New to group ----- New to chickens!

[4speedy]

Hi everyone.
I'm new to the group just signed up been kinda been poking around the last year.
We are getting ready to dive into raising chickens.
I have many many friends that are raising chickens some are newer and some are season pros.
I'm thinking on raising 8 birds.


I was wondering around Menards getting material prices and came up with this idea for a coop.
I haven't decided for sure but input would be good.
I like the idea material for material would be nearly the same.
Height it would be taller than planned but that makes for easier cleaning.
The other idea its all plastic so I can scrub it and pressure wash it out when needed.
Faster assembly than building.
Shouldn't have to worry about rot either.
The walls are pretty thick and when you close the door its very very quite inside even in the busy store.

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...3-manor-storage-building/p-2043761-c-9485.htm

Thoughts and ideas would be great!

Shawn

 

[4speedy]

Actually this one its a little larger.
a 4x6 foot print


http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...6-manor-storage-building/p-1800860-c-9485.htm

 

[drumstick diva]

How many chickens do you plan to have? Rule of thumb is: 4 sg.feet per bird inside the coop, and 10 sg. feet per bird in the outside run. That would mean the building could house 3 chickens. You would have to add ventilation near the roof, and roost bars. If you have just 3 chickens, one nesting box (like a plastic milk crate),would be enough for them.

 

[4speedy]

actually I was looking at the 4x6 once I did the math the 2x3 was out.

I'm thinking 6-8 chickens.

I was gonna add 4 nesting boxes bumped out to the outside and not hanging on the inside.
Would then the boxes add to the count 4x6=24 feet and 4 boxes would that give me a total 28 feet or would I still be at 24 feet?
I'm still working out the details this was just an idea....... I might still go and build since this would be taller than was planning and I was planning on having the run go under the coop also.
Since I am limited on space but do have a nice run area like about 100 sq feet and could extend it around the garage to the fence line which could give me another 3'x24' area.
But not sure if the small area behind the garage would really interest the chickens or not.

Thanks,

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

This is barely enough room for 8 birds, especially if they are all cramped in on those cold winter days. Chicken turn on each other when cramped in and there is nothing to do. So you might want to either expand your coop or go with a couple less birds. And unfortunately, you can't count nest box space as chicken space. Your run sounds large enough, especially if they can hang out in both areas at the same time.

You might want to do some reading in our learning center on how much room chickens really need...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Good luck with your new ventures and welcome to our flock!

 

[PunkyReid]

Welcome, Like you I am new to Chickens. I found out this is a great place to start. I wish I had the added Benefit of friends with Chickens. I am flying solo. Good luck on your new adventure.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! It looks like a nice idea for something to turn into a coop quickly, especially for the price. TwoCrows gave you a great link for space, a lot is going to depend on your climate and how much of the year they can spend most of the time outside...covering part of the run might help on that also if you can do that easily, chickens will be outside in really cold temperatures as long as the snow isn't deep. Chickens in a run will use whatever area they have, so that 3x24 would be appreciated, especially if you toss something in there occasionally to attract them. One other thing with these plastic sheds is it can be hard to hang a roost etc that can support weight (8 hens will be 40-50 lbs), feeder waterer etc without making them mostly free standing.

 

[4speedy]

Well since I Posted this idea I actually put a pencil to the material list board for board.
That and I did find some very cheap windows which will help bring down the price.
So I'm looking like I'm gonna build a 4x8 coop.
This past winter tells me I should insulate the walls so with the extra plywood to keep them out of the insulation and the insulation sandwiched between the two sheets of plywood and 5 windows I'm maybe about or just over a $100 more than if I went with the 4x6 plastic.
Which I would still have to modify by add boxes on the side and more venting with another window or two.
Now that $100 gap just got smaller...........
So I'm pretty much gonna break even building my own.
The only thing is will take a little more time to put together.
Besides this way it will give me a little bigger coop and a much nicer looking one to boot.
I will be posting pictures of the progress. (Soon)
I've come up with a pretty sweet design that does two things cuts down on material and gives it a very nice look.
I think I will be doing maybe 6 chickens to start with.

Kelsie2290 The structural that was one of my worries also.
But it did seem pretty stout but just for my worries I would have added more support in those areas.
In the Amazon comments there were a few that used them as coops and even one used it for pigeons.

Other than that..........
My daughter wants to get a duck to live with the chickens.
Not sure if its a good idea but a friend has one living with his chickens and hasn't had any problems.
Maybe he is just been lucky.

Growing up we had rabbits, cats and dogs, and 56 ducks that pretty much lived in the ditch except at night or in the winter.
We collected their eggs to eat. Didn't at first but when times got a little tough I asked why aren't we eating the eggs.
Didn't dare ask why we aren't eating the ducks.
When we had a very hard cold snap a couple ducks died Mom couldn't have
that so she took them inside (I think we still had 46 ducks then) so for a week the downstairs bathroom was all theirs.
Quacking away swimming in the bath tub it was like they were at a spa or something.
So we cleared the house of all the old eggs and started to collect them.
First bite it did seem a bit weird but the second and on it was no big deal.
Help feed our family through those times.

Well I have a garden too so my other chicken friends will miss me bringing over the scraps or fresh cuttings.
Their chickens knew me on site I would walk by the cage they would start humming a clucking and start heading to the door.
Even if my hands were empty they thought I brought them goodies.

This weekend is the start of building............

 

[cabinchicky]

Hello and welcome to the chicken world! many good points given and I can't think of any to add. but good luck and enjoy!