Hiya folks,
I was looking for books on coop plans when I found BYC. Have never had birds before, but my wife had some in Bolivia and she's excited too about getting some finally, as are our 5 yr old kiddos! We've got a backyard about 100'x75' that already includes 2 arrays of solar panels and a 10x12 shed. We are also exploring gardening out there (raised beds and permaculture eventually), and have already started microgreens in the basement and in time hydro/aquaculture down there too. The Dervaes family videos on Youtube have been quite an inspiration to us.
Kansas City codes say we can have up to 15 non-crowing birds and their coop has to be at least 100' from any residences. That will limit our coop to the back 1/3 of our yard. We are still looking for some good plans to build, although I am wondering if repurposing an 8x10 shed would work well, putting in laying boxes, perches, cutting panels to swing open for ventilation with that welded 1cm sqaure garden cloth.
I'd like to do the deep layer in the bottom to reduce total cleanouts to once a year and compost the manure, feathers, etc. Sounds like pans under the roosts is the way to go, too. For birds, any suggestions? We are in zone 5/6 in Kansas City and I am just getting started... wondering if we could do Easter Eggers here? I like the idea of colored eggs and my wife grew up with brown eggs... she says the white ones have no flavor! Also, the limit may be 15 so I was thinking to build a coop for 12-15, but maybe start with only half a dozen or so.
Our goals are fresh eggs for us, as well as extras to sell either to friends or at a farmers market. We've already had 2 friends express interest in fresh eggs! So, I guess number per year, as well as size are important considerations... but if possible I was thinking maybe 50-75% Easter Eggers and a couple others just to have some differences. With all hens, they should all get along okay once their pecking order is established, if they have enough space, right?
Last question for my overly long intro... have started reading Mother Earth News again for ideas, and my wife saw an article showing basically a 32'x36' pen with a coop and a covered run along the entire outer edge except the gate, with 8 or 10 raised beds for crops and closeable gates near each bed. It also had a movable run that could be positioned over each bed and the gate opened to let the hens go in and pick over that bed after being harvested. Thoughts on a set up like that? Anyone done it? Suggestions?
I was looking for books on coop plans when I found BYC. Have never had birds before, but my wife had some in Bolivia and she's excited too about getting some finally, as are our 5 yr old kiddos! We've got a backyard about 100'x75' that already includes 2 arrays of solar panels and a 10x12 shed. We are also exploring gardening out there (raised beds and permaculture eventually), and have already started microgreens in the basement and in time hydro/aquaculture down there too. The Dervaes family videos on Youtube have been quite an inspiration to us.
Kansas City codes say we can have up to 15 non-crowing birds and their coop has to be at least 100' from any residences. That will limit our coop to the back 1/3 of our yard. We are still looking for some good plans to build, although I am wondering if repurposing an 8x10 shed would work well, putting in laying boxes, perches, cutting panels to swing open for ventilation with that welded 1cm sqaure garden cloth.
I'd like to do the deep layer in the bottom to reduce total cleanouts to once a year and compost the manure, feathers, etc. Sounds like pans under the roosts is the way to go, too. For birds, any suggestions? We are in zone 5/6 in Kansas City and I am just getting started... wondering if we could do Easter Eggers here? I like the idea of colored eggs and my wife grew up with brown eggs... she says the white ones have no flavor! Also, the limit may be 15 so I was thinking to build a coop for 12-15, but maybe start with only half a dozen or so.
Our goals are fresh eggs for us, as well as extras to sell either to friends or at a farmers market. We've already had 2 friends express interest in fresh eggs! So, I guess number per year, as well as size are important considerations... but if possible I was thinking maybe 50-75% Easter Eggers and a couple others just to have some differences. With all hens, they should all get along okay once their pecking order is established, if they have enough space, right?
Last question for my overly long intro... have started reading Mother Earth News again for ideas, and my wife saw an article showing basically a 32'x36' pen with a coop and a covered run along the entire outer edge except the gate, with 8 or 10 raised beds for crops and closeable gates near each bed. It also had a movable run that could be positioned over each bed and the gate opened to let the hens go in and pick over that bed after being harvested. Thoughts on a set up like that? Anyone done it? Suggestions?
