New to BYC

[Ger34]

Hello everyone!
So we have finally moved out of the city into a small rural community and are planning our entry into the chicken raising community in the spring... So naturally.. We have questions! Lol

We are in Southern Ontario Canada and our weather varies
Average summertime is 28-30C (83F-86F) however, its the humidity im concerned about. Those temps above get 55% - 60% humidity, however, we had a cpl days in 2018 of 91F and 100% humidity at 0200

Winter? Well last weekend was -5C(41F) but we got 10" of snow. Last winter we had temps dip to -34C(-30F) and with wind, it was -50C (-58F)
Thats was the infamous "polar vortex" as the meteorologists called it
Like everyone... We can take measures when we know this is going to happen... I just want to build a coop to make it easier

We have a "plethora" of design ideas, im just looking for suggestions from others who have experience

Oh yeah.. We will likely start with 3-5 hens. I will add a cpl photos of the yard taken from the south facing north for ideas later

Thanks all!!

 

[Ted Brown]

I am near Ottawa on the Quebec side so similar weather.

Do take a look at the Woods fresh air designs. I build a 10' by 16' KD last fall, this can be scaled down to an 8' by 12'. There is a book written by Prince Woods describing the principals behind the design along with lots of other good information, I can forward a link or you may be able to find it here.

Best of luck.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello everyone!
So we have finally moved out of the city into a small rural community and are planning our entry into the chicken raising community in the spring... So naturally.. We have questions! Lol

We are in Southern Ontario Canada and our weather varies
Average summertime is 28-30C (83F-86F) however, its the humidity im concerned about. Those temps above get 55% - 60% humidity, however, we had a cpl days in 2018 of 91F and 100% humidity at 0200

Winter? Well last weekend was -5C(41F) but we got 10" of snow. Last winter we had temps dip to -34C(-30F) and with wind, it was -50C (-58F)
Thats was the infamous "polar vortex" as the meteorologists called it
Like everyone... We can take measures when we know this is going to happen... I just want to build a coop to make it easier

We have a "plethora" of design ideas, im just looking for suggestions from others who have experience

Oh yeah.. We will likely start with 3-5 hens. I will add a cpl photos of the yard taken from the south facing north for ideas later

Thanks all!!

You can see my reply in your New Member intro thread. You can build a smaller version of what I built and it would serve you well.

Go with a walk-in style coop with poop boards. I had an elevated coop with no poop boards and would NEVER recommend that.

Make your run with a solid roof strong enough to handle your snow load and enclose the entire structure with 1/2" hardware cloth with a 16-24" predator apron around the entire thing. This way, you will be able to install tarps in the winter to block the wind and never have to shut your pop door. This greatly increases the space for your flock. You can keep your food and water in the run so the coop has more landing room for when the birds come off the roost in the morning.

I also wired my coop and I recommend the same for you. It solves a lot of problems such as running fans to keep the birds cooler during hot summers, running heated waterers and seedling heat mats in to the winter to keep water and eggs from freezing and running lights when you need to work in the coop or run after dark or before the sun is up.

 

[Ger34]

Just a few photos of the backyard fm south to North
There is a 16 x 24 garden to the left of the apple tree in the centre of the yard in the distance with plans of a 10x16 greenhouse on the north side of it. I would "like" the girls to be able to wander in the garden and eat bugs, but not sure how to do it since that side of the lawn gets all day sun

Open for suggestions!!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Hello everyone!
So we have finally moved out of the city into a small rural community and are planning our entry into the chicken raising community in the spring... So naturally.. We have questions! Lol

We are in Southern Ontario Canada and our weather varies
Average summertime is 28-30C (83F-86F) however, its the humidity im concerned about. Those temps above get 55% - 60% humidity, however, we had a cpl days in 2018 of 91F and 100% humidity at 0200

Winter? Well last weekend was -5C(41F) but we got 10" of snow. Last winter we had temps dip to -34C(-30F) and with wind, it was -50C (-58F)
Thats was the infamous "polar vortex" as the meteorologists called it
Like everyone... We can take measures when we know this is going to happen... I just want to build a coop to make it easier

We have a "plethora" of design ideas, im just looking for suggestions from others who have experience

Oh yeah.. We will likely start with 3-5 hens. I will add a cpl photos of the yard taken from the south facing north for ideas later

Thanks all!!

Welcome to Backyard Chickens where a lot of information is exchanged as individuals find the need for it. BYC is a place that the user is able to absorb as much knowledge as they want at any given time.

 

[Ger34]

Wow!! Some great ideas both here and my other "introduce yourself" thread
Ted
Did a bit of searching and found both the 1912 and 1924 editions of Dr Woods designs in PDF Timeto start reading!!

Tonya
Love the coop.. Really like the idea of not having to bend down too much as well!
Like the idea of using hd plastic to close in the run... Question though... Do u just add freshbedding in the run? Or do u clean it out every cpl months?

Thanks everyone!

 

[aart]

@Ted Brown and @DobieLover said everything I was going to say.
Also think about location in relation to your house and getting out to coop in winter thru possible feet of snow.

Welcome to BYC! @Ger34
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Ger34]

Thanks Aart
Snow wont be a problem. I upgraded from my little 5 hp 24"w snow thrower to one that mounts on my JD318 Garden Tractor. Took it out into 2' deep snowplow stuff last weekend and she worked like a charm
Bonus points to the farm dealership in Michigan who threw a closed in cab with the deal..lol
Location is going to be a thing... I wouldlike to have it at theback of the garden so the girls can forage around the outside, however, they'll b in the sun all day
If i put the coop under the Spruce trees on the other side.. The girls will have to cross the yard to the garden
Decisions decisions..

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks Aart
Snow wont be a problem. I upgraded from my little 5 hp 24"w snow thrower to one that mounts on my JD318 Garden Tractor. Took it out into 2' deep snowplow stuff last weekend and she worked like a charm
Bonus points to the farm dealership in Michigan who threw a closed in cab with the deal..lol
Location is going to be a thing... I wouldlike to have it at theback of the garden so the girls can forage around the outside, however, they'll b in the sun all day
If i put the coop under the Spruce trees on the other side.. The girls will have to cross the yard to the garden
Decisions decisions..

If you are going to be letting the chickens out of their run to access the garden, they aren't going to care one whit about having to cross the yard to get there. Mine trekked about a 1/2 acre to get over to my neighbors house to raid his garden.

I would place the coop/run set up as close to the house as required to run a circuit to it but far enough away that it isn't going to impact the aesthetics of your property. My coop is about 20' off the corner of my garage so I sent a circuit off the sub-panel in my garage to power my coop. Not having power in the coop makes 4-season chicken keeping much more difficult.

 

[aart]

Thanks Aart
Snow wont be a problem. I upgraded from my little 5 hp 24"w snow thrower to one that mounts on my JD318 Garden Tractor. Took it out into 2' deep snowplow stuff last weekend and she worked like a charm
Bonus points to the farm dealership in Michigan who threw a closed in cab with the deal..lol
Location is going to be a thing... I wouldlike to have it at theback of the garden so the girls can forage around the outside, however, they'll b in the sun all day
If i put the coop under the Spruce trees on the other side.. The girls will have to cross the yard to the garden
Decisions decisions..

What year is your 318?
I have an '87 216 ... thrower is a beast, but very tricky on soft ground.
Where in MI are you?

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!