new coop and run

[Vickiinaz]

We kept chickens for years, but have not had them for 6+ years and I'm feeling I need some info from "the experts". I now have 12 week old chicks living in a very large dog kennel. We just completed a major remodel of their "palace".

The coops is big. It's half of a foaling barn with dowels for perches, nesting boxes, dirt floor. Due to coyotes, we can't let them free range. We have a covered run that is about 20'x40'. We've planted a couple of shade trees and intend to put in a pond when the birds are full grown. Right now, it is just dirt. We live in Arizona, so rain and mud isn't much of a problem, but I'm still thinking that I want to put something over the bare dirt. We have decomposed granite as ground cover in some of our yard and am thinking that might work. My husband thinks we should have some shrubs also. Any suggestions?

 

[flgardengirl]

What part of AZ are you in? If it gets really hot where you live (I've lived in Phx and Lake Havasu City AZ) then granite or gravel might get too hot in the summer and bare dirt or grass might be a better choice. The granite might be okay if they had lots of shade but that will depend on where you live and temps. When I was in LHC it could get quite hot even in the shade lol. If you had a moveable pen the grass idea might be okay because you could move the pen before they totally wore it down etc. Sand might work if it doesn't get too hot where you live. It is easy to clean by just raking.

 

[wekiva bird]

i was in AZ a few years ago it was very hot. i think they need shade, to keep cool in the hot summer.

 

[cowman910]

Be careful about the pond. I had a few roost on the side of my goats water container during the day and fall in and drown. If it's built into the ground, is shallow or has many plants, then it should be fine.


Mike