First, read my introduction to this site here... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-member-from-sw-ohio.1255550/
I'm new here and really haven't had a lot of time to do a lot of searching on this site, just yesterday and today...and I joined today.
We...I made a mistake and ordered our birds before we were ready. I'm sure I'm not the first to do this and probably won't be the last. The thing is, my son is 11...and time goes by oh so fast...first thing you know he's graduating and I still haven't gotten chickens...you know how that goes. So, we just jumped in and placed an order at the hatchery. The birds are 2 weeks and 1 day, today, and they are doing great.
They are in a brooder that is 6 sq. ft. and 15inches high. At one week old they were beginning to hop and perch on the top, so I covered them with some wire shelving.
Unfortunately, being very busy working on two houses, I haven't built a coop yet. So, as you can imagine, I am needing to expand the brooder and build a coop.
I planned on building an expanded brooder 8x2x2 or 8x4x4. This will remain in our garage until the birds are older and I get a coop and run built.
Luckily, I already have a 12x12x8 area with a roof over it for a temporary coop. It's part of an old covered dog kennel. I just need to close it in and build a roosting area and nesting boxes. I have 17 birds...I know that is a small space, but that shed area, when closed in, will only be temporary...
...we just moved out into the country and I'm not yet ready to commit the chickens to a permanent spot on the lot. Once one of my homes are sold, then I'll be ready to think more about adding a permanent structure.
I can keep these birds in the garage for several more weeks if I have to, but I need to make that brooder bigger. Is that 8x2x2 area big enough to move my 2 week old birds into for a while?
Is the 12x12x8 shed area big enough for a temporary coop? I'll have a run area in addition to the coop. Surely that's enough room for them to just sleep and eat.
Any advice is much appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advance.
I'm new here and really haven't had a lot of time to do a lot of searching on this site, just yesterday and today...and I joined today.
We...I made a mistake and ordered our birds before we were ready. I'm sure I'm not the first to do this and probably won't be the last. The thing is, my son is 11...and time goes by oh so fast...first thing you know he's graduating and I still haven't gotten chickens...you know how that goes. So, we just jumped in and placed an order at the hatchery. The birds are 2 weeks and 1 day, today, and they are doing great.
They are in a brooder that is 6 sq. ft. and 15inches high. At one week old they were beginning to hop and perch on the top, so I covered them with some wire shelving.
Unfortunately, being very busy working on two houses, I haven't built a coop yet. So, as you can imagine, I am needing to expand the brooder and build a coop.
I planned on building an expanded brooder 8x2x2 or 8x4x4. This will remain in our garage until the birds are older and I get a coop and run built.
Luckily, I already have a 12x12x8 area with a roof over it for a temporary coop. It's part of an old covered dog kennel. I just need to close it in and build a roosting area and nesting boxes. I have 17 birds...I know that is a small space, but that shed area, when closed in, will only be temporary...
...we just moved out into the country and I'm not yet ready to commit the chickens to a permanent spot on the lot. Once one of my homes are sold, then I'll be ready to think more about adding a permanent structure.
I can keep these birds in the garage for several more weeks if I have to, but I need to make that brooder bigger. Is that 8x2x2 area big enough to move my 2 week old birds into for a while?
Is the 12x12x8 shed area big enough for a temporary coop? I'll have a run area in addition to the coop. Surely that's enough room for them to just sleep and eat.
Any advice is much appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Thank you in advance.
