"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[1MrsMagoo]

Hey y'all,
I'm over here in unincorporated Madisonville. We're brooding our first flock of 6 BO's (got them two weeks ago at o'keefe's) and are in the middle of coop construction. Do any of y'all have words of wisdom to impart that are specific to weather/predators in our area that I should know about before finishing the coop? I'm concerned about the summer heat, especially. Thanks for the advice - I'm sooo enjoying our backyard chicken adventure!!!

First, welcome to the La-yers thread and the wonderful world of being owned by chickens!

As to coop advice, if you have any trees, you could locate the coop where it would get shade during the summer. This will help keep the temps inside the coop a few degrees cooler during the heat of the day. Also, keep in mind if you make one side wire, that the south side gets more sun during the winter when it is needed and less during the summer when it isn't wanted. If you look up passive or solar heating and cooling, their are many designs that can be adapted from home building as to roof pitch, etc.

As others have said, you should use hardware cloth (available at most feed stores for less than Lowes): the 1/2 x 1/2 works well. Chicken wire does not hold up and if the holes are large enough for a raccoon's paw to fit through, you'd better believe they will try it. I live in Bush, so not TOO far from you and we have raccoons, possums, fox, rats, and bobcats, as well as a big barn owl and plenty of hawks.

Ventilation is important, but needs to be done with our torrential rains in mind! I you do wire around the top, that will help. Just make sure that the overhang on your roof is large enough to stop most of the rain from getting into the coop. Also, do not forget if you don't have a solid floor, you need to "dig" proof the bottom (that is if you build your coop at ground level): Bury a foot-foot and a half of wire, metal, whatever you got. River sand is wonderful on the floors and you won't regret putting that in: It keeps the smell, moisture, and dust down plus provides grit and a good place for the girls to dust bathe.

Something that works great in your brooder, is the pelleted horse bedding. It lasts way longer than just shavings and absorbs a TON of water before expanding and exploding into sawdust.

Good luck and enjoy your new feather family!

Oh, and if you ever have a chance come over and check out the chicken sales every other Sunday at O'Keefe's. A lot of local poultry folks are there and not only have stuff to sell, but you could get any advice you may need. The next one is this Sunday from 10-2!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Here are some pics of another chicken coop that was built when I was off from work. I still have to complete painting the inside.

.

I want to learn to build so badly. So, so, so badly. I can picture it in my head. I think about it a lot. I am going to give a try at something small. I am going to rebuild a run into a bunny house with a bottom and a roof. Also, the end was open and has to be built out a bit and covered with hardware cloth. I am so impressed with what you guys do on BYC. I admire y'all so much!

 

[ssterling1776]

I'm a newbie builder but love it! I will have to post some pics. You are welcome to come supervise primrose. It's really not hard.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Looks good. Didn't think of mounting it to posts. I have started collecting wood but I haven't even got the run up yet. Next weekend.

Question, how high can fat BOs jump? I was expecting to make my run 4 feet high and then clip their wings. I would make it higher if not for cost and the fact that my run is already half fenced in, and the fence is only 4 feet high. I have trees with low lying branches that I think they will be able to jump on to and then out.

It's not how high they can jump out; but how high predators can jump in -- and we have a very active coyote pack in this area -- they have cleared my six foot fence w/no problem & made off with full grown geese - and they can & do roam during daytime hours when prey is scarce. I'm putting a four foot fence on my breeding coop/run -- but I will also have netting over the entire top of it. I'm worried about the hawks & eagles also.

I don't think your Buff Orps will be prone to get out; I never have had a problem w/my Marans, who are also built "blocky" - but my Wellies fly like the wind & will get out in a heartbeat. (Still my favorite breed though)!

 

[JohnnyxRex]

It's not how high they can jump out; but how high predators can jump in -- and we have a very active coyote pack in this area -- they have cleared my six foot fence w/no problem & made off with full grown geese - and they can & do roam during daytime hours when prey is scarce. I'm putting a four foot fence on my breeding coop/run -- but I will also have netting over the entire top of it. I'm worried about the hawks & eagles also.

I don't think your Buff Orps will be prone to get out; I never have had a problem w/my Marans, who are also built "blocky" - but my Wellies fly like the wind & will get out in a heartbeat. (Still my favorite breed though)!

The problem is that my entire run will be 4 feet, so with netting I would not be able to walk in it. I'll have to see cost of 6 vs 4, but I will still have 2 sides that are 4.

At night I think we will put the dog in there, but only once the birds are cooped up. I am hoping the wire part will be "impact resistant", so that the coop will be totally off limits to predators when it's locked up.

 

[JohnnyxRex]

We are very close friends with a family who lives just down the road. We see each other and "exchange kids" daily. Today I was holding a chick when they pulled up to drop someone off, and their little 3 year old wanted to see it. She petted it and said it was soft, and right on queue it fell asleep in my hands.

I'm loving this breed.

All was well until it woke up and realized it was way up in the air. It freaked out.

 

[WickeeChickee]

First, welcome to the La-yers thread and the wonderful world of being owned by chicke. !

es, you could locate the coop where it would get shade during the summer. This will help keep the temps inside the coop a few degrees cooler during the heat of the day. Also, keep in mind if you make one side wire, that the south side gets more sun during the winter when it is needed and less during the summer when it isn't wanted. If you look up passive or solar heating and cooling, their are many designs that can be adapted from home building as to roof pitch, etc.

As others have said, you should use hardware cloth (available at most feed stores for less than Lowes): the 1/2 x 1/2 works well. Chicken wire does not hold up and if the holes are large enough for a raccoon's paw to fit through, you'd better believe they will try it. I live in Bush, so not TOO far from you and we have raccoons, possums, fox, rats, and bobcats, as well as a big barn owl and plenty of hawks.

Ventilation is important, but needs to be done with our torrential rains in mind! I you do wire around the top, that will help. Just make sure that the overhang on your roof is large enough to stop most of the rain from getting into the coop. Also, do not forget if you don't have a solid floor, you need to "dig" proof the bottom (that is if you build your coop at ground level): Bury a foot-foot and a half of wire, metal, whatever you got. River sand is wonderful on the floors and you won't regret putting that in: It keeps the smell, moisture, and dust down plus provides grit and a good place for the girls to dust bathe.

Something that works great in your brooder, is the pelleted horse bedding. It lasts way longer than just shavings and absorbs a TON of water before expanding and exploding into sawdust.

Good luck and enjoy your new feather family!

Oh, and if you ever have a chance come over and check out the chicken sales every other Sunday at O'Keefe's. A lot of local poultry folks are there and not only have stuff to sell, but you could get any advice you may need. The next one is this Sunday from 10-2!

Thanks so much for your input! Yes, we are planning on hardware cloth, etc. And we are placing coop next to our big shady tree. I know about the swaps at okeefes, but i work in nola all day, every sunday so i cant make them.... grr. Thanks again!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I want to learn to build so badly.  So, so, so badly.  I can picture it in my head. I think about it a lot.  I am going to give a try at something small.  I am going to rebuild a run into a bunny house with a bottom and a roof.  Also, the end was open and has to be built out a bit and covered with hardware cloth.  I am so impressed with what you guys do on  BYC.  I admire y'all so much! 

Thanks. All I do is come up with the idea and "hold" the tools. I don't do anything, so I can't take any credit. It is fun seeing everything come together. In a way, I'm glad that I don't have the skills to build because I would have about a gazillion chicken houses on my property.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I'm a newbie builder but love it! I will have to post some pics. You are welcome to come supervise primrose. It's really not hard.

Would love to see pics.

 

[PSJ]

Ok, first of all, I just have to say that it makes me sick for tractor supply to sell Cornish Rock chicks and not tell people they are meat birds.
Sooo... That being said, a friend of mine, who is a first time chicken owner, has 6 CR,2 RIR, and 2 black sex link chicks. I told her what the Cornish Rocks are bred for and that a lot of people say they will have a heart attack and die before they are very old. My question is, would it be better for her to just plan on sending them to freezer camp, or is there a good chance of them living a long life? I think I already know the answer to this