My open air idea

[Kelby675]

Edited to add the sqft for the chicken pens and to say they would separated by chicken wire fencing.

So I've been researching and mathing (yes, i know that's not a real word but when you can't math it makes perfect sense lolz) tirelessly trying to figure things out. I've finally got something figured out structure wise. My plan is to have 6 hens separated in 2 pens within a large metal chicken pen (pic below) said pen would be divided up with a storage area, 2 hen pens, and for the eventual prospect of breeding 2 roster pens (way down the way, but i like to be prepared)

The pics included are of the pen itself which will be reinforced with .5"hardware cloth all the way around the 2 hole nest boxes for the ladies (one set per lady pen) and a nest house which im thinking i can modify to have a catch tray 1 each for the boys pens.

Now on to details i couldn't get a picture of
Storage area: 10ft wide 1.7 ft long
Hen pens each: 5ft wide by 12ft long (each pen would house 3 hens, 60sqft for each pen)
Cock pens each: 5ft wide by 6ft long (each would have one gent for the appropriate trio of ladies 30sqft {so if i went with wyandottes the ladies and gent would be next to each, while day the silkies would be in the other set of pens}) i know without a pic this is hard to imagine but the app im using won't let me take a screenshot.

First pic is the pen i want from Amazon
Second is the little nest houses i plan to use for my gents
Third is the 2-hole nest boxes for the ladies

Thoughts on this open air coop appreciated! It's the area for the pens (listed above) enough or should i just do 1 pen for the ladies and have a single gent

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am completely confused as to why you want to give the males a nest box? Or am I misunderstanding? Unless you're doing all Silkies which may not roost, both genders should have roosts to stay on overnight, not nests.

If you're doing Wyandottes and Silkies, it would probably be easier to have the roosters for each breed with the ladies full time, not have the ladies in one pen and the boys in the other.

 

[Penpal]

What is that pen made of? If it is chicken wire then you might as well hang a sign that reads, "weasels welcome". I would compare the price with something a local person could make for you.

 

[Kelby675]

I am completely confused as to why you want to give the males a nest box? Or am I misunderstanding? Unless you're doing all Silkies which may not roost, both genders should have roosts to stay on overnight, not nests.

If you're doing Wyandottes and Silkies, it would probably be easier to have the roosters for each breed with the ladies full time, not have the ladies in one pen and the boys in the other.

I know the guys dont need nest boxes but the issue is trying to find a rooster house without nest boxes. But i ultimately decided i would just use the nest box of whatever house i decide to get for him as a storage area for his things like spur covers and other things he may like or need.

As far as keeping them separate it would be to limit breeding or breeding once im ready lolz. Ive researched breeding many different animals from geckos to now chickens. And the common ground seems to be keep the boys separate until you as the owner/breeder are ready. But with other species theres risks involved with premature breeding, where as i have not quite delved that far into chickens yet. I may never breed chickens but if i decide i want hatching eggs i know that i will end up with some boys so would want to separate them from the ladies

 

[Kelby675]

What is that pen made of? If it is chicken wire then you might as well hang a sign that reads, "weasels welcome". I would compare the price with something a local person could make for you.

Oh no. It would be one of the big metal ones with hardware cloth around the outside, ideally lolz

 

[Kelby675]

So i figured out a way to get a picture of my idea! I've modified it a bit from what i described up top. I've got a 3D pic and a flat pic. I'm probably going to continue tweaking it until i actually get it setup lolz but this is a rough draft

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I still don't understand why you would keep them separate. They're not like dogs where an accidental breeding results in unwanted babies. It takes 21 days of deliberate incubation to turn eggs into chicks. If you don't want chicks, just eat the eggs, or refrigerate or sell them. But of course it's entirely up to you.

 

[paintedChix]

I know the guys dont need nest boxes but the issue is trying to find a rooster house without nest boxes. But i ultimately decided i would just use the nest box of whatever house i decide to get for him as a storage area for his things like spur covers and other things he may like or need.

As far as keeping them separate it would be to limit breeding or breeding once im ready lolz. Ive researched breeding many different animals from geckos to now chickens. And the common ground seems to be keep the boys separate until you as the owner/breeder are ready. But with other species theres risks involved with premature breeding, where as i have not quite delved that far into chickens yet. I may never breed chickens but if i decide i want hatching eggs i know that i will end up with some boys so would want to separate them from the ladies

Well, very different reasoning...

Ive always kept roos w/ my individual flocks. Spur covers? Why? If a roo is aggressive towards hens or humans, spurs only come into play once. Then into the stew pot he goes. The hens' feathers & backs can be protected by fabric "saddles". Yes, different times of year, they would need to be stored.

That type of hoop coop is used by many. A lot of reviews out there now. My suggestions - 1 - add hardware cloth to at least the bottom 2' & preferably higher. 1/2" square usually stronger than 1/4 " square. 2- put the bottom up on a foundation. I prefer cinder block. This keeps both the metal base & wire from rusting out so fast. Also allows for your litter/bedding to be deeper w/o covering the metal base. 3 - use either wood posts or steel t-posts driven into ground at corners to prevent it from "sailing away". 4 - do not forget your "no-dig" aprons - unless you have another, protective fence.

Personally, it's just easier to use CPs to hoop a coop. Much stronger, too. Can hold up to snow & ice better - depending... on a few things.

You can keep your boys separate from girls. A bachelor pad. Keep them together, but separated from the girls to reduce their fighting.

For roosts - 2x4 attached to pens above the height of nest boxes in hens' section. No nest boxes for boys. Such a PITA to clean nest boxes daily & eggs can actually become in-edible or damaged once they learn to roost in nest boxes. Can do a stand alone roost by making an a-frame of 2 pallets. Many other options.

Keeping roos w/ hens nice. Nothing wrong w/ eating fertilized eggs. Most folks don't even know. Just need to be collected daily. If I find a nest of eggs, I check by breaking singley into a separate container before combining to cook or bake.

Silkies. I don't know of any hatchery or breeder who can reliably sex chicks (I know - i will be poo-poo'd for this statement). They can take a LONG time to mature so that you know who is male & female - to get to laying eggs or breeding successfully.

Some things I've done w/ CP panels. Still need smaller wire. Even recommend under roofing material.



A nest box. Using leaves & yard debri for bedding. Using pine shavings in Little Giant box.



I did this post w/o reading whole thread. If you've already started or finished your building, what did you do?

 

[paintedChix]

Ok, saw your mock up.

For less building of gates and, I think or have found, less work, use the girl pen for 1 breed w/ roo. No extra internal fencing or door in that section. Use boys pen for 2nd breed. Again, same reasoning.

If you truly don't want boys w/ girls, still do the 2 pens. Then do a separate bachelor pen that is not next to the girls at all.

If you do a bachelor pad, consider more than one roo of each breed to retain for breeding. That way you always have a spare OR you can match up one roo to one girl for better results (similar to picking a stud dog to fix or enhance the bitch's qualities or faults). With the small numbers you are talking, easier to maintain spare roos in a bachelor pad. Also, keeping a spare means you have a second if 1st is or becomes infertile. That can be more often than folks realize & it can/does suck when you are trying to hatch chicks.

 

[paintedChix]

In my first post, the first pic is of pens that were here already when we moved in...

Here's what it looked like before we hooped them. Each of these pens is about 8x10. There are 4. I still havent hooped the 4th. It's a royal pain to use at only 4' in height, but it does stay dry. If you check out the coops sections, several folks use tin for roofing hooped coops. Check out Ms Biddy's coop page...



I don't understand "rooster house"? In each separate section, you would provide a roost & in ladies section(s), a nest box. For only 3 ladies, only one nest box needed.

Pretty sure your pen would not support any roofing other than a tarp w/o a lot of "beefing up" w/ wood or steel posts & beams.