Looking to be new Chicken family in Australia

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

@Ribh @MaryJanet @LozzyR stop by and say hi

 

[LozzyR]

Welcome to BYC! This is a great community with lots of support and advice.

A tractor isn’t going to be big enough for five hens in one spot all day, unless you are using it for quarantine. My suggestion is you either build them a large run, or a small one and let them free-range. It depends on whether you have foxes nearby. And have a quarantine tractor for when you get new girls and keep everyone far apart for two weeks.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hi @blackpotato

I see others have answered your main questions, so I'll chip in on the Royal Rooster brand of coops. I've had one for several seasons and have grown jasmine on it.

I started out with two hens and the coop was great. It doesn't have an extension, but it does have the fox-proofing floor which I put sawdust over. I've seen reviews where people have complained about the foxes still getting in, however that hasn't been a problem here. Foxes tried, the digging around the perimeter was obvious, but they didn't succeed and then they gave up.

Two hens soon became four and it really was too small for four hens to live happily every day. That's when I had a big chicken run built.

So perhaps aim for larger than you think. Just in case a well-intentioned relative decides to give you extra hens one day *cough* or in case you realise your hens are getting on a bit and new pullets are needed *cough cough* I now have 8 hens and they spend most of their days roaming the garden.

Back to the Royal Rooster coop, it's a great coop. Four out of five stars. Why not five? Sparrows can get in under the eaves, so you may need to deal with that problem. And a protruding metal nest box under the Australian summer sun is not a great idea. Their wooden nest boxes for inside the coop are too small and too open, don't waste your money on Royal Rooster nest boxes.

A plastic cat carry box on the ground is ideal, but if you don't have one of those a laundry basket will do just stabilise it so it doesn't tip as they climb in.

One last point, the Royal Rooster roosting bars are too flimsy for most chickens and many flocks do better with two roosting bars far apart to prevent excessive squabbling at bedtime. I provide two sawhorses with tree branches strapped to them with cable tie.

In the photo of the roosts, you can see how the sparrows get in under the eaves. The light is coming through the gap at the top of the wall.

Good luck with your chickening!

 

[blackpotato]

It should be as large as you can make it. The birds would prefer it to not be there so they can free range...

I did that once and it was a stinking nightmare.

I have an actual solid roof on my run.

Thanks for the response, its helpful to get an understanding of what works and doesnt work from people who have been there before.

I think i'm getting convinced to remove the middle tree and just put in a much larger coop, which can act as a run as well.

 

[blackpotato]

Hi @blackpotato

I see others have answered your main questions, so I'll chip in on the Royal Rooster brand of coops. I've had one for several seasons and have grown jasmine on it.

View attachment 3475281

I started out with two hens and the coop was great. It doesn't have an extension, but it does have the fox-proofing floor which I put sawdust over. I've seen reviews where people have complained about the foxes still getting in, however that hasn't been a problem here. Foxes tried, the digging around the perimeter was obvious, but they didn't succeed and then they gave up.

Two hens soon became four and it really was too small for four hens to live happily every day. That's when I had a big chicken run built.

View attachment 3475280

So perhaps aim for larger than you think. Just in case a well-intentioned relative decides to give you extra hens one day *cough* or in case you realise your hens are getting on a bit and new pullets are needed *cough cough* I now have 8 hens and they spend most of their days roaming the garden.

Back to the Royal Rooster coop, it's a great coop. Four out of five stars. Why not five? Sparrows can get in under the eaves, so you may need to deal with that problem. And a protruding metal nest box under the Australian summer sun is not a great idea. Their wooden nest boxes for inside the coop are too small and too open, don't waste your money on Royal Rooster nest boxes.

A plastic cat carry box on the ground is ideal, but if you don't have one of those a laundry basket will do just stabilise it so it doesn't tip as they climb in.

One last point, the Royal Rooster roosting bars are too flimsy for most chickens and many flocks do better with two roosting bars far apart to prevent excessive squabbling at bedtime. I provide two sawhorses with tree branches strapped to them with cable tie.

View attachment 3475318

In the photo of the roosts, you can see how the sparrows get in under the eaves. The light is coming through the gap at the top of the wall.

Good luck with your chickening!

Thanks so much for providing this information and sharing your experience, its incredibly helpful.
I think i'm convinced to drop the top off the middle tree, and just get the biggest RoyalRooster coop which'll fit in that space. I'll have to cut the fox proof floor fencing and then cable tie it back together to get it around the trees base, but that shouldn't be a problem.
We will definitely will get foxes at night in our area, I know our neighbours lost their chickens that way many years ago. So its good to know these coups can stand up to them.
Couldn't see the hole you mention in your photo, that's lettting in the sparrows, but as we don't get sparrows shouldn't be a real issue for us thankfully.

I'm going to build a perimeter with 200x75 sleepers about 50-100mm out from the edge of the structure to level the ground and make more aesthetically pleasing. This should also help to inhibit any fox digging near the edge.
Interesting what you've said on the roosts not being very sturdy, thats disappointing to hear. In regards to the external nesting box, I think in our situation its going to work, as it'll be in shade 24/7 in the spot I'm putting it, and so it shouldn't get too hot, and should then make their nesting boxes work fine as its a more snug space. Well thats my theory without any real experience.

I was going to get the weatherproof panel to provide them a more secluded space in the coop section, I notice you did not and just have it open? Whats your thoughts there?

We can fit their largest coop in this space, which provides 101ft2, or 25ft2 per bird if we have 4 birds. I assume this should provide ample space? Thoughts?
They sell these coops with exposed roofing, but I'm thinking of just getting a sealed rainproof roof along the entire structure. Doesnt it make more sense to keep the rain out?
It doesnt rain alot here in Canberra, only 72 days average a year >1mm rain days. There also won't be any real direct sunlight in this spot as its right next to a bordering fence, and thats where the north sun comes from. So thats why I'm thinking a solid roof wont make any difference to sun, and will just help with rain.

https://www.royalrooster.com.au/chicken-palace-with-large-extension.html

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm going to build a perimeter with 200x75 sleepers about 50-100mm out from the edge of the structure to level the ground and make more aesthetically pleasing. This should also help to inhibit any fox digging near the edge.

Yes, I agree this is an effective fox proofing measure.

In regards to the external nesting box, I think in our situation its going to work, as it'll be in shade 24/7 in the spot I'm putting it, and so it shouldn't get too hot, and should then make their nesting boxes work fine as its a more snug space. Well thats my theory without any real experience

In that case, I think you'll be ok with the metal nest boxes but do observe the hens as they come off the nest in summer. If they appear heat stressed, you'll have to re-think the nesting arrangements.

was going to get the weatherproof panel to provide them a more secluded space in the coop section, I notice you did not and just have it open? Whats your thoughts there?

I don't think it's necessary in Australia, unless you get quite driving rain. I'm more concerned about lack of airflow in summer than a bit of rain in winter.

We can fit their largest coop in this space, which provides 101ft2, or 25ft2 per bird if we have 4 birds. I assume this should provide ample space? Thoughts?

That sounds good. When you're all set up, observe the chickens and see if they're happier with access to the whole garden for a few hours every afternoon. You'll find they go back to their roost without any help shortly after the sun goes under the horizon.

Doesnt it make more sense to keep the rain out?

I check the roof in every storm and it has never leaked.

 

[blackpotato]

Yes, I agree this is an effective fox proofing measure.

In that case, I think you'll be ok with the metal nest boxes but do observe the hens as they come off the nest in summer. If they appear heat stressed, you'll have to re-think the nesting arrangements.

I don't think it's necessary in Australia, unless you get quite driving rain. I'm more concerned about lack of airflow in summer than a bit of rain in winter.

That sounds good. When you're all set up, observe the chickens and see if they're happier with access to the whole garden for a few hours every afternoon. You'll find they go back to their roost without any help shortly after the sun goes under the horizon.

I check the roof in every storm and it has never leaked.

Without the weather shield, do your birds have any issues with using the roosts. Seems like a silly question, but every coop I see online has more of a dark closed off space. So if you just have it completely open on that side, don’t the birds find that strange?

In the wild I’d imagine they sit in trees surrounded by leaves, so thought a closed space was more appropriate.

But I like your thinking as we are looking to go Australorps and they handle cooler weather better than heat. So if you think it’ll be fine without then I think that probably makes sense as we already have a large fence next to the coop which’ll block the rain in the direction we normally get it.

What do chickens do if they do get hit by rain sideways whilst in the coop? Do they try hide from the rain?

 

[MaryJanet]

Without the weather shield, do your birds have any issues with using the roosts. Seems like a silly question, but every coop I see online has more of a dark closed off space. So if you just have it completely open on that side, don’t the birds find that strange?

In the wild I’d imagine they sit in trees surrounded by leaves, so thought a closed space was more appropriate.

But I like your thinking as we are looking to go Australorps and they handle cooler weather better than heat. So if you think it’ll be fine without then I think that probably makes sense as we already have a large fence next to the coop which’ll block the rain in the direction we normally get it.

What do chickens do if they do get hit by rain sideways whilst in the coop? Do they try hide from the rain?

The chickens didn't find it any stranger than any new roost. I know what you mean though, many coops are fully enclosed. I suggest checking up on the climates in which those coops are located. Many people keeping chickens in warmer climates, eg in Florida or Queensland have an "open air coop" and I once saw an excellent open air coop someone had built in Canberra.

The hens at my house are not in the coop at all during the day, so I haven't had much opportunity to observe their behaviour in the rain while in the coop during the daytime. I let them out in the morning and they go back to the coop in the evening. However, they do sometimes get rained on while out in the garden and their usual response is to find shelter. I imagine your chickens will move towards the back section of the coop where they will have better shelter from the rain.

Also chickens have two layers of feathers. The outer feathers are like a raincoat. So a bit of rain on the outer feathers is normal and will not do any harm. They will shake off the rain first chance they get. However, the inner feathers need to be dry for proper thermal regulation. So it's best if your chickens do not get wet all the way through to the skin. Of course, sometimes it happens, eg falling into a pool or having a proper human-style bath if they're really grotty and getting flies on their butts. Just blow dry on the lowest heat and air settings for a good long while until their under feathers are nice and dry again.

I have never known the hens to get wet from the rain while they're on the roosts at nighttime.

 

[MaryJanet]

@blackpotato here is a link to the open air coop in Canberra that I mentioned earlier https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/open-air-dlm-run-coop.74642/