New Chicken dude, Coop idea?

Date sort Score sort
Peckerhead

Peckerhead

Hatching
10 Years
Apr 9, 2009
5
0
7
Southern Tier NY
I'm totally new to the whole chicken deal but own 3+ acres and decided to ease into the whole farm idea with something simple (hopefully) like chickens.

We brought home 6 chicks yesterday from TSC and our sons (age 13,10,4,3) have been having a ball with them.

I have a dog house that is not used that I just built last year. It's pretty much 4X4X4 and my question is do you think it's big enough for 6 hens? It's attached currently to a 10X13' dog run and I was hoping that this would be a good home for them. I plan on raising the coop (dog house) up and getting it to open on either the side or top for easier access to nesting boxes. Cutting a slot in the bottom so I can put a tray in for bedding.

Any thoughts/help for the new guy?
 
welcome-byc.gif
 
Hi! Welcome- you will learn everything you need to know here!! I think your dog house will be a little on the small side. They recommend 4 sq ft per bird. You can't really count on them always going outside into the run- they don't like snow and wind...Maybe you could make a simple addition? Also, make sure you have plenty of ventilation and some insulation wouldn't be a bad idea. Take a look at Pat's Ventilation Page. I think the doghouse would be perfect when the chicks are small- but they don't stay that way long!! Enjoy!
 
If you go by the 4 sqft rule it is too small(for full grown chickens) but it will work for the first couple months. After a couple weeks you will want to build a much larger coop, since you will be fully addicted, and want to add more chickens to the flock. Plus you will need to add nest boxes, have feeder/waterer space etc.... So unless your gonna have external boxes that will be taking away part of thier floor space.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom