Meet the birds you people helped raise (2 months in newbie)

[Melky]

 

[feathermaid]

Hey your coop is looking pretty awesome! Nice job building it on your own. Will your chickens be outside and free ranging all day long every day? Or will you be building an attached run? If you don't keep food and water in the coop, where will it go? You're probably tired of hearing about ventilation, but it can get really hot and stuffy inside and chickens are so susceptible to respiratory problems. You just really want to avoid moisture building up from their breathing and body heat, even when it's cold. A humidity thermometer would be a good idea to keep in the coop. I've seen some coop designs for warmer climates where the entrance/cleaning doors are all hardware cloth top to bottom.

If it's dark & stuffy inside, and they're outside, they may not want to go back in to lay eggs in the nest boxes, and then when dusk rolls around, they might prefer to roost in trees or on fence rails instead. Clipping their wings is fine if you're trying to keep them from going over to the neighbors, but some can still fly surprisingly well. And it won't make them any easier to catch. Chickens are crazy fast runners!

Free ranging is a wonderful idea. My suburban girls are out nearly all day, but just mainly the side yard and half the day with access the back. If yours are foraging on 120 acres of undeveloped land (they probably won't go nearly that far) it could be home to lots of predators as well. Will you have a rooster as a flock protector, or maybe a trained guardian dog? Also be careful of loose dogs in the neighborhood... they have been the culprits of many a murdered flock.

The forums are a good place to visit for direct feedback to specific questions. But you can also visit the learning center where there are many articles and categories to choose from, some more helpful than others. You can sort your searches by date or rating, and you can even use the menu search button to find something specific. Here's a few helpful articles you may want to check out:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need

Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

Predator Proofing

Well i wish you the best in your new chicken adventure!!

 

[DobieLover]

good to hear from a fellow Texan, this summer was brutal. ventilation has certainly been on my mind, ill no doubt have to add some next summer.

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

I'm in NY now but spent 3 years in Austin. Sorry, but I'm just going to continue the only real negative anyone has on your very neat coop and that is more ventilation... WAY more! When you say you love your chickens I don't think you meant fried!

Is there any way you could rebuild your roof so it is pitched with big eaves and rakes with wide over hangs? That way you will have far better rain run off and the big over hangs will allow you to leave your HC backed openings open year round. And those openings should be something like 2'x2' in your 4'x4' walls. BIG.

I have 2 window styles on my coop. One where they can be closed off by dropping down the cover (they are hinged top and held open with a chain and hook). A second style where I have removeable panels that can be inserted during bitter cold weather or very windy weather. I have not used them yet as we haven't even gotten below 30 yet. When we go into single digits, I'll put them on. You can click on the "My coop" link to see what I am talking about and how I built them.

Otherwise, I just love when people can put together a coop with scrap lumber they have access to. I will be under taking a shed to coop conversion in late winter. I can't wait!

 

[DaWookie]

thanks for all the kind words and feedback!
Its really hard not to let the ladies out today, but i want them to get a little more familier with the coop. I can tell they are a little spooked (and who wouldnt be) because they are making very little noise unless i coo to them.

 

[EggWalrus]

Paraphrased- I'm going to quit feeding them in coop and let them out of coop to forage after 48 hrs.

It's gonna take a lot longer than 48 hrs, for your birds to know the coop is their home where they sleep. It may take weeks. And if they have been raised in a brooder and not by a Momma Hen, they may not have much of a clue about foraging, and they may just sit around waiting to be fed. But they will probably find enough to keep from starving. All though scratch isn't a nutritional feed, it's a treat and it's a tool to teach foraging skills and will help them make the transition. A "flock block" also encourages foraging. You might want to keep on feeding them chicken feed at least once a day so they get a minimum of nutritional requirements. Good luck with your babies.

 

[DaWookie]

It's gonna take a lot longer than 48 hrs, for your birds to know the coop is their home where they sleep. It may take weeks. And if they have been raised in a brooder and not by a Momma Hen, they may not have much of a clue about foraging, and they may just sit around waiting to be fed. But they will probably find enough to keep from starving. All though scratch isn't a nutritional feed, it's a treat and it's a tool to teach foraging skills and will help them make the transition. A "flock block" also encourages foraging. You might want to keep on feeding them chicken feed at least once a day so they get a minimum of nutritional requirements. Good luck with your babies.

that paraphrase is dead on accurate. I have been taking them outside regularly since they were 2 weeks old. I got one of those watermelon cardboard boxes from the local grocery and covered it with hardware cloth. I do plan to toss out feed regularly but my goal is to have them mostly forage, but i plan to slowly do less and less feed over a few weeks.

I suspect you are correct about having to put them in the coop every night for a while, ive already bribed my neighbors with promises of eggs.

 

[EggWalrus]

I didn't know if you knew, I was just checking. Looks like you're gonna do fine with your endeavors, even if there is a learning curve.

 

[townchicks]

I do plan to toss out feed regularly but my goal is to have them mostly forage, but i plan to slowly do less and less feed over a few weeks.

Since these are still growing birds, I don't recommend that you cut back on feed in the near future. Leave the feed out all day, and pick it up at night, to keep rats and mice out. The birds need time to learn to forage efficiently, and frankly, most breeds of chickens are not equipped to be completely self sufficient in that respect. Also, they will need more calories for cold weather, and also for egg production.

 

[DaWookie]

I didn't know if you knew, I was just checking. Looks like you're gonna do fine with your endeavors, even if there is a learning curve.

thank you very much i want all the knowledge possible to keep the girls thriving!

 

[DaWookie]

Since these are still growing birds, I don't recommend that you cut back on feed in the near future. Leave the feed out all day, and pick it up at night, to keep rats and mice out. The birds need time to learn to forage efficiently, and frankly, most breeds of chickens are not equipped to be completely self sufficient in that respect. Also, they will need more calories for cold weather, and also for egg production.

gotcha, ill keep a close eye on weight. Feed is very cheap so i wont hold out.