New coop run design help

[rkh]

I have a coop and pin for my laying chickens. But I have questions about my next one. I want to hatch out chickens. After they are feathered out, then put them in a separate pin for 8-10 weeks. Does the coop need nest boxes? Do they need to roost? How much space do I need in the pin and or coop for 30 to50 chickens. I want to build something so I can have 30 to 50 chickens to put in my freezer about every 30days. Do I need separate coops and separate pins for different ages? I have a lot of questions. Thanks.

 

[grandmaof5]

I don't have any chickens yet, but I have a question; what is a chicken pin, and what is it used for? I haven't heard the term before and don't want to sound ignorant around my chicken friends.

 

[possumqueen]

Hey, rkh,

You're definitely going to need separate pens for different ages, or the older ones will trample the younger ones and crowd them away from the feed. And if you're putting a group in the freezer, you don't want to have to separate out younger ones from older.

You don't need nest boxes if you're growing them for meat. They almost don't need roosts, either. They can stay on the ground.

If you're going to build a chicken tractor for your meat birds, you need about 8 to 10 square feet per bird, and you move it around so they get fresh ground every day or so. If you put the water at one end of the pen and the food at the other end of the pen they'll get more exersise, which will make them stronger, and make them tastier, too!

Click on coop designs at the top of your screen and check out chicken tractors.

And good luck!

maggie

 

[rkh]

I was just going to build pins for them, not tractors. How much room will I need?

 

[gsim]

Allow no less than 10 sq ft/chook. I did 80 sq ft/chook for mine, but they are all layers. Feed inside to avoid attracting pests. Water outside to avoid spillage inside and rotting litter and excess humidity. Works for me and my 23 chooks.