Location of coop and run

[3KillerBs]

The playset part has a lot of advantages, has plastic windows, doors, etc (it was one of those huge Costco ones)

This coop page about converting a Rubbermaid shed will probably be helpful to you in working with the plastic:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/

We're going to pick 10-12 favorites

Here's the math worked out for you:

12 hens

• 48 square feet in the coop. 6'x8' is more practical than 4'x12' since a long, skinny coop like that would be difficult to work inside.
• 12 feet of roost
• 120 square feet in the run. 10'x12' or 8'x15' -- 8'x16' means fewer odd cuts than either of those. 6'x20' is possible, especially if your run is an open-topped, fenced area instead of fully-enclosed with a solid and/or wire roof but risks social problems because subordinate hens need to be able to pass the dominant hens at a respectful distance.
• 12 square feet of ventilation.
• 3 nest boxes.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

This coop page about converting a Rubbermaid shed will probably be helpful to you in working with the plastic:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/



Here's the math worked out for you:

12 hens

• 48 square feet in the coop. 6'x8' is more practical than 4'x12' since a long, skinny coop like that would be difficult to work inside.
• 12 feet of roost
• 120 square feet in the run. 10'x12' or 8'x15' -- 8'x16' means fewer odd cuts than either of those. 6'x20' is possible, especially if your run is an open-topped, fenced area instead of fully-enclosed with a solid and/or wire roof but risks social problems because subordinate hens need to be able to pass the dominant hens at a respectful distance.
• 12 square feet of ventilation.
• 3 nest boxes.

Thank you!

Yep the plan is to have an 8x16 run plus the under coop area, I'm just under 48 sq feet in the coop. It works out to be 5.5x7 I think. Which will be tight for a bit but I'm also thinking that chances are we will lose 1-2 along the way.

Anyway, for 10-12 chickens I think it will be fine, especially if they have covered space outside and are only going in to roost/nest. Lots of ventilation from the plastic windows. They will be covered from inside with hardware cloth and then some of the lower ones will be covered with wood in the winter leaving the upper ones open. So they will have tons of ventilation I'm more worried about making sure they have enough wind block.

 

[3KillerBs]

So they will have tons of ventilation I'm more worried about making sure they have enough wind block.

That would be another benefit to putting a trellis up next to your run -- it would act as a wind-baffle if you used lattice panels.

 

[gtaus]

So they will have tons of ventilation I'm more worried about making sure they have enough wind block.

That would be another benefit to putting a trellis up next to your run -- it would act as a wind-baffle if you used lattice panels.

Last year I planted a row of climbing pole beans on one side of my chicken run fencing. The idea was to provide some shade for the chickens in that space and to provide some beans for the table. I planted the beans far enough away from the fence, at the bottom, about 6 inches from the fence, and had a slanted wire towards the chicken run fence to keep the bottom of the plants protected from the chickens. After about 2 feet high, the slanted wire met the chicken run fence and the beans used the chicken run fencing to continue to grow.

Unfortunately, we had a terrible drought last year and I only had moderate success with beans on the chicken run fence idea. Where the beans grew, it worked great. But, due to the drought, only about half the plants survived. I will try growing beans on the fence again this year, but I will be better prepared to manually water the plants if we have another bad summer drought.

If you are trying to block the view of your chicken run, then I like the idea of a trellis. In the right place, it could also provide shade and a wind break. I'd still plant beans to grow up the trellis. We love green beans at my house. Also, green beans growing up a trellis would look very nice, to me, anyways.

BONUS: I have bird netting across the top of my chicken run. After the beans grew up the side of my 6 foot tall chicken run fencing, they continued to grow on my bird netting top covering. That provides even more shade for the birds, and more green beans for the kitchen table. What's not to like about that?

Like I said, we had a terrible drought last year and only about half my bean plants survived. But I was still able to harvest enough beans for about 3 or 4 meals just from that small section of planting beans.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

Last year I planted a row of climbing pole beans on one side of my chicken run fencing. The idea was to provide some shade for the chickens in that space and to provide some beans for the table. I planted the beans far enough away from the fence, at the bottom, about 6 inches from the fence, and had a slanted wire towards the chicken run fence to keep the bottom of the plants protected from the chickens. After about 2 feet high, the slanted wire met the chicken run fence and the beans used the chicken run fencing to continue to grow.

Unfortunately, we had a terrible drought last year and I only had moderate success with beans on the chicken run fence idea. Where the beans grew, it worked great. But, due to the drought, only about half the plants survived. I will try growing beans on the fence again this year, but I will be better prepared to manually water the plants if we have another bad summer drought.

If you are trying to block the view of your chicken run, then I like the idea of a trellis. In the right place, it could also provide shade and a wind break. I'd still plant beans to grow up the trellis. We love green beans at my house. Also, green beans growing up a trellis would look very nice, to me, anyways.

BONUS: I have bird netting across the top of my chicken run. After the beans grew up the side of my 6 foot tall chicken run fencing, they continued to grow on my bird netting top covering. That provides even more shade for the birds, and more green beans for the kitchen table. What's not to like about that?

Like I said, we had a terrible drought last year and only about half my bean plants survived. But I was still able to harvest enough beans for about 3 or 4 meals just from that small section of planting beans.

We are in basically a desert. There are prickly pear cactus all over so to grow anything we have to water (including grass) and also the dirt is pretty poor I have two 4x8 raised garden beds but honestly they struggle. I think too much sun and tok much wind. I've been thinking of moving them inside the back yard fence so the get some afternoon shade but full morning sun, however it isn't going to be fun to move garden beds.

I'm hoping to redo the landscaping on my front yard this spring. I want to tear out the sprinklers and just put in gravel. The dog will be mad but otherwise I'm not too worried. Lol.

 

[3KillerBs]

We are in basically a desert.

Sounds like lattice panels might be your best option then -- breaking the wind and offering dappled shade.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We are in basically a desert. There are prickly pear cactus all over so to grow anything we have to water (including grass) and also the dirt is pretty poor I have two 4x8 raised garden beds but honestly they struggle. I think too much sun and tok much wind. I've been thinking of moving them inside the back yard fence so the get some afternoon shade but full morning sun, however it isn't going to be fun to move garden beds.

Oof, no it is not. I moved five 4x8 beds by myself, but not very far (off the grass and onto the gravel). If the soil in the beds isn't great I'd just leave the soil where it is, and move the actual beds to a better spot and then refill with hopefully better quality soil.

The chickens can help with improving the soil, long term, by breaking up the dirt they scratch around in and generating poop which can be composted.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

Oof, no it is not. I moved five 4x8 beds by myself, but not very far (off the grass and onto the gravel). If the soil in the beds isn't great I'd just leave the soil where it is, and move the actual beds to a better spot and then refill with hopefully better quality soil.

The chickens can help with improving the soil, long term, by breaking up the dirt they scratch around in and generating poop which can be composted.

The soil was/is purchased top soil so unfortunately needs moved. One truck load each bed. My kind of luck I guess. I'm trying to come up with other ideas to protect them, like an 8' section of solid fence or something....

And I can't wait to add chicken poop to the soil!!! It will help so much!!

 

[gtaus]

We are in basically a desert.

I guess I never thought of Montana being part desert. I really have not lived in a desert so my knowledge in desert life is lacking.

however it isn't going to be fun to move garden beds.

If you can't bring the garden beds to some shade, can you bring shade to the garden beds by using shade cloth above the beds to cut down some of that sun?

I'm hoping to redo the landscaping on my front yard this spring. I want to tear out the sprinklers and just put in gravel.

I suppose it would get pretty expensive to water the lawn in a desert if you have to pay for your water. I live on a lake and have well water, so basically unlimited water supply. Not free, mind you, had to pay $$$ to put in a well and pump, but no monthly water bill like my siblings in town who complain about paying big water bills every month.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

I guess I never thought of Montana being part desert. I really have not lived in a desert so my knowledge in desert life is lacking.



If you can't bring the garden beds to some shade, can you bring shade to the garden beds by using shade cloth above the beds to cut down some of that sun?



I suppose it would get pretty expensive to water the lawn in a desert if you have to pay for your water. I live on a lake and have well water, so basically unlimited water supply. Not free, mind you, had to pay $$$ to put in a well and pump, but no monthly water bill like my siblings in town who complain about paying big water bills every month.

I have a well too, I'm about 20 mins from the state capitol building. We aren't total desert, some areas of the valley grow great but where I am it is patchy native grasses, rocky soil and cactus. It has been an adjustment for sure!

My well is at 450 feet or so, and our neighborhood is known for water issues. My well supports my house just fine but it doesn't support all of the zones on my sprinkler plus I'd rather just not have the maintenance of a lawn and it feels ridiculous to water a lawn as much as I have too. I'd rather just focus on the back yard and not have as much to mow. I'm.prety low maintenance and we like to go camping/skiing/fishing/horse riding. I don't have time for a high . maintenance lawn. It's me and two little kiddos, I am starting to learn I have limits. Lol.