Hi all, I'm pretty new here and have learned so much lately, thanks for all the friendliness. I just wanted to get some "old timers" to chime in on how things sound over here, thanks in advance! Right now I have 15 chicks...too many so I'm working on getting rid of a few. One is sick (I can't figure out how to help her, she's just not growing anymore and she's still eating and drinking, but not feathering and is half the size of all her sisters) so she'll be staying here while I try to help her out. I plan to sell at least 4 ASAP though, leaving me with 10 healthy 2-3 week olds and one sickie.
My coop - raised 5x7 shed, entire floor space usable once they can go outside. I know this is enough space to brood them in, so they were just moved out there tonight with the lamp in place hung by heavy chain. I have a 4-nipple bucket waterer hung from the ceiling as well, and a feeder in place on some bricks on the floor. Roosting bars will go in next week (with 20+ linear feet of roosting space). There are 2 12" square vents at the top (one on each side of the coop for crossflow) covered in hardware cloth, and another 12"x18" vent around floor level with hardware cloth covering it, and a hatch on the outside to close during storms. It is currently closed with the babies inside so they don't get chilled by a draft but will be open full time in a few weeks. I am using the deep litter method using pine shavings mixed with diatomaceous earth for dust bathing. Some of my girls are already really into that! LOL For now the next boxes aren't in the coop to reduce mess but I think I'll put them in (the will be mounted on the back wall (4-5 of them) about 2' off the ground) around 18 weeks old...ish?
My run - not yet built, but it will be approximately 250s/f for no more than 10 birds. We plan to keep them in the coop/run about half the time, and let them out to free range our half acre a couple full days each week, or if DH can stand the poop, then I'll be letting them free range a whole lot more. Also about 1/3 of the run will be covered so they can stay out of the rain and their food can stay dry. I plan to keep all food and water outside the coop as soon as they're ready for that, perhaps about 10 weeks old.
OK I think that's it! Please know that I'm new and still learning and don't need to be harshly judged, I really am just asking for advice and hoping my "plan" doesn't need too much tweaking! ask questions and chime in, I need input!
My coop - raised 5x7 shed, entire floor space usable once they can go outside. I know this is enough space to brood them in, so they were just moved out there tonight with the lamp in place hung by heavy chain. I have a 4-nipple bucket waterer hung from the ceiling as well, and a feeder in place on some bricks on the floor. Roosting bars will go in next week (with 20+ linear feet of roosting space). There are 2 12" square vents at the top (one on each side of the coop for crossflow) covered in hardware cloth, and another 12"x18" vent around floor level with hardware cloth covering it, and a hatch on the outside to close during storms. It is currently closed with the babies inside so they don't get chilled by a draft but will be open full time in a few weeks. I am using the deep litter method using pine shavings mixed with diatomaceous earth for dust bathing. Some of my girls are already really into that! LOL For now the next boxes aren't in the coop to reduce mess but I think I'll put them in (the will be mounted on the back wall (4-5 of them) about 2' off the ground) around 18 weeks old...ish?
My run - not yet built, but it will be approximately 250s/f for no more than 10 birds. We plan to keep them in the coop/run about half the time, and let them out to free range our half acre a couple full days each week, or if DH can stand the poop, then I'll be letting them free range a whole lot more. Also about 1/3 of the run will be covered so they can stay out of the rain and their food can stay dry. I plan to keep all food and water outside the coop as soon as they're ready for that, perhaps about 10 weeks old.
OK I think that's it! Please know that I'm new and still learning and don't need to be harshly judged, I really am just asking for advice and hoping my "plan" doesn't need too much tweaking! ask questions and chime in, I need input!
