New to raising chickens

[minifarming]

Welcome! I think your coop looks great, but it looks awfully small for 15 chickens. Can you give us the dimensions? That kind of pecking and forcing other birds off the roost is most generally because the head chickens are protecting what little space they think they have, and overcrowding is really an invitation to the kind of problems you are experiencing. Come the long nights and short days of winter they'll probably get even worse, with the added problem of providing adequate ventilation.

As far as free ranging, the benefits far outnumber the drawbacks! Mine are on a dirt floor in both the coop and the run, using the deep litter method. For my deep litter I use as many dried leaves as I get ahold of, grass clippings, a little straw (not much because it doesn't always break down as well as I'd like) garden refuse - just about anything I can get in there! And mine are outside all four seasons of the year. Folks with more experience than I have swear by giving them some garlic, but since I don't do that I'd hesitate to give you the method and amounts. I hope someone who does use it will chime in.

I have a theory - if chickens are going to pick up any kind of parasite they'll do it, no matter what you try to do. Providing them a clean, safe environment, clean fresh water and a healthy diet usually makes them strong enough to withstand a small parasite load anyway. Now, some may not agree with that and that's okay - it's just what works for me.

I'm so glad you joined us here and I hope you grow to enjoy this place as much as we do!

I think I need more coffee this morning. We have 11 hens 1 rooster. 4 hens of one breed and 6 Americauna hens and 1 Americauna rooster.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Kdunn222]

Are they the same age? White horned mix are brave. I will hold it for a few minutes and did what I read rebuke and say they are mine. Working better.

 

[minifarming]

I think I need more coffee this morning. We have 11 hens 1 rooster. 4 hens of one breed and 6 Americauna hens and 1 Americauna rooster.

It is 96 square feet. Here is a better picture!!

 

[minifarming]

Are they the same age? White horned mix are brave. I will hold it for a few minutes and did what I read rebuke and say they are mine. Working better.

I am unsure. They were bought at an auction the 4 bully hens appear to me to be a little older

 

[drumstick diva]

• Rule of thumb is 4-5 sq.feet per bird, excluding nest boxes and roosts. In the outdoor run - 10 sq. feet per bird. Also roost should be far enough away from the walls so the birds can turn around easily.

Chickens hate being crowded and often act out by bullying, feather plucking and at extremes even cannibalism. If your birds are bullying you need to set out extra food and water so everyone gets to have it.

 

[minifarming]

• Rule of thumb is  4-5 sq.feet per bird, excluding nest boxes and roosts. In the outdoor run  - 10 sq. feet per bird.   Also roost should be far enough away from the walls so the birds can turn around easily.

Chickens hate being crowded and often act out by bullying, feather plucking and at extremes even cannibalism.   If your birds are bullying  you need to set out extra food and water   so everyone gets to have it.

I have never noticed aggression toward the water but we do set out a second food spot. They are getting better about sharing food it is mainly just roosting. We have 3 roosting poles but will be adding another this weekend on the opposite end somehow.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[QueenMisha]

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Never seen any reason to limit natural soil. Some of the healthiest birds out there are from flocks with full, no fences free range. If you're really concerned you can worm yearly. Personally I have not found worms to be a common issue except in very neglectful situations so I only worm when I see worms (or symptoms of worms).

Some average values are 10 sf per bird run and 4 sf per bird coop. I like to adhere to 10 sf per bird run, but I usually go based on behavior with coop space. The majority of the time they spend in the coop they're sleeping or laying eggs, not very active things... if they all have room to roost and no one's getting picked on, I don't see the problem with as little a 1-2 sf per bird - provided they are not acting stressed.