Little Bit of Horse Heaven’s chicken coop

[malcom]

Hello all my name is Malcom I am going to give the quick and dirty version of how my wife and I got to where we are now. We are a family of 6 my wife our two sons and I plus our two horses. Shortly after our youngest was born we were offered the opportunity to take home two horses form the college where my wife earned here degree in equine sciences. This was about two years ago fast forward to now and we have a barn that we can utilize now. We would like to keep quite a flock 100 chickens maybe more if the eggs and baby chicks thing takes off.
This is one section of stalls it’s the closest to the indoor that we can use for a winter chicken run

This is what the inside of the stalls look like dirt floors, boards there 10x10

These are our newest batch of chicks there are a few astrolorps quite a few road island reads and bard rocks there about 40 birds in the brooder now

this bard hen just came over and nested in my hand what a sweet heart

This is a bard rooster he is quite the sociable guy loves his momma for sure but I think he has a lady friend all ready she is on the edge in the back ground they spend a lot of time together.

Another shot of the baby’s the reds are so beautiful already.

I have a few questions 1 best and cheapest way to fortify this thing agents weasels and raccoons. Ventilation the ceiling is 8’ how do I go about properly ventilating the coop. Ask any and all questions we will do our best to answer them. Thank you for looking and if you tag along cool.

 

[mixedUPturk]

hi malcom! I also have a family of six with my DH 2 boys 2 girls plus unpteen # of critters wont count congrats on your new digs! Are those windows at the tops w glass or just open? I couldnt tell in the zoom. And your location? Makes a big difference w housing sounds like your in snow country n that means im no help in alligator country. Saw u had no replies so im givin it my best but not very good at this sorta thing.

 

[Ghosty]

You need to make sure your roosts aren't right in front of the ventilation during bad weather. 1 square foot of ventilation per bird in the stalls. Cover the vents with 1/2 x 1/2 hardware cloth. Make sure you don't have holes where weasels or rats can get in. Cover them with hardware cloth or fill with foam. If you do a search, there are tons of ventilation threads that will help you out a lot more. I don't know if I like the large upper windows in the stalls. If you put roosts at the back, will you have any rain blowing down on them? Ideally, you would have the roosts at opposite end from windows, so they get good air flow, but are protected from the weather, ala woods coop style. You could put the roosts on a side wall, so they aren't directly below the windows.

 

[malcom]

hi malcom! I also have a family of six with my DH 2 boys 2 girls plus unpteen # of critters wont count congrats on your new digs! Are those windows at the tops w glass or just open? I couldnt tell in the zoom. And your location? Makes a big difference w housing sounds like your in snow country n that means im no help in alligator country. Saw u had no replies so im givin it my best but not very good at this sorta thing.

Window space at top is clear plastic screwed to the studs. It’s not very drafty in there once every thing is buttoned up. There are windows that can open in each stall but thinking these would be better off wired over for safety. Yes lots of snow northern Maine . Thanks for the reply

 

[malcom]

You need to make sure your roosts aren't right in front of the ventilation during bad weather. 1 square foot of ventilation per bird in the stalls. Cover the vents with 1/2 x 1/2 hardware cloth. Make sure you don't have holes where weasels or rats can get in. Cover them with hardware cloth or fill with foam. If you do a search, there are tons of ventilation threads that will help you out a lot more. I don't know if I like the large upper windows in the stalls. If you put roosts at the back, will you have any rain blowing down on them? Ideally, you would have the roosts at opposite end from windows, so they get good air flow, but are protected from the weather, ala woods coop style. You could put the roosts on a side wall, so they aren't directly below the windows.

I was thinking about when I pull the divider for the stalls out there is quite a space on that wall that I can use for roosting space. Can snap a pic of what I’m talking about tomorrow. Any thoughts on how much room I should have. The birds will only be cooped at night if that makes a difference. Thanks for the reply

 

[Ghosty]

You need 1 foot of roost space per bird. I would recommend at least 6 sq ft of space per bird, more is better. 4 sq ft is usually used as the absolute minimum, but I think it is too little. Being in northern Maine, you are going to have a lot of days the birds won't go outside, and the less crowded, the less illness and other issues you will have.

 

[malcom]

You need 1 foot of roost space per bird. I would recommend at least 6 sq ft of space per bird, more is better. 4 sq ft is usually used as the absolute minimum, but I think it is too little. Being in northern Maine, you are going to have a lot of days the birds won't go outside, and the less crowded, the less illness and other issues you will have.

We have a indoor we can use in the winter to let them Run and play in as well

 

[Ghosty]

We have a indoor we can use in the winter to let them Run and play in as well

Looks like you have a nice barn with a lot of space. I'd just make sure you have good ventilation throughout the barn.

 

[malcom]

Looks like you have a nice barn with a lot of space. I'd just make sure you have good ventilation throughout the barn.

If I can get down there today and get some better pictures I will but I’m under the weather today so no guarantees

 

[mixedUPturk]

Window space at top is clear plastic screwed to the studs. It’s not very drafty in there once every thing is buttoned up. There are windows that can open in each stall but thinking these would be better off wired over for safety. Yes lots of snow northern Maine . Thanks for the reply

Well like i said before snow is sort of out of my league But i think your moving along the right lines! Wiring the windows is probly best, is there a way to do it so they can still be opened for circulation during rhe warm months or closed for snow and safe?

I was thinking about when I pull the divider for the stalls out there is quite a space on that wall that I can use for roosting space. Can snap a pic of what I’m talking about tomorrow. Any thoughts on how much room I should have. The birds will only be cooped at night if that makes a difference. Thanks for the reply

Ghosty gave you the stats everyone uses for rule of thumb. Like he said also you want to stick to this because if theyre too overcrowded they can get sick easier and even start picking at eachother its a mess. A friend of mine in Alaska says he wont do less than 10 sq ft per bird over Winter. As ghosty said they wont wanna go out in the snow suposably of course here in alligator country my birds havent ever seen snow Thats one thing we have yet to cover.

Over wintering birds vs spring blow up. Right now i have about 70 birds but over winter i had 11. With your desire to have about 100 laying hens you will have birds who want to sit and hatch eggs and you will have extra roos and your numbers will steadily fluctuate.

I hope you intend to eat the extra roos? Nothin like home grown yard birds plus its really hard to get rid of even the sweetest ones like your pearching barred rock roo

Also on roosts. If the roosts arent all the same height the birds will squabble over the highest perch. And have you looked into poop boards? Does Alot for keeping a cleaner coop. Also the deep litter method-- i highly reccomend you use that.

We have a indoor we can use in the winter to let them Run and play in as well

This is what youll have to make sure you have the sq footage for the over wintered birds. If they free range all day in spring/summer and they have enough roosting space in your barn, closed up tight overnight only you shouldnt have any problems with all the extra seasonal charges.

You might also look into boredom busters for over wintered birds, maybe the fodder systems? Sky is the limit

If I can get down there today and get some better pictures I will but I’m under the weather today so no guarantees

No worries, feel better and take your time, weve been here a few days already ima stick around for sure you dont wanna come to LA for a rescue horse do you? We took a horse from our neighbors. They had been asking my DH if he wanted him and i was like No Way, ive got 3 human babies! Then i found the poor animal tied in full sun 110* heat index without a lick of water so low and behold i got a freakn horse ive never had a horse before him and were on outs right now, after he got excited and started to trot while i moved him one day. He pulled his lead just far enough out my hands to get in front of me and Kick me in the ribs

Im really sorry i talk way too much i quit right this minute!