Need coop plans

[pennyJo1960]

Figure soffits in the ceiling please otherwise you will have frostbite you will have to cover the cattle panels for the run with hardware cloth

 

[Ridgerunner]

Got home with them. They were hatched August 29. Had to rig feed and water to fit. Other stuff was to big. How long do you recommend in this cage? They told us to put heat lamp on if below 80. I’m my barn. About 83 now.

Those chicks are 5-1/2 weeks old. I've had chicks that old go through nights below freezing with no heat but they were raised with exposure to cold. They were acclimated as they grew. If your lows are in the 40's you have no reason to provide heat for them. Even if they are not acclimated they will do fine at that age with no supplemental heat.

Those chicks do not need a heat lamp or any form of supplemental heat. I don't know how I can be any clearer.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I would agree they have feathers

 

[7acres]

Yes. Ventilation will be at top. Response to heat make sense. Logical as aart said about feather growth. Turned it off. Not supposed to have any nighttime temperatures below 60’s anytime soon.

 

[7acres]

Wife said I was wrong. Could be down to 47 at night within a week.

 

[pennyJo1960]

They can handle it not below 0 yet but otherwise 5 or above they are good

 

[Melky]

thank to both. Think I will go with a 12 x 12 pop about 6 inches off floor. This is what I have so far. Getting pullets in the morning. Am negotiating with a couple of folks on helping build something. Right now the ladies look like they are living on the poor side of town. Moving into an upscale residence might give them a little more pride and they would lay better. Is the 38 inch roost to high without a ramp for one month old Australorps?

Roosts are recommended not to go above 30 inches for any age birds.

 

[Melky]

Yes. Ventilation will be at top. Response to heat make sense. Logical as aart said about feather growth. Turned it off. Not supposed to have any nighttime temperatures below 60’s anytime soon.

Usually first week of life chicks on 90-95 degrees wean by 5 degrees each week till feathered out and at 70 degrees. If tolerates this and your night time temps not too low 60-70s ok if feathered out. It’s time to go out to big coop without heat. This usually occurs at 4-5 weeks and the latest 6-8 weeks. Mine went out at 4-5 weeks and thrived.

 

[7acres]

Usually first week of life chicks on 90-95 degrees wean by 5 degrees each week till feathered out and at 70 degrees. If tolerates this and your night time temps not too low 60-70s ok if feathered out. It’s time to go out to big coop without heat. This usually occurs at 4-5 weeks and the latest 6-8 weeks. Mine went out at 4-5 weeks and thrived.

Thanks. I had set up a temporary coop on my 5 x 5 dog pen and covered it with roof and fence panels with a 10 x 10 run. We decided today that actual coop will be built on 15th so we will leave in dog kennel they are currently in until then. The new coop will be built next to the pen and there will be so much noise going on that it might be too much excitement for them. The kennel is in my 12 x 20 workshop. By the way, your profile picture is so relaxing.

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

Hope it all works well for you. You have received lots of helpful information. Good luck!