I'm a newbie. Actually, not even that yet. We're getting our pullets from a 4-H kid on Friday. I live in Sacramento. We have really hot summers (triple digits with no or low humidity), with pleasant overnight temps (usually), and a strong, sometimes chilly Delta breeze. Since it's dry, it can be 100 degrees outside, but drop to 80 in the shade and be really comfortable. In the winter, we have some overnight freezing, rain (if we're not in a drought), and chilly to mild daytime temps (though this year, it was more like Spring). We have a 3 hen max in the city, so that's what we'll have. Our coop is 3 x 3 plus nesting boxes (two, but I might make one place to hold a scraper and cleaning items - or should I leave both available as nests?). The run is 4 feet tall and 4x8 feet. It's up against the back of our detached garage which will protect them from the Delta breeze. (see picture)
The sun will always be filtered except for mid-day when it's straight up. We're going to shade half the run and have the option of covering all of it in the rain. I also want a portable run so they can get more sun and I can get my lawn fertilized. I saw this: http://www.amazon.com/Pawhut-Outdoor-Triangular-Wooden-Rabbit/dp/B00ELU1A90/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395772213&sr=8-3&keywords=pawhut+hutch. I was thinking of duplicating something like it. Do they need a hutch with a nesting box if we're going to leave them out for any period of time or can we just have the A-frame without the hutch?
We have six foot privacy fences, but have dogs on two sides (none the side the run butts up to). We also have dogs, and can control their interaction, but I'm hesitant to let them free range should they go over the fence. After my summer garden is over in the Fall/early winter, I thought I'd throw deer netting over my garden fence and let them have at it.
I had someone make the coop because it was cheaper than any of the kits and we're already up to our heads in home projects. I also thought he'd know better than us since he makes coops for a living, but he didn't put a door in in it, just a hole for the ladder. This reduces floor space (I asked for the ladder to come underneath the coop and for the coop to be above the run so the run cold be bigger. But what do I know? I wish he had advised me differently). I've buried hardware cloth on the outside of the run and the run is all hardware cloth. We're adding a trap door to shut them in at night, but it would be awfully nice if, once they're full grown, we can just leave the ladder down when the weather is mild. Is that asking for trouble? I know people in my neighborhood who have used tractors that aren't nearly as protective. As a gardener, I know we get rats and I've seen one dead possum in the 5 years I've been here. And of course, we have hawks and owls. But I've never seen any sign of raccoons or skunks (though I know that doesn't mean they don't exist), but we definitely don't have foxes.
The kid we're getting the pullets from has a variety of breeds. I've heard, go ahead and mix them, and I've also heard never mix them. I want Buff Orpington and Barred Rock and not sure what else. Bad idea to mix? OK?
Anyway, that's how we're doing this. I'd appreciate advice, criticism, suggestions. I've honestly gotten almost too much info and a lot of it contradictory. The more I learn, the less I know.
The sun will always be filtered except for mid-day when it's straight up. We're going to shade half the run and have the option of covering all of it in the rain. I also want a portable run so they can get more sun and I can get my lawn fertilized. I saw this: http://www.amazon.com/Pawhut-Outdoor-Triangular-Wooden-Rabbit/dp/B00ELU1A90/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395772213&sr=8-3&keywords=pawhut+hutch. I was thinking of duplicating something like it. Do they need a hutch with a nesting box if we're going to leave them out for any period of time or can we just have the A-frame without the hutch?
We have six foot privacy fences, but have dogs on two sides (none the side the run butts up to). We also have dogs, and can control their interaction, but I'm hesitant to let them free range should they go over the fence. After my summer garden is over in the Fall/early winter, I thought I'd throw deer netting over my garden fence and let them have at it.
I had someone make the coop because it was cheaper than any of the kits and we're already up to our heads in home projects. I also thought he'd know better than us since he makes coops for a living, but he didn't put a door in in it, just a hole for the ladder. This reduces floor space (I asked for the ladder to come underneath the coop and for the coop to be above the run so the run cold be bigger. But what do I know? I wish he had advised me differently). I've buried hardware cloth on the outside of the run and the run is all hardware cloth. We're adding a trap door to shut them in at night, but it would be awfully nice if, once they're full grown, we can just leave the ladder down when the weather is mild. Is that asking for trouble? I know people in my neighborhood who have used tractors that aren't nearly as protective. As a gardener, I know we get rats and I've seen one dead possum in the 5 years I've been here. And of course, we have hawks and owls. But I've never seen any sign of raccoons or skunks (though I know that doesn't mean they don't exist), but we definitely don't have foxes.
The kid we're getting the pullets from has a variety of breeds. I've heard, go ahead and mix them, and I've also heard never mix them. I want Buff Orpington and Barred Rock and not sure what else. Bad idea to mix? OK?
Anyway, that's how we're doing this. I'd appreciate advice, criticism, suggestions. I've honestly gotten almost too much info and a lot of it contradictory. The more I learn, the less I know.
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(or, better still, tuck it away and if you find yourself needing to re-evaluate something down the road you already have some other things you can try)
going to use it as well. I get confusing and varied advice and it makes my head spin. Thanks for sharing
