Making Plans

[ToonieLady]

Hello!
I am making plans to build a coop to house about 20 hens, probably a mix of Wyandottes and a few Ameraucanas for egg color variety. I'm trying to come up with a coop plan that will be easy to clean. I want outside access for egg collecting and plan on having a run on both sides of the coop so I can alternate sides, possibly making one of the sides a garden. How many boxes should I plan for? I've also read for roosting to plan on about 18 inches per bird. What do you think?
I'm in northeastern PA.
I've done a lot of reading and plan on putting in a bucket water sources with nipples and using an aquarium tank heater for the winter. This forum has been a great source of information.

ToonieLady
Northeastern PA

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Hello ToonieLady, Greetings from Kentucky! As far as nesting boxes go the average is one box for every 4-6 hens. When it comes to roosting 18" will work just fine. It's also best using a 2" x 4" pine board with the flat side down for the roost. This will let the chickens have a good foot hold. Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[jbirds2012]

 

[Kevin565]

 

[Big A Chickens]

Hi and

So glad you joined us!!!

 

[weimarmama]

& from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. You should check out the coop section here. There are all sizes.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, ToonieLady, and

! Sounds like you are well on your way! Best of luck on the coop building!

 

[PFSfarmer]

There is a lot of great people and info here.......