My coop

[dbjay417]

my coop is a chain link fence cage with a tin roof, a plywood door and a cement floor. It doesn't get below 50 degrees here on the coldest night, and there ain't much in the way of predators here, so safety is not an issue. I was thinking of using tarps as walls just to protect them from wind and rain.

there are no nest boxes or anything of the sort, but there are a number of perches at varying heights from four feet to six inches.

Since the birds are only ever in there at night, I hose the floor down every morning and scrub with bleach once a week. There is no litter on the floor.

There is chicken wire around the bottom 1' to prevent chicks from escaping when they are introduced to gen pop, though are still small enough to squeeze through the links.

Its getting crowded now though and I'm thinking of building something more sophisticated and also to accomodate 3x as many birds. I've been looking at designs, but am not sure in which direction to go, can anyone recommend something for between 30 and 50 birds?

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

something for between 30 and 50 birds?

Yes I heard the Astrodome is available!

Just kidding!

lets see 50 x 4= 200

You need something that has about 200 square feet! Say ten by twenty.
Randy​

 

[dbjay417]

LoL

I got a lot of land a little cash to invest and plenty of time.

 

[Omeletta]

This may not apply to you, it may be completely stupid for chickens, but...

I have a small rabbitry, and for future housing I am looking at a portable carport. The current 1 I like is 12x20, and if I hunt enough, I can get it for $200 Canadian. We have bad winters here, dropping to -40 C, so for warmth I will use hay bales stacked around the perimeter a few deep.

The material is very durable, the cost is right, the sides can roll up in good weather, and if placed right, windy weather would not be much of a problem.

I imagine with some careful planning you could attach a run...

Tanya

 

[dbjay417]

I'm thinking its just temporary until i build something to accomodate more birds.

I lie in Puerto Rico, its 87 degrees outside right now. LoL

The most dangerous time of year is hurricane season when wind and rain are common and dangerous. The island is continually battered by storm after storm, some quailify as tropical storms maybe even a hurricane. Some times the birds will not able to leave their pen for a week straight because of the way things get.

I'm thinking of making the final construct out of tin sheets, and 4x4s, with wooden nest boxes and rebar for perches.