New to chickening. What might I be missing?

[Patchgirl]

Hi there! This is my first time having chickens. I’d love to have feedback on my set-up. (Photos included)

12 chicks. They are 4 weeks old. Out in covered run during days/coop at night with brooder heater panel thing in case they’re cold.

Coop is only 5’x6’. But they will have tons of run space when they are big enough to defend themselves from the cats. Plus double that amount of run space behind the shop. I’d say about 2000 sq feet total. About 20’ of roost space. I just mix the poop into the pine shavings each day or so. Plan is to add more as needed until it needs changed after a few months or so.

Coop only has two 6” or 8” gable vents. Plus three windows. Is that enough if windows are open when the weather allows? Is it ok if window openings are just below roost height? Would you leave them open all winter minus storms?

Can’t tell from photos but it’s all enclosed under the coop with chicken wire. Windows have hardware cloth. I’m not worried about day predators getting into run as they’ll be out in large run area each day.

The small enclosed run space they are in now is just grass/packed dirt. It’s getting smelly. Any advice on that?

Any red flags?

Thanks so much! This forum is quickly becoming my new favorite resource.

 

[MTR]

Do you live in a snowy area? The coop will be to small if they can’t get out and unless I’m missing some framing that tarp isn’t lasting in the winter.

Id add more ventilation at the gable.

 

[black_cat]

For the smell in the run- things are getting smelly because the poop is just sitting on top of the ground. Break up that packed dirt with a shovel, pitchfork, garden weasel, that garden tool thing that looks like a claw- whatever you can do so that it's not just hard and packed. I like to add all sorts of stuff to my run- I'd try to find leaf litter, some pine shavings, some loose dirt (I get a bag of the cheapest dirt that I can find at home depot and just dump it in), some wood chips, straw (but not too much), sand, really any loose, organic material- put it all in a giant pile and toss on some scratch, they'll spread it out for you. With a loose litter in the run, it allows the bottom layers to compost as things pile up, and the poop to get buried as they naturally scratch around. This is how I have my run and I never clean it, only add more material or mix it around some, and there isn't an issue with smell.

 

[neo71665]

Batams don't need as much space as full sized birds. What breed are your birds?

Generally calculatons are

4 sq feet in the coop for each bird and 10 sq ft run for each bird. 1 sq ft of vent for each bird about 12 inches above their head on roost.

 

[black_cat]

Do you live in a snowy area? The coop will be to small if they can’t get out and unless I’m missing some framing that tarp isn’t lasting in the winter.

It says that they live in CO, so I'm going to assume that it's a snowy area unless they're in the CO desert.
I agree, the coop is too small for 12 birds, and if the coop is 5x6 (I'm going to assume 6x6 with nest boxes) then the run looks to be about 7x6 or 8x6, which is not enough run for 12 birds either.

 

[black_cat]

Batams don't need as much space as full sized birds. What breed are your birds?

Generally calculatons are

4 sq feet in the coop for each bird and 10 sq ft run for each bird. 1 sq ft of vent for each bird about 12 inches above their head on roost.

I'll also add that each bird needs 1/4 of a nest box (so one box for 4 birds, etc) and 12 inches of linear roost space (some larger breeds like brahmas or cochins may want a bit more, however)

 

[black_cat]

It's important that all of the guidelines line up- for example, my coop has run for 6 birds, coop for 6 birds, boxes for 20 birds, and roost for 12 birds, but I only keep four in it.

 

[MTR]

It says that they live in CO, so I'm going to assume that it's a snowy area unless they're in the CO desert.
I agree, the coop is too small for 12 birds, and if the coop is 5x6 (I'm going to assume 6x6 with nest boxes) then the run looks to be about 7x6 or 8x6, which is not enough run for 12 birds either.

More space is always better especially with chicken math. I built a 10’x12’ that is 8’ tall and a 1600 sqft run I thought would by huge. I’m now pushing up against my limit.

 

[black_cat]

More space is always better especially with chicken math.

Definitely!

I built a 10’x12’ that is 8’ tall and a 1600 sqft run I thought would by huge. I’m now pushing up against my limit.

:0

 

[cmom]

It's ok for now but they will need more run space as they get a bit older. It's good that you have another pen for the birds. I also throw scratch in and let them scratch around. Also predator protection. Here is a website that may give you some ideas. Often times several birds will use the same nest box. In most of my coops I have 12"x14" nest boxes but in some I do have one large community nest box. Good luck and have fun...
http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators