New to the coop - Charleston, SC

La Petite Maison Jaune

In the Brooder
Jun 8, 2020
7
28
28
Charleston, SC
Hello everyone!

I’m brand new to chickens but will getting two adult hens (golden sex link and an easter egger) from a farmer friend soon! I’ve been thinking about raising chickens since moving from an urban apartment to my home in Charleston three years ago. I used my free time during this spring Stay At Home to do a lot of research on BYC (thank you!), get consent from neighbors, and start building.

My coop is 3.5x4’ with two nest boxes and the run is 4x10’. It’s been quite a learning experience as I haven’t built anything before. I’ve got a few more days of assembling hardware cloth panels on the back and top, creating a pulley system on the pop door, adding a perch, and finishing food and water dishes.

Future improvements I’m planning include: curtains for the nesting box, exterior shutters with traditional Charleston shutterdogs, moving some of my garden herbs into planters for the chickens, building a gutter and barrel to collect and reuse rainwater, and making a barley fodder ladder.

I’m planning to feed Layer 16% crumbles with oyster shell for supplementation, which is what they're used to from the farm. I would love suggestions about also using spent grain (from a brewery), barley sprouts, and sourdough starter.

The beagle, who turns 13 next month, is in charge of inspections and squirrel patrol.

Thanks and I look forward to learning from and sharing with everyone!

JB
 

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Hello, and welcome to BYC. I'd suggest getting 3 birds. That way when one eventually dies, two will remain as company for one another. Good luck.
Thanks, @sourland. We were thinking of 2-3 chickens, as we have 2 adults in the house and eat a lot of eggs, and a friend offered to give us 2. So we figured we'd start with that but would hope to add another down the line. I know there are things to keep in mind when introducing a new hen and I'll be back for advice when we get there. Thanks!
 

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