Newbie! would like some input and advice on my ideas

[9014josh]

Hey everyone! First timeer here, ive been on this site many times now and decided to sign up and try to suck up as much knowledge as i can from the people that have done it.

I purchased 7 Chics from my local tractor supply on March 22nd for the first time ever, me and my fiance purchased our first house last year and thought it would be the right time.

They are currently still in my basement in a wooden crate but are quickly outgrowing it! i have been building a coop out behind my house and have gone a little farther than i should have with it but it should be nice once its finished.FYI i am not a carpenter and really have no prior building skills so work with me!

I work for a manufacturing company so we receive a lot of wooden crates and pallets daily so i decided to utilize that as much as i can. Thoughts? advice for first time hen owner? id love to hear.

here are a few pics:

 

[countrygirl86]

Wow it looks like you are doing a fantastic job! I am a first timer as well so I may not be able to offer as much advice as some, but I did notice a few things. You want to be sure to have adequate ventilation. Approx 1 square ft per chicken. Also I only see one window. This may not be an issue but I have read that chickens do not want to go into a dark coop. I have been building my coop from pallets and salvaged materials as well but it is not nearly as far along as yours. Great job!

 

[Judy]

They should already be outside. If it were me, I would build my fence next and get them outdoors, and finish the coop after that.

 

[9014josh]

thanks! there is only 1 window at the moment but i plan on adding another on on the right side this week and the window that you can see is on hinges so i can open it during the day for ventilation and it has chicken wire on the outside so no predators can get it.

I've been told to keep light off of the nesting boxes though is this true?

Also i am planning to get them out there tonight once i finish a few things inside and i can finish the outside while they are in there. i will start a fenced off area this weekend on the right side of the coop for them as well.

Unfortunately i have to fence them off as i have coyote, fox and big hawks in my area that im afraid will take off with them.

 

[countrygirl86]

I have not heard to keep light off of the nesting boxes. I know chickens prefer to lay eggs in a place where they feel safe. I guess that is why most are enclosed. Chicken wire is not very good for keeping predators out. Hardware cloth is much stronger. As for the fenced off area, you may want to look into covering it as well to keep the chicks safe from hawks.

 

[9014josh]

good advice, should i not use chicken wire for the outside portion where they will be spending there time outside? i would obviously prefer to use hardware cloth but it is much more expensive than 1" chicken wire.

 

[9014josh]

i do plan to keep them indoors at night with a closed off door and have been looking into automatic poultry doors

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Nice looking coop you have going! X2 on be sure you have enough ventilation, especially for winter, there is a nice article in the Learning Center on ventilation https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop
You don't want your nest boxes in a bright area if you can help it, ie not facing a window, you can cover entrance with strips of cloth etc to make them darker if you need to.
You might check into heavy gauge 2x4 wire or horse fence and just line the bottom portion of the 2x4 with chicken wire to keep raccoon paws out, it can be reasonably priced and is a lot stronger than chicken wire, chicken wire will not stop dogs, coyotes, raccoons etc.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

That is a very neat coop! I agree with the hardware cloth/chicken wire. We have a saying here "Chicken wire keeps chickens in, not predators out" Raccoons especially are very good at getting into coops and runs, determined dogs and other predators can be a problem too. Sorry, I'm being grim, but I've lost way too many birds to predators myself. It's heartbreaking. There are some articles in the Learning Center on predator prevention that you may find helpful.

Enjoy the site!

 

[9014josh]

Thanks! maybe i will put hardware cloth the first 2 feet from the ground up then use chicken wire from there, ill have to look into this more, i was unaware that animals can still get past chicken wire.