver stones, or some such thing).

It gives more weather protection (enclosed coop), but the chickens can go in and out of the run at all times, because the whole thing can be predator proof.

I'm offering those two suggestions as "look at the photos for inspiration," not as exact designs to be copied--I don't know your climate or number of chickens, which would both affect the details of whatever you make/buy.

 

[FredsGobblers]

Aside from all the good suggestions here, maybe 1 or more of the neighbors would want to join in the adventure. Offering to share eggs with neighbors and maybe one willing to help split costs and watch and gather eggs on those nasty weather days. Something to think about.

 

[casportpony]

Aside from all the good suggestions here, maybe 1 or more of the neighbors would want to join in the adventure. Offering to share eggs with neighbors and maybe one willing to help split costs and watch and gather eggs on those nasty weather days. Something to think about.

Excellent idea!

 

[Shadrach]

I think it's a terrible idea, especially on an urban plot.
Every loose dog that can gain access will be trying to break into the coop. There is no such thing as a fully secure coop.
Local kids who will probably know the plot is vacant will be round terrorizing the poor chickens.
The cost to make the plot secure would be prohibitive.
The worst of it imo is the people who overlook the plot and your chickens, if they are caring people are likely to feel responsible for the chickens.
Once a day visiting to feed and water is not imo chicken care; more chicken neglect.

 

[Maton1]

I think it's a terrible idea, especially on an urban plot.
Every loose dog that can gain access will be trying to break into the coop. There is no such thing as a fully secure coop.
Local kids who will probably know the plot is vacant will be round terrorizing the poor chickens.
The cost to make the plot secure would be prohibitive.
The worst of it imo is the people who overlook the plot and your chickens, if they are caring people are likely to feel responsible for the chickens.
Once a day visiting to feed and water is not imo chicken care; more chicken neglect.

Thanks. Important to consider!

 

[Maton1]

When chickens are in your own yard, you notice any problem much sooner. If you go tend them once or twice a day, any problem continues until you get there and notice it. So if a tree falls on the coop you won't know until you get there, and if a dog regularly runs around the pen scaring the chickens, but he leaves when you come, you might not know at all, and so forth.

Many people build a sturdy, predator-proof chicken coop (usually of wood), and then a less-secure run (fence posts and some kind of wire.) They let the chickens into the run by day, and shut them into the coop at night.

That doesn't work well unless you're there in the morning and the evening.

If you have freezing weather, you need to provide un-frozen water as soon as the chickens wake up in the morning (sun comes up, or light goes on). If it freezes again before night, you should give them thawed water again at least once (so they can drink before they fall asleep), and more often is better.

Of course, a heated waterer can work, but only if there's power to heat it. And you still need to check regularly, to be sure it's working.

I suggest that, if you want to keep chickens at a distance, you should make either a wire-sided coop or a coop/run combo that is ALL predator proof, so you don't have to let chickens out and shut chickens in each day.

One example:
https://www.shedworking.co.uk/2007/10/poultrenon.html
(Built by a friend of mine, years ago).

It's got a concrete floor, and lets in plenty of fresh air and sunlight, while also providing shade and protection from rain. A small number of chickens could live in something like that all the time, with no "run" at all. (Just add plenty of bedding, and stuff for them to peck at.) I think the roosts are up by the roof, where they've got the best protection from blown-in rain.

https://www.construct101.com/8x10-chicken-coop-plans/
Something like this could work equally well, if you make a dig-proof base (concrete, or paver stones, or some such thing).

It gives more weather protection (enclosed coop), but the chickens can go in and out of the run at all times, because the whole thing can be predator proof.

I'm offering those two suggestions as "look at the photos for inspiration," not as exact designs to be copied--I don't know your climate or number of chickens, which would both affect the details of whatever you make/buy.

Thanks soo much. I'll check this out and this was actually one of the ideas we had, ie. chickencoop-run combination. Saw them on youtube. But I'll have to consider everything shared here. Exactly the things that have kept us from starting such a project..ie the hassles of not having the chickens within eyes and ears distance. Thx