New to coops like every newby

[HappyChickadee]

I when I say that I brand new to this....we are talking brand spanking new.i have done enough research to at least figure out that the first coop I wanted to purchase is a piece of junk. This brings me to two weeks of agony looking at coop pics and over thinking everything. I see coops online that are well constructed possibly but I don't feel as if they are large enough.

Guess who will be building a coop? Not me. Lol my husband will be doing this and he is more talented than he gives himself credit for when it comes to carpentry.

We live within the city limits and we are only allowed for hens. That makes it easier on me because knowing my personality I will want more or be heartbroken and be a total mush bag when it comes to taking in chickens who are in need if help. My limit is four. Except I have five chicks coming in because that was my minimum order. I know not all make it but I will try my best. I have rescued wild birds in the past and rehabbed them...chickens are different than songbirds. Worst case scenario is that I can't find a home and secretly keep the fifth or what if one is a rooster? I think I know someone who would take him.

When taking into consideration my coops needs I need anyone's extra advice on the following.

*how many nest boxes for four?

*I live in central Oklahoma. It gets hot and humid in the summer, sometimes 105 plus. Last summer was unusually mild but the year before that we had temps of 112-116 with the heat index (unusual year), two years of hot temps. The black widows loved it...ugh.

*Our winters can be mild like this past year but we are known for our crazy ice storms. The wind chill is another factor. We have some years we don't get snow at all and then there was that one year we had three foot, which was a big deal to us lol. In general the wind whizzes here, very windy. The trampoline often gets blown over. Oh and the joys of tornado alley. Witnessed enough of those but we have never had much damage personally but one small tornado did pick up the shed and move it about four inches. This year is mild for tornados so far and I think we are pretty much over tornado season but who knows what next year brings. Trust me when I say I was trying to figure out how I can get my chickens in our bathroom when we need to take shelter. Or somehow tagging them maybe with a collar so if we do have have a tornado they know who the owner of them if someone came across my chickens. That's what I have to do for the cats...they have to get out their emergency collars. I need ventilation, but yet I need to be able to keep them warm when the wind chill takes over. Probably something with a sturdy roof since we get hail (that shred my lettuce boo) and heavy ice storms. Waterproof since rain zips around too. Nothing can stop a tornado.

*critters. While we are in city limits we are still just on the outskirts of the city, close to farming land. I live in a subdivision and have a fenced in back yard. We have coyotes galore. While I have never seen one in my yard we have seen them running down the street before and crossing the major intersection close to our house. We can easily hear them when they howl and yip at night and I have had neighbors lose a pet to them a few times. It's a slight concern but my chickens will be cooped up in my fenced in back yard. We had a friendly opossum for awhile that showed up. I haven't seen him in a couple years. Ugly looking thing but he was eating my dead tomatoes so I let him be. Skunks. My chihuahuas like the smell of skunk so much they always go back after those things and get sprayed lol and come back with their feelings hurt. I haven't smelled as many skunks this year but we have them coming and going. Hawks!! And kestrels. Hawks worry me. Mice! How do I know I'm purchasing proper wire?

*i am not allowed, per the city ordinances, to let my chickens free roam with out supervision. I am in the garden often so supervision may not be an issue but obviously we can't have someone on duty all the time. Maybe a large chicken run? How large is more than humane?

Feel free to post a pic of something. How many times do you y'all get these questions? I am sure constantly, bare with me. I'm thankful y'all are here because I certainly need the guidance.

 

[disneyguy]

Hi! I'm new to this myself, but I think I can help you out initially - or at least get the conversation going

As far as nest box ratio, AT LEAST 1 nest box for 2 chickens. If you can have 1 nest box per chicken, that'd be awesome, but no more than 2 chickens per box.

As far as the proper wiring/coop safety, ensure that your coop can't be moved easily by "friendly" critters - sometimes, that means (if you're building a coop) you add a foot or two to the foundation and bury it within the ground for stability. In terms of wiring, I would suggest a quarter inch width at the most - so you can see your pretty chicks but nothing can "greet" them.

If you have a local feed store (not pet store), ask them what they'd suggest/what's available in your area.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Have you wondered around in the coops area yet? I would, there are TONS of fantastic looking and functioning coops in there.
In my opinion no coop or run is truely predator proof only predator resistant.
Run size for 5 hens should be at least 50 square foot. I prefer larger than that since it makes for less fussing between the "ladies". For example a ten by ten would allow you to put more in the run to entertain them than a five by ten would.
I was reading recently about herbs for chickens and I am planning on adding mint around my run since mice do not like it.
I personally have been in the yard with my chickens when a hawk has targeted one or another. They can be very determined. I was having to step between the hawk and the chicken to prevent a strike. Literally it was swooping in on the hen. I did notice they were only going for the white chickens. I understand your worry.
I built a coop for a friend and gave him a rooster and 2 hens. The coop was well built out of 2x4's and screwed not nailed together. Very heavy and very sturdy. All it took was one visit by the coyotes and it was destroyed. No survivors. They also killed 2 yearling calves so I figure it was a group not a lone visitor.

I am guessing you also have a lot of humidity. Hot is miserable for everything. Perhaps windows on all sides that you can open in the summer and close in the winter. They will still need ventilation in the winter so adding vents up high will help keep the moisture down in the coop in the winter.

I hope this helped some.

By the way I am redoing all my coops so I can have a covered run. SO tired of the mud.

 

[HappyChickadee]

Have you wondered around in the coops area yet? I would, there are TONS of fantastic looking and functioning coops in there.
In my opinion no coop or run is truely predator proof only predator resistant.
Run size for 5 hens should be at least 50 square foot. I prefer larger than that since it makes for less fussing between the "ladies". For example a ten by ten would allow you to put more in the run to entertain them than a five by ten would.
I was reading recently about herbs for chickens and I am planning on adding mint around my run since mice do not like it.
I personally have been in the yard with my chickens when a hawk has targeted one or another. They can be very determined. I was having to step between the hawk and the chicken to prevent a strike. Literally it was swooping in on the hen. I did notice they were only going for the white chickens. I understand your worry.
I built a coop for a friend and gave him a rooster and 2 hens. The coop was well built out of 2x4's and screwed not nailed together. Very heavy and very sturdy. All it took was one visit by the coyotes and it was destroyed. No survivors. They also killed 2 yearling calves so I figure it was a group not a lone visitor.

I am guessing you also have a lot of humidity. Hot is miserable for everything. Perhaps windows on all sides that you can open in the summer and close in the winter. They will still need ventilation in the winter so adding vents up high will help keep the moisture down in the coop in the winter.

I hope this helped some.

By the way I am redoing all my coops so I can have a covered run. SO tired of the mud.

Thank you for all the information. They coyotes are scary and I think, but am not sure, they got my kitty who was an indoor out door cat. I can't imagine because she was street smart as she was a stray when I found her, or she found me. I don't like those coyotes. I fear hawks because at one time I had a dove. I set him outside in a cage that was meant for some other type of animal. It did not have a solid bottom, the entire cage was wire and the latch was a push lever type of thing. I was cleaning the dove's regular cage and I thought he might like some outside time. I set the cage on the grass so he could enjoy picking through the grass that came up through the cage. My husband said "come look at this hawk." I was totally amazed as it was sitting on top of the cage. I thought the cage was sturdy enough that there was no way that Red Tailed Hawk could do anything wrong and that all he could do was gawk. I went and got the camera to take a pic and suddenly that hawk jump up and grabbed the top of the cage and shook it and the latch came undone and my dove flew out and the hawk grabbed him mid air…feathers going everywhere. I ran outside to scare the hawk away and the hawk took off but my dove was badly hurt, it flew into the neighbors yard and by the time I got there it was dead. Actually, the neighbors basset hound got him and would not give it back but I believe he was already dead before the basset got him. Those talons are so sharp. I even worry about my chihuahuas outside and so if I see a hawk then I bring them in. They are brave, those hawks.

Ok, sorry to ramble on with that story.

Thank you for the information about the run, especially, because I did not know what size would work. I hope that keeping the gate to the fence latched then the coyotes will not be able to get in. We sure do have a lot of them around here. I like the idea of the covered run. Right now we are in a drought but who knows…next year we might need an ark!

 

[HappyChickadee]

Hi! I'm new to this myself, but I think I can help you out initially - or at least get the conversation going

As far as nest box ratio, AT LEAST 1 nest box for 2 chickens. If you can have 1 nest box per chicken, that'd be awesome, but no more than 2 chickens per box.

As far as the proper wiring/coop safety, ensure that your coop can't be moved easily by "friendly" critters - sometimes, that means (if you're building a coop) you add a foot or two to the foundation and bury it within the ground for stability. In terms of wiring, I would suggest a quarter inch width at the most - so you can see your pretty chicks but nothing can "greet" them.

If you have a local feed store (not pet store), ask them what they'd suggest/what's available in your area.

Thank you for the nest box information! I hope to be able to give each a nest box considering the information you just gave me. Thank you for giving me answers, like the wire, and building the coop off of the ground. It stinks that we have clay for dirt around here. It can turn pretty much and it is hard to bury much. Then again the clay can be pretty sturdy. It is not great for a garden so all my gardens are raised beds.