New Guy wondering what kind or coop to get or build.

[jimdandy]

I am interested in getting or building a chicken coop for the side yard of my office building. The area is 90'x17' with fig trees, peach trees and vegetation.
I would like to have enough eggs for my home and office.
We are a family of four and and office staff of 7 (we have a kitchen and cook regularly).

Im wondering how many chickens will lay how many eggs?
What type of coop would be recommended etc.

We are a construction company so building a coop would not be a problem if I had proper drawings but I was wondering if buying one would be cheaper.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Twig Worley]

Welcome to BYC found this on the Coops tab up top. Its what I used to build my coop. There are several to choose from.

 

[dufusanddingus]

How many eggs you'll get depends on the kind of chickens you have. When I was a beginner I picked up the book Keeping Chickens by Ashley English, and there is some good info on there about different breeds and their individual temperments, heat/cold toleration level, etc, as well as basic care instructions. If you're into modern style coops, something with some artistic flare, I would recommend checking out the book Reinventing the Chicken Coop by Kevin Mcelroy. It has 15 really rad coop ideas with blueprints. Have fun!

 

[Twig Worley]

This is mine. Not constructed as well as the one found on here but serves the purpoose.

 

[shober]

I've gotten the "brown egg layers" from Murray McMurray hatchery twice. I have been very pleased with the egg production of these birds. The most recent order had a lot of barred rocks and red stars. Right now I have 12 hens and am getting 8 eggs a day. It is winter, so when the weather warms up I expect 11 to 12 eggs a day. These brown egg layers do need about 3 square feet per bird n space. If you overcrowd birds, pecking at each other will happen. Good luck in your plans!

 

[Twig Worley]

I started with 12 Buff Orpingtons, which layed about 8 eggs a day, then added 4 Barred Rocks my egg count grew to around 10 to 12 a day. Last April I added 13 Rhode Island Reds, which brought my daily egg totals to anywhere from 16 eggs to 21 eggs a day. I'm hoping for more during the summer months.