Making the coop and run.

[CarlyBeales]

Here you can see the first stage of my project.
It is an unused ex dog kennel which Im adapting into a coop.
The whole kennel and run will be the coop itself, although I will need to remove the center wooden panneling that seperates the inside kennel from the run.

I will be using exterior OSB boards to pannel out the entire unit and create additional floor.
This will house nest boxes on one side and perches on the other.
My general idea is to create a framework inside the coop which I can shelve plastic (easy to clean) square bowls. Easy to remove and clean and prevent any wooden nest boxes getting rotten. These will have a wooden beam that runs long each row (2 tiers) for the hens to hop onto.

As for the enclosed run area.
I have marked out a 20ft x14ft 6 area which will be grassy and also have corrugated roofing over hear to help with keeping the ground fairly manageable and so the hens dont get too wet and damp.
The whole area will be enclosed with chicken wire and have guttering around the edging to help run excess water away.

I shall post the area I have marked out another time.

Please if you have any tips or thoughts that could be of help pls comment.

Thanks

 

[CarlyBeales]

Heres the area I have marked for the coop.
Hope to make this look much better in the next few weeks.

Another thing, can I mix hybrids to live together?
I really would like:
2 Leghorns
1 Silkie
2 Rhode Island Reds
1 Duchess Blue
Maybe a couple more others that lay very well.

Also if intend to sell eggs to friends, how many would you consider in a flock?
Obviously not wanting to over crowd. My initial thought was to start with 6.

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. If you have any kind of predators in your area (including cats, dogs, rats, snakes, etc.) I would strongly recommend putting hardware cloth over your wire mesh as their are just too many predators that can either squeeze through the openings in your mesh or reach through them to grab your chickens. You can mix the various breeds together on your list as long as they are approximately the same size, but if you decide to get Silkies, I would recommend keeping them in a separate enclosure from your larger breeds as they will likely take a beating. How many hens you need to sell eggs depends on how many you will keep and use yourself, and how many people you will be selling to. The breeds you are planning on are all good layers with the exception of the Silkies, whose eggs are too small to be of commercial value anyway. We have a family of six and I sell leftover eggs to our neighbors. I currently have 25 hens; all good layers with 7 of them being Black Sex Links, which are egg laying machines. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in finishing your coop and with your flock.

 

[BonRae67]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. If you have any kind of predators in your area (including cats, dogs, rats, snakes, etc.) I would strongly recommend putting hardware cloth over your wire mesh as their are just too many predators that can either squeeze through the openings in your mesh or reach through them to grab your chickens. You can mix the various breeds together on your list as long as they are approximately the same size, but if you decide to get Silkies, I would recommend keeping them in a separate enclosure from your larger breeds as they will likely take a beating. How many hens you need to sell eggs depends on how many you will keep and use yourself, and how many people you will be selling to. The breeds you are planning on are all good layers with the exception of the Silkies, whose eggs are too small to be of commercial value anyway. We have a family of six and I sell leftover eggs to our neighbors. I currently have 25 hens; all good layers with 7 of them being Black Sex Links, which are egg laying machines. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in finishing your coop and with your flock.

Couldn't have said all that better myself. Thank you Michael, you are very helpful to everyone.

Welcome to BYC Miss Carly.

 

[drumstick diva]

Michael knows what he is talking about. So I will just say Welcome to Backyard chickens, glad you joined the flock.

 

[N F C]

Welcome to BYC!

Great advice by Michael O'Shay. Good luck with your project.

Nice to have you join us!

 

[sunflour]

Glad you joined us.

 

[ChickyChickens]

​

Welcome to BYC!!! There are loads of members on here…so if you have ANY questions…just ASK!!!

Hope you have loads of fun and all your answers answered here on BYC the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM on EARTH!

Going here, will help you get around BYC!!! Has loads of info on how to get around the site!

How to insert pictures on BYC!!!!

​

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm glad you joined us.

Michael OShay has given you some good advice.

Good luck with the coop building!