Our NEW Coop Build Coming along;) (thanks to Carolina coop ideas)

[Tamdog]

Good job, the coop looks fantastic. Sooner or later you will get it all figured out and sounds like you and your husband make a great team.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you referencing deep litter won’t work in the hen house area or the run?

Deep litter is tough to do in a coop. Unless I read it wrong and you meant run?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I appreciate your input so much. How many birds are you thinking is good for a 6x6 hen house? We calculated tonight 1 square foot for each bird to roost will fit but it will be tight like you said. I think a 4 of my birds are cross Cornish meat birds?! Not for sure yet and they are adorable but I think of thinning the flock that way if need be or possibly selling some.

So the recommended space for chickens on here is 4 sq ft per bird in the coop, which would put you at just 9 birds. I know the argument is the birds will only be in there at night but crowding can become an issue day or night. Some flocks need more space, others get by just fine with less. Since you're hoping to keep as many birds as you can, you can try keeping them all for now (assuming you eat the Cornish X, that'll leave you with 15) but be ready to make changes if needed (such as rehoming), if behavioral issues start showing up with birds bullying one another off roosts or out of the coop.

Don't think you mentioned it, but how big is the run?

 

[The Inspired Mom]

So the recommended space for chickens on here is 4 sq ft per bird in the coop, which would put you at just 9 birds. I know the argument is the birds will only be in there at night but crowding can become an issue day or night. Some flocks need more space, others get by just fine with less. Since you're hoping to keep as many birds as you can, you can try keeping them all for now (assuming you eat the Cornish X, that'll leave you with 15) but be ready to make changes if needed (such as rehoming), if behavioral issues start showing up with birds bullying one another off roosts or out of the coop.

Don't think you mentioned it, but how big is the run?

Such great tips!!!! I do appreciate you taking time to explain. I have a neighbor that would like to raise a few chickens...i May gift her a couple since her coop is for 2-3 chickens. Wow, 9 doesn’t seem like much now..lol. I think looking at baby chicks it is hard to imagine how big they can get as a newbie. My mother in law is getting some chickens too so I can give her a few when she has place for them. I think I’ll keep the ISA brown egg layers since they supposedly lay longer through year & id love to keep a couple of my Plymouth barred Rocks. Gonna be hard to part with, it may be easier to part with some now instead of waiting until I get to attached. lol

 

[aart]

The terms 'deep litter' and 'deep bedding' are often misunderstood and misapplied.
I've always liked this explanation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-method-with-this-coop.1075545/#post-16440037

Even CC's claims that deep litter/bedding will last 2-3 years, especially at their population rates, is ridiculous.(Sorry, pet peeves)

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think looking at baby chicks it is hard to imagine how big they can get as a newbie.

Yup. Even I'm still amazed at how tiny chicks are compared to the adults.

Just snapped this this morning: my smallest hen checking out some 5 day old chicks. I keep secretly thinking that I accidentally got quail chicks, the chicks are just so tiny!

 

[The Inspired Mom]

Yup. Even I'm still amazed at how tiny chicks are compared to the adults.

Just snapped this this morning: my smallest hen checking out some 5 day old chicks. I keep secretly thinking that I accidentally got quail chicks, the chicks are just so tiny!

View attachment 2147491

Awww! Beautiful hen! Yessss the chicks are so tiny but ours are almost 2 weeks old and they are getting big fast . Thanks for sharing a pic Do you have a separate brooder for your chicks or are they part of the coop for now?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Awww! Beautiful hen! Yessss the chicks are so tiny but ours are almost 2 weeks old and they are getting big fast . Thanks for sharing a pic Do you have a separate brooder for your chicks or are they part of the coop for now?

My brooder sits in the run, right on the ground. It's mutually beneficial to both chicks and hens: chicks get hen TV, and hens get chick TV.

 

[The Inspired Mom]

My brooder sits in the run, right on the ground. It's mutually beneficial to both chicks and hens: chicks get hen TV, and hens get chick TV.

That is wonderful!!!! How many hens & baby chicks do you have?

My husband & oldest 3 boys worked on our coop again tonight. They put 18 feet of roost bars in and might add a couple extra feet bars to a corner but I told hubby I’m gonna give some away. I love my barred plythmoth Rocks already though. They are so quick to let me rub their necks. We have a rare breed that is tiny same age as this rocks but she’s smaller & so calm too..I had ordered a rare heritage breed mix box the first batch but they didn’t list what they are.

What’s your favorite breed?

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is wonderful!!!! How many hens & baby chicks do you have?

My husband & oldest 3 boys worked on our coop again tonight. They put 18 feet of roost bars in and might add a couple extra feet bars to a corner but I told hubby I’m gonna give some away. I love my barred plythmoth Rocks already though. They are so quick to let me rub their necks. We have a rare breed that is tiny same age as this rocks but she’s smaller & so calm too..I had ordered a rare heritage breed mix box the first batch but they didn’t list what they are.

What’s your favorite breed?

I currently have 7 hens (a mix of 4-year-olds and 2-year-olds) and now 4 chicks. They're a mixed flock just because I like having a variety of chicken and egg colors, but my favorite breed overall would be Easter Eggers, due to the fact that they can come in almost any color, and it's fun getting blue or green tinted eggs.

Even if you end up giving some away, if it turns out that chicken keeping is enjoyed by your family, you could always expand in the future by using some of the current run space as part of a larger coop (and then adding a larger run). Having a mixed aged flock will help keep your family in eggs for years to come.