Hello everyone. I'm a freshly hatched "newbie" from the Tulsa area. I'll have pics of my coop and run once I have my computer savvy kids help me with the downloads.
I originally wanted a tractor to house about 4-5 hens, but when I asked a family member for help building it, the imagination took over, and we ended up building our coop and run on to the side of my existing dutch barn.
For my coop floor, I layed some formica countertop material I had left over. It seems to be very slick and the stuff should just scrape right off when things really get going in there.
While under construction, I purchased (5) Black Australorps, (3) RIR's, and (1) Buff O. (hence the screen name) The coop is completely enclosed now with the roof, so I temporarily blocked part of the floor space off, threw in some pine shavings, got the heat lamp out there, and food and water, and put them in it. I checked on them this morning, and they seemed happy. (a little nervous though, since I've put so much in to these little hens already, and now they are outside, instead of in a rubbermaid tub in the house)
Anyway, I know that the rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird, but one of my birds has cross beak, and I am afraid she won't make it so I picked up one more from the same batch. My coop is 4' X 8', which now puts me at 3.5 sf per bird, since I have (9) total.
Anyway, that's my introduction, and I sure do appreciate this web site because I was able to learn a lot before jumping in to it.
I originally wanted a tractor to house about 4-5 hens, but when I asked a family member for help building it, the imagination took over, and we ended up building our coop and run on to the side of my existing dutch barn.
For my coop floor, I layed some formica countertop material I had left over. It seems to be very slick and the stuff should just scrape right off when things really get going in there.
While under construction, I purchased (5) Black Australorps, (3) RIR's, and (1) Buff O. (hence the screen name) The coop is completely enclosed now with the roof, so I temporarily blocked part of the floor space off, threw in some pine shavings, got the heat lamp out there, and food and water, and put them in it. I checked on them this morning, and they seemed happy. (a little nervous though, since I've put so much in to these little hens already, and now they are outside, instead of in a rubbermaid tub in the house)
Anyway, I know that the rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird, but one of my birds has cross beak, and I am afraid she won't make it so I picked up one more from the same batch. My coop is 4' X 8', which now puts me at 3.5 sf per bird, since I have (9) total.
Anyway, that's my introduction, and I sure do appreciate this web site because I was able to learn a lot before jumping in to it.
