Need Coop Advice

[Kristinanne80]

Hi there, I am new to owning chickens. We are wanting to build a coop that will Ouse 5-6 hens. They won't be free ranging very much I don't think so I know I need to have a run for them. I am looking for some advice on how big the coop should be and also the run. Also I would like to hear ideas of what people have done to keep their coop an easy cleaner. I think I want to do an auto feeder/water with PVC and I want to make removable plastic trays or bins for the nesting boxes. I also know I want to build a small separate bin with a latch. that I can slip a plastic serilite container in and keep the extra food in there. Also can anyone recommend chickens that produce ample eggs? I was thinking maybe either RIR, Orpington, Plymouth Rock. I heard leghorns are AWESOME layers but sound to flighty for me. Thank you all in advance im so excited.

 

[Duckopolis]

Glad to have you here with us! Good luck with your chicken raising adventures and I hope you find everything you need to know! Don't forget to drop by BYC's learning center (if you haven't already)! Buff Orpingtons, Leghorns, Wyandottes, and Barred Rocks all produce many eggs. For ideas on cooks, check out the coop designs and hint on BYC. I'm not the best to help you there!

 

[Kristinanne80]

Oh thank you I will check that out. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate around here lol.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Definitely do some reading in our learning center here on BYC. Lots of good reads on all the aspects of keeping poultry from building the coop, raising your new babies, feeding your adult flock and keeping them happy and healthy...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

I like to use those small black rubber tubs or even heavy dog dishes for feeding. Chickens tend to scoop feed out of the standard feeders. But these tubs don't allow for scooping so there is little if any feed waste.

Sand is a great medium for flooring. I use it in the coops, runs and even the nest boxes! It is very easy to clean and maintain, keeps the flies away, soft of the foot pads, there is no smells, you can hose it down in the summer to keep the birds really cool, and the birds love to scratch around in it looking for tiny stones for the gizzards. Here is a nice thread you can read thru and learn more about sand....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

Great to have you aboard and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[gander007]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X3 on check out the Learning Center articles, this is a really good one to help figure out how big a coop and run you need https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

You might also like to check out your Florida state thread for poultry keeping neighbors https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/305793/florida-always-sunny-side-up
Have you seen the nipple watering systems for automatic waterers ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-watering-system-w-waterer-nipples-and-heater

Be sure to check out the BYC Breeds section for member reviews on a lot of breeds https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds and the Henderson chicken breed chart does basic comparisons of a lot of popular breeds. http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
For pure egg numbers, the commercial White Leghorns for white eggs and Red Sex Links like ISA Browns, Red Stars etc for brown are probably the two most popular layers around. If you want breeds that don't lay quite as well but will lay for a longer time, Australorps, Orpingtons (great pets), Sussex, Delaware, Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes are some popular breeds that are usually pretty easy to get along with, they all lay different shades of brown eggs. The Easter Egger / often sold as Ameraucana by hatcheries, are a fun breed because they usually lay green/blue eggs.