Newbie from Wisconsin here...

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MarkCarlson

MarkCarlson

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Hello,
I love the site. I have already learned a bunch from reading the articles and forums here.

I know next to nothing about raising chickens, but am interested in getting started. My wife and I live on ten acres in Wisconsin, about forty minutes from the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. We have an old granary that is empty, and I think would be perfect for a chicken coop. I am just in the learning stage about how to make a coop.

Thanks again for the site,

Mark and Linda Carlson
 
Have fun reading and looking at everything!

Chickens are great fun!

I would suggest the following

1. Look through LOTS of the coop pages, just to help you think through what works well and what doesn't. The most helpful will be the coops where the people explained, after living with their coop for awhile, what they would have done differently. That will give you lots to think about.

2. Think SNOW! Where will it dump? Where will the wind blow it? Do you want to shovel it? I hate shoveling, and there is no way I am going to shovel for my chickens. So, the gate into my run is built like a Dutch door. In the winter, when the snow starts to build up, the bottom stays shut from the snow, and I go in and out the top of the door. (For this to work, you need to figure out your deepest possible snow pack). I also have the door to the coop elevated and the roof above it sheltering it from too much snow.

3. Don't forget that snow in regards to your run. If you have it roofed or sheltered, it will be easier to get the chickens to go out in the winter time. In case they don't want to go out, carefully think through how much space you have that is sheltered from snow. Too little will lead to cannibalism and other nasties. Because of this, you might need lots more square footage per bird inside coop space verses someone who lives in Florida.

Again, take it slow, and have fun, WELCOME!
 
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Have you visited the Learning Center, or gone to "Where am I, where are you," to find and post on your state thread. You may have a lot of chicken neighbors.
 

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