new to the game...

[foamspoon]

Here are some pics of my coop. I have 6 RIRs. The coop is a XL dog house, 4x4. I added a strong door and vents on the front and back. I plan on adding a window and doors on either side of the coop.

Questions:

1. The vents are plastic ones I picked up at Home depot. They have four screws that hold them in place. Do you think that is secure enough against raccons? I was thinking of adding chicken wire inside the coop of added protection. They are pretty secure but I know raccons are pretty deterimened.

2. During the summer I was thinking of making a wire door instead of the solid door that is now when I lock them in for the night. Again, do you think it would be secure enough? Do you think it would be a good idea to have peredators be able to look in?

3. They spend most of their time outside. During the day. Should I make some thing for them to roost on outside of the coop?

4. I am torn on covering the pen. I was thinking of making the new fence I put up 6 to 7 feet high. If I was going to cover it I was going to use deer fence to keep the "honest" enemy out during the day bc they will be secure at night.

5. I was told that the 4x4 coop was large enough for 6 RIRs. Is it large enough to leave them in there all day if need be?

I guess I will hold my winter time questions until the winter!

I welcome all comments and suggestions!

Bryan

 

[MayberrySaint]

To answer your question about coop size, I think a 4x4 (16 square feet) will be too crowded for 6 full grown hens, especially in the summer if you don't let them out for extended periods. That works out to 2.67 square feet per bird. 4 square feet is the recommendation with 3 feet being a minimum. You can probably get away with it in the winter but summer might be tough on the old girls.

Andy

 

[Half-a-dozen]

does that 4 sf per bird include the run square footage? If not how much per bird should the run be?

 

[michellerene]

3-4 sf in the coop

10 sf in the run

 

[Half-a-dozen]

O.K. this might sound really stupid but is that 10sf per bird for the run ground only square footage or from the ground to the top of the run fencing????

 

[michellerene]

ground only.