New to raising chickens

[BabyMomma]

I can't advise you on the brooder heater plate, but I do have some additional thoughts for you to consider.

Wet weather brings disasters. Young chicks are very susceptible to coccidiosis. Get some Corid and have that on hand, also some B Complex too. You can buy both online at very good prices compared what they sell in stores.

Might also get medicated chick feed too.

We also are surrounded by woods, or better stated, we do live amongst the woods. Cover your runs with tin and take additional precautions to prevent Bird Flu. We have two 7' x 9' x 32' runs connected to our coop. We've adapted the runs to function like greenhouses too. Wet or cold weather we roll down the sides where the poles rest in aluminum gutters. Sunny weather they get sunshine and great air flow.

Thank you!!

 

[BecksNesting]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Can you post pictures? If you've raised chicks before you know you need 2 sq ft per chick for the first 3 week then need to bump up.

Hopefully he visited our coop and run forum to learn all the guidelines for building a structure suitable for chickens. One with huge amounts of predator secure ventilation but protection from drafts. Is he building poop boards?

You don't need to dig down. Just spread the 1/2" hardware cloth out from the base of the run 18-24" and pin it down with HD landscape staples and you're done.
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Let the grass grow back through it. If it's in an area with pine needles or leaves, toss some over the top of it to blend it in.

I agree with the hardware cloth on the ground. We used bull panels to make arches, drove t-posts through the hardward cloth, then covered the sides with more hardware cloth, then ... (whew) added chicken wire on top ... and tin. Like I've mentioned we have also added roll up sides like greenhouses use and it is awesome! Sunny days the sides are rolled up, cold and wet days they are rolled down into aluminum gutters.

 

[BecksNesting]

Thank you!!

Oh ... and we used the bucket of our tractor to push the t-posts through the hardware cloth. The only thing we have to deal with is mice ... and of course snakes. The chickens take care of the mice, lol, they love them .... but snakes will use the same access points that mice dig. We are going to problem solve the snakes this year. Had three last year, one black racer, one chicken snake, and one rat snake. So, watch out for a sudden drop in egg production and check your coop and run often.

 

[CurlyChickenGirly]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you are here! Thanks for introducing yourself!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! You've gotten plenty of good pointers, so I'll just ask for pictures of Lemon!
I want a frenchie but I already have 2 boxers and an olde english bulldogge.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC.

 

[BecksNesting]

Oh ... and we used the bucket of our tractor to push the t-posts through the hardware cloth. The only thing we have to deal with is mice ... and of course snakes. The chickens take care of the mice, lol, they love them .... but snakes will use the same access points that mice dig. We are going to problem solve the snakes this year. Had three last year, one black racer, one chicken snake, and one rat snake. So, watch out for a sudden drop in egg production and check your coop and run often.

I agree with the hardware cloth on the ground. We used bull panels to make arches, drove t-posts through the hardward cloth, then covered the sides with more hardware cloth, then ... (whew) added chicken wire on top ... and tin. Like I've mentioned we have also added roll up sides like greenhouses use and it is awesome! Sunny days the sides are rolled up, cold and wet days they are rolled down into aluminum gutters.

Want to know a couple other great things? Hickory branches are excellent for roosting bars, because its more natural for chickens feet and poop doesn't stick.

I also use a fine grade hemp for my coop and nesting boxes. Very clean eggs result from this too.

 

[muddy75]

 

[BabyMomma]

Welcome to BYC! You've gotten plenty of good pointers, so I'll just ask for pictures of Lemon!
I want a frenchie but I already have 2 boxers and an olde english bulldogge.

Hi! Here are a BUNCH of our sweet girl! So happy to share!! Thanks for asking!

 

[BabyMomma]

Want to know a couple other great things? Hickory branches are excellent for roosting bars, because its more natural for chickens feet and poop doesn't stick.

I also use a fine grade hemp for my coop and nesting boxes. Very clean eggs result from this too.

Thank you!!!