Newbie

[stevewarden0]

Hello all,

So we decided to get chickens...

I read the book
I watched the DVD
I ate the pie

I have built a coop 6' wide 3' deep 5' high - I built a nesting/laying? box at the back with 3 x 1 foot square boxes.

There is a window on 1 side (double glazed no less!) and an opening window on the front (slide with a 1 x 1 opening) - is this enough ventilation?

Now I need to know about roosting perches, if i put two perches 1 at 2' and 1 at 4 foot will that be sufficient?

I have lots of woodchip, can I spread this about on the froor of the run (8x6 run) or will this be a problem?

I pick up 6 chickens on Monday so I would like to finish this before then so any advice will be greatfully accepted.

Steve

 

[liz9910]

Hi, welcome to BYC! I can't help you with that, but I would check out the Coops section for some ideas, good luck to you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I have built a coop 6' wide 3' deep 5' high - I built a nesting/laying? box at the back with 3 x 1 foot square boxes.

This coop will hold 4.5 chickens ( 4 square feet of floor space per standard size fowl, more is always better)

There is a window on 1 side (double glazed no less!) and an opening window on the front (slide with a 1 x 1 opening) - is this enough ventilation?

Lots of ventilation is always better than not enough - even in cold weather you want lots of draft-free fresh air

Now I need to know about roosting perches, if i put two perches 1 at 2' and 1 at 4 foot will that be sufficient?

Every one will roost on the highest level

I have lots of woodchip, can I spread this about on the froor of the run (8x6 run) or will this be a problem?

Usually bedding is used in the coop, not the run. Kiln-dried woodchips are fine, chips from fresh wood are not. Chickens should have 10 square feet of run per bird, so your run will suit up to (again) 4 1/2 birds.

I pick up 6 chickens on Monday so I would like to finish this before then so any advice will be greatfully accepted.

See above for space requirements. The more birds you have, the more ventilation and space you need. You may be able to cheat a little on coop space but only if you have generous run space.

 

[stevewarden0]

Thanks for the answers,

With the coop I have (including the nesting boxes) 21 sq feet so I am a little shy on that, I will make the run bigger tonight, I asked at the right time - I have not put the mesh on the run yet!

I will be putting more vents in also, where I live it gets **** cold in winter (Port Perry, Ontario) so I was worried they would get cold!

Now this may be a silly question ---- I have a 100 foot pond by the run, can I let that be one of the boundrys or are the chickens daft enough to drown themselves

I was considering getting some Muscovy ducks, will they live along side the chickens OK?

Steve

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't know about the ducks but, yes, chickens could drown in the pond. Little chicks can also drown in their waterer - so people put clean pebbles or marbles in their to prevent that.

 

[CedarAcres]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!

We had muscovy ducks with our chickens a long time ago. As we got more ducks we did end up separating them because it was better for us space wise, but I don't remember any issues when they were together. I bet the ducks would love your pond though! Our neighbors love to swim up and down our stream each day. They let them out in the morning and they spend most of the day either swimming up & down the stream or relaxing on the stream bed. Good luck!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Steve, and

! Great to have you in our flock! Good luck to you and your upcoming chicks!!