New Mexico

[Peter.J]

I agree. Can your coop/run handle any more chickens or are you already at capacity?

 

[Justin G]

I agree. Can your coop/run handle any more chickens or are you already at capacity?

I am pretty much at capacity with my four. I'm attaching a picture of the coop I've got, but I find it a bit small for all four of them. But I do let them free range around the backyard when I am home, so I think it's working for now. Are you looking for a home for some of yours?

 

[Peter.J]

Nice little coop, and yeah i bet they appreciate being let out to free range. I would agree you’re probably at capacity too. No, i’m Not getting rid of any, i just got to 26 chickens now, i think i’m About done getting more; the 10sq ft per chicken rule says i can have 32 in there but i don’t think i need to max it out.
Well if you ever do expand the coop run:
I was just going to mention that Quality baits on Isleta/Rio Bravo has a nice variety of pullets for decent prices. There’s a guy up here in Corrales called Simms farms who sells rare breeds of pullets and cockerels; a little pricey but
He has some cool breeds and is interesting to talk to...

 

[Peter.J]

I started out with something kind of like yours Justin, but now that we have the space i decided to build a big coop/run. Technically it doesn’t have a true coop, just one area of the run with the roosts is blocked from the weather on three sides and a roof. I joke around and call it the winchester mansion as it just seems to keep growing; its all 8 foot sections so it’s modular in some way and easy to add another 8x8 area... If you could add one more chicken you might want to get a rooster, they are pretty cool to have around. I just learned of a rooster crow collar which is supposed to quiet them down and apparently works good. But personally i like the sound of roosters...

 

[Justin G]

I started out with something kind of like yours Justin, but now that we have the space i decided to build a big coop/run. Technically it doesn’t have a true coop, just one area of the run with the roosts is blocked from the weather on three sides and a roof. I joke around and call it the winchester mansion as it just seems to keep growing; its all 8 foot sections so it’s modular in some way and easy to add another 8x8 area... If you could add one more chicken you might want to get a rooster, they are pretty cool to have around. I just learned of a rooster crow collar which is supposed to quiet them down and apparently works good. But personally i like the sound of roosters...
View attachment 1223043 View attachment 1223044 View attachment 1223045

Thanks so much for the tips. I really appreciate it! I really like your coop, and it looks like you've put a lot of work into it. I've thought about a rooster, as well and may get one later. I like them too. I think we're allowed to have one in city limits, as far as I remember. Have you ever had any issues with things trying to dig into the coop and get the chickens?

 

[Peter.J]

I had a few different flocks in the city and didn’t get a rooster because i was worried about upsetting the neighbors; but had i known about that crowing collar i might have tried it... Yeah I think the Abq rule is 15 chickens with 1 rooster...

The city does have plenty of raccoons and skunks, but i don’t think they are diggers, more of the ripping off chicken wire types etc.
Our problem was our own dogs, we would feed the chickens leftover table scraps and the dogs would try to dig in there. One time they dug a hole big enough, not for them to get in but for the chickens to get out, and unfortunately one of our dogs ate 3 of them. He got in a lot of trouble for that incident and since then has been good with them...
On this new coop/run I buried horse fence (woven wire) 6-8” down so i’m Hoping that will be enough, both for our dogs and coyotes...
If it doesn’t though I plan on lining the outside ground along the edges with some old railroad ties...

 

[Justin G]

I had a few different flocks in the city and didn’t get a rooster because i was worried about upsetting the neighbors; but had i known about that crowing collar i might have tried it... Yeah I think the Abq rule is 15 chickens with 1 rooster...

The city does have plenty of raccoons and skunks, but i don’t think they are diggers, more of the ripping off chicken wire types etc.
Our problem was our own dogs, we would feed the chickens leftover table scraps and the dogs would try to dig in there. One time they dug a hole big enough, not for them to get in but for the chickens to get out, and unfortunately one of our dogs ate 3 of them. He got in a lot of trouble for that incident and since then has been good with them...
On this new coop/run I buried horse fence (woven wire) 6-8” down so i’m Hoping that will be enough, both for our dogs and coyotes...
If it doesn’t though I plan on lining the outside ground along the edges with some old railroad ties...

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm sorry about your dog getting some of your chickens. So far things are going well here. The eggs are delicious! Happy New Year!

 

[Pixel_Wolf183]

Hey fellow New Mexicans! Anyone else in Rio Rancho?

 

[FridayYet]

Hey fellow New Mexicans! Anyone else in Rio Rancho?

Not me, but I'm just down the hill by the river.

 

[Pixel_Wolf183]

Not me, but I'm just down the hill by the river.