New Chicken Mom Intro & Question

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janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC. They will be fine outdoors, and for further reference, I'm in texas and I brood mine outdoors from the day they hatch.
Be sure and put an apron of hardware cloth around the bottom of your run and coop. Do you have more pictures of the run/coop?
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Yes. Thanks for asking. Here is the run. We are adding another 2 or 3 feet of run area than it came with and we built a base. We didn’t like it on the ground as it was sold. We also have let them run around the fenced in yard sometimes for a while. I’m just getting worried I won’t be able to catch them soon. I also want a safe run in case we’re not home. We are weather treating this coop we got from tractor supply. And we will probably end up adding 3 more nesting boxes when they’re ready. I’m supposed to have 6 hens, but I think I may have a rooster or two. I assume I will eventually know for sure on the roosters. 😂. Thanks for the tip on the apron!
 

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ra30ra said:
Yes. Thanks for asking. Here is the run. We are adding another 2 or 3 feet of run area than it came with and we built a base. We didn’t like it on the ground as it was sold. We also have let them run around the fenced in yard sometimes for a while. I’m just getting worried I won’t be able to catch them soon. I also want a safe run in case we’re not home. We are weather treating this coop we got from tractor supply. And we will probably end up adding 3 more nesting boxes when they’re ready. I’m supposed to have 6 hens, but I think I may have a rooster or two. I assume I will eventually know for sure on the roosters. 😂. Thanks for the tip on the apron!
Click to expand...
The roosts are at the exact same height as the nest boxes so I would expect them to roost in the nest boxes if squabble break out during roost time. That leads to dirty eggs.
I'm glad you are increasing the run size but 2 or 3 feet isn't going to cut it. I'd try to quadruple it.
 
DobieLover said:
The roosts are at the exact same height as the nest boxes so I would expect them to roost in the nest boxes if squabble break out during roost time. That leads to dirty eggs.
I'm glad you are increasing the run size but 2 or 3 feet isn't going to cut it. I'd try to quadruple it.
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If we increase height (as tall as coop) along with the length does that count? Or do they need more running room (not height)?
 
janiedoe said:
You won't need any more nesting boxes, they will share them, so 3 are plenty.
Like @DobieLover I do think you're going to need much more run space.
Be sure and lock those doors up tight, so raccoons can't get in. And do put an overlapping apron down to keep diggers out.
Enjoy your chicks!
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Ok. Thank you! I thought each bird would want a separate nest. I’m definitely going to increase the run more now. And figure out how to move roosts away from nest boxes. Dang. Should have asked all these questions before purchasing a coop. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️
 
ra30ra said:
Ok. Thank you! I thought each bird would want a separate nest. I’m definitely going to increase the run more now. And figure out how to move roosts away from nest boxes. Dang. Should have asked all these questions before purchasing a coop. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️
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It happens to most people. Unfortunately, the manufacturers give out false info about how many chickens will fit.
 
May I suggest, that you remove the access door and attach a covered run there. You don't really need another wall, since you are in Florida. The bump out would give them more room to get off the roosts, as well as more air flow. I leave my coops open to the run 24/7 because it doesn’t get very cold here, it allows the chickens more freedom, and it's less work for me. Water and food can be kept in the covered run and that will leave more floor space and less mess in the coop.
 

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