- Mar 2, 2010
- 111
- 5
- 111
Hi!
I've been wanting chickens for some time now and finally convinced my husband that it was a good idea. I live in Tacoma and we can have chickens in our backyards as long as they are 50 feet from anyone elses residence or we get permission from them to have the coops closer. Thankfully, we're on a coner 6000sf lot so it will be pretty easy to do.
I lucked out and found a used coop for a screaming bargain (I am sure I could have built something cheaper, but not faster or nicer... and actually, I couldn't do it, since i have no tools.. ha!) So, the coop is so pretty, it's 4x4x5 and it has an attached pen that's 4x6x26")
Here's the coop and run (it's being delivered saturday, this is the previous owners photo)
I want to make a roof for the run, I was thinking of using something that still lets sun through. Also, gutters and mini rain barrels. I do live in the pacific NW. Rain is an issue.
The inside has 3 perches, 3 nesting boxes and looks exactly like this: (but this is another picture I found on the internet, not the coop I actually bought.)
I am getting bricks so I can have the coop off the mud, and I think I will use a bit of straw in the bottom? I am still doing research. We probably won't get chickens until after spring starts. We are going to start with hens. I want 4. I am looking for a Black Australorps, and I also want an Americauna. But I'm unsure of the other 2.
Is there anything that I need to know about coop placement in relation to trees and sunlight?
Should I put anything in the clean out trays such as cat litter? Or does the tray stay empty?
Any good knowlege that isn't discussed in the books?
Thanks!
Berritt
I've been wanting chickens for some time now and finally convinced my husband that it was a good idea. I live in Tacoma and we can have chickens in our backyards as long as they are 50 feet from anyone elses residence or we get permission from them to have the coops closer. Thankfully, we're on a coner 6000sf lot so it will be pretty easy to do.
I lucked out and found a used coop for a screaming bargain (I am sure I could have built something cheaper, but not faster or nicer... and actually, I couldn't do it, since i have no tools.. ha!) So, the coop is so pretty, it's 4x4x5 and it has an attached pen that's 4x6x26")
Here's the coop and run (it's being delivered saturday, this is the previous owners photo)
I want to make a roof for the run, I was thinking of using something that still lets sun through. Also, gutters and mini rain barrels. I do live in the pacific NW. Rain is an issue.
The inside has 3 perches, 3 nesting boxes and looks exactly like this: (but this is another picture I found on the internet, not the coop I actually bought.)
I am getting bricks so I can have the coop off the mud, and I think I will use a bit of straw in the bottom? I am still doing research. We probably won't get chickens until after spring starts. We are going to start with hens. I want 4. I am looking for a Black Australorps, and I also want an Americauna. But I'm unsure of the other 2.
Is there anything that I need to know about coop placement in relation to trees and sunlight?
Should I put anything in the clean out trays such as cat litter? Or does the tray stay empty?
Any good knowlege that isn't discussed in the books?
Thanks!
Berritt
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