New and need advice

[newchicken22]

I am very new to chicken raising but I am 100% on board. I have a huge fenced back yard (1/4 of an acre) and just want to put 4 chickens out there to roam. I have an old shed built on a concrete slab that I want to use as a coop. I plan on putting in some boxes about 2-3 feet up with a ladder to get to them, but the shed is old and has holes in the roof and on the side. Will this be ok for the winter? do I need to make it water proof? Do I need to put sand down in the coop? I talked to a girl at IFA today and she said she has 13 chickens she lets roam in her back yard. So I figure 4 should not be a problem. If you have any advice I would love some.
Thanks.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

If you're going to let them roam, you need a rooster for some sort of protection. The minimal amount of birds I would have is 1 rooster and 8 hens.

If you let them have complete free range, you will loose birds. Maybe not within the first week, maybe not within the first year - but you will. I free ranged for at least 4 hours every other day without incident for 2 years+, but the other day I lost my first bird to a hawk. And that hawk has been back. Now I only freerange while watching them like a hawk (no pun intended).

Yes, the coop is going to need be water proof/wind proof. Also, you're going to need to make sure the coop is completely secure, and they can be locked up at night and have free range in the day. The coop will need some kind of ventilation though, to let out the ammonia fumes and for the heat in the summer.

Have you put roost poles in for them to sleep on? The laying boxes should be 2 foot up at most. Ladders aren't necessary, but you should put a 2x4 (or something similar) in front of the boxes so that they can get up there safely.

 

[Pequena Bandada]

Your coop will need to be completely water, wind and predator proof. So - you'll need to cover the holes before you get chickens. A raccoon or a mink will take advantage of any gaps you have and will climb in to eat your chickens while they sleep. And, your chickens need protection from the wind or else they'll catch a chill while they're sleeping. They don't need a heated coop, just a draft proof coop. You can let them out every morning to roam, and then lock them up in the shed/coop every night. If you leave them outside at night, they'll be picked off by owls, raccoons, etc, or they'll freeze outside.

Once you get the coop predator and wind proof, make sure you have ventilation at the very top (covered by wire so no predators can get in). That way your chickens can be safe and comfortable. A few nest boxes - 18" high is good, no need to go higher, and a roost - a 2x4 on it's side will work fine... and you're set!

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
See my BYC page for pics of my Coop that has been in use nearly two decades. I'm not a fan of concrete slabs, all the Coops that I've visited that acquaintances have built on slabs turned into stinking Ammonia messes. I favor the pit method of deep litter composting for ease of use and chicken health. I like a rot-proof foundation, roof overhang all four sides, and ventilation at the roof eaves.

 

[teach1rusl]

Is your fenced yard secure? No holes or openings in the fence? If so, as long as you shut them up inside the shed each night, they should be pretty safe. You might be sure to choose heavier breeds that aren't knowing to fly much if your fence is only 4 ft.

Your shed roof would definitely need to be repaired, maybe simply by adding a metal roof on top of what you have (not sure what that is...). The coop would need to be draft free (meaning that wherever you place the roosting boards, cold wind would not/could not hit the chickens). So you will need to repair the side that is damaged. Windows are great! Doesn't have to be "real" windows, just openings cut into the shed and covered with sturdy wire (not chicken wire...hardware cloth is best. In winter time, these openings can be covered with plexiglass or something similar.

You will want ventilation openings up high, well above the heads of roosting chickens (just under the roofline is a good place). This is so that warm, moist air will rise up and exit through the vent. openings, as you don't want a damp, moist coop.

With concrete, you'll need several inches of bedding (wood chips) on the floor to cushion the landing when your chickens jump down from the roost. Even if you have a ladder up to the nest boxes or roosts, your chickens will often jump up/down.

Good luck with your coop project. Do check out some of the coops from the coop pages to help you get ideas

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Slab is a great coop flooring IME, very predatorproof and easy to clean and won't get 'dug out' into a swamp hole like dirt floors easily can. I suppose it is probably possible to mismanage litter on a concrete floor such that it becomes skanky, as a previous poster warns of, but honestly it is easy to do that on dirt floor either. The main thing is good management.

Sand would be one reasonable option for litter in the coop if you are in an always-warm climate. If you get freezing winters though I would not recommend it, use shavings or some other organic (nonmineral) litter instead such as chopped straw or etc. You do need SOMEthing on the concrete, for a whole variety of reasons.

the shed is old and has holes in the roof and on the side. Will this be ok for the winter? do I need to make it water proof?

Gotta fix those holes, all of them. Yes it needs to be waterproof, and it's important not to have holes predators can squeeze in thru (or get ahold of and rip larger, *then* squeeze through), also in cold weather you don't want strong cold drafts on the chickens.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[newchicken22]

Thanks for the posts. I thought I would just let them roam during the day and put them in the pen at night. I live in the middle of a Salt Lake Suburb, so I hadn't thought much about predators. Will I really need a rooster? I didn't want to get one since they crow at all hours of the night. I also only want to get 4 chickens not 8. Will I be able to just let them out in the morning and put them in the coop at night?

 

[greyhorsewoman]

You don't need a rooster and you can have just 4 hens (you have my permission ~ LOL). If you are in a neighborhood, a rooster could be a source of aggravation not only to you, but your neighbors.

The 'just let them roam during the day' could be problematic, depending on your situation. How big is your yard? Is it secure? You don't want your hens trespassing in your neighbor's flower beds or gardens. They can clear 4 foot fences, sometimes even with a wing clipped if they are determined. Do you have any problems with stray dogs? They might be tempted to enter your yard if your chickens are roaming free without supervision.

Folks are often surprised at the predator problems possible. Especially in more populated suburbs, where you might not be as aware of raccoons, opossums, minks, weasels, snakes, hawks, etc until they are in your yard or coop. Also, many predators target 'dawn' and 'dusk' in particular. Stray dogs ... any time at all.

 

[dsqard]

IMO you do not need a rooster or 8 chickens. I would make sure that your fence is secure and that the coop is secure. Yes, you do have to worry about predators in the suburbs. You would have to worry about them even if you lived in downtown SLC. Hawks can fly anywhere. I would suggest having a pen that they could be secured in when you are not home. I don't like letting mine free range when I am not home. Is that a necessity? No, just be prepared to lose some of them. I also wouldn't put a lot of stock on the information you get from the people at IFA. Feed store employees are notorious for putting out bad info. You will learn a lot more on this website!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
1. Wet chickens are sick chickens so yes they need to be dry. You don't say how big the shed is, but you can easily cover the roof with sheets of corrugated plastic or metal.

2. You also need to fix the sides, since your in a warm climate the cold shouldnt' be a problem.

3. Letting the roam my not go over well with neighbors and subject them to predation by God knows what.

4. Take the time to research what you need to have safe and healthy chickens and you won't be disappointed or worse heartbroken. Check the local public library for information.

Wish you the best

Rancher