post your chicken coop pictures here!

[TJordan]

I pray the others are ok.

 

[lynnehd]

something is going on with my chickens, fri i went to clean yard and coop i found a dead chicken under the camper, today i went out and was cutting the grass gave chickens some of it, happened to look at the wheel and laying there was a chicken, i went over to check it, it was dead, it was alive last night, i am not sure what is going on hubbie checked it and no marks on it still had all feathers, nothing was eating it. god i hope we don't have a bad thing going on with them, we lost one whole flock once a couple years ago, we move the yard and got new coop for them things have been going good for 3 yrs.

I'm new as well, but I think you should start a new thread in the health section called Emergencies/Diseases/Injuries and Cures in the Forum under Raising BackYard chickens, with it's own title, using the words 'Help', etc.
I'm afraid this will get lost in the coop thread, and it is very important.

 

[Sylvester017]

something is going on with my chickens, fri i went to clean yard and coop i found a dead chicken under the camper, today i went out and was cutting the grass gave chickens some of it, happened to look at the wheel and laying there was a chicken, i went over to check it, it was dead, it was alive last night, i am not sure what is going on hubbie checked it and no marks on it still had all feathers, nothing was eating it. god i hope we don't have a bad thing going on with them, we lost one whole flock once a couple years ago, we move the yard and got new coop for them things have been going good for 3 yrs.

Be aware that the new avian flu can kill a chicken suddenly in less than 48 hours sometimes without symptoms. When something starts like that have a bird vet or govt lab lined up for a necropsy or fecal tests. I had to take a fecal sample to my vet yesterday and got the results today. Got 2 new birds shipped w/ Cocci and Round Worms and CRD symptoms. We've been medicating these new birds for almost 3 weeks but apparently didn't get rid of the Cocci completely and have to re-treat. It's good we quarantined these newbies from the main flock. You can easily lose a flock from things as basically easy to treat as worms, lice, mites, cocci, CRD. CRD starts with chickens violently shaking their heads and constantly and if not treated you can lose the hens with low immunity - same with worms, cocci, lice, mites, etc. All our chickens are given no iron Poly-Vi-Sol children's vitamins 1 drop on the side of the beak 2 to 3x week for building their immunity/health. Some like the vitamin taste so much they willingly drink the drop out of our palm. For a large flock there are feed or water vitamins that will work. We also use organic Poultry Protector spray bottle 1x/month (lice/mites) on all the chickens and the coop per label instructions. We vitamin E oil massage the legs for scaly leg prevention. We worm quarterly with Ivermectin paste (but any good wormer will do). Our main flock has been worm/lice/mite free for 4 years until these 2 new birds got shipped in and it's good we quarantined them. I hope you find the source of the problem with your flock! Chickens have so many parasites and diseases they are susceptible to from wild birds bringing their germs and we can only do the best we can do.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you so much Sylvester017! At the time of the picture you are correct it was loose. The wire was was not buried under the coop either (guess we were thinking the boards around the coop would be deterent enough)...mistake on our part for sure! We have to give our min-pin credit for finding the weak spot. He gave us a quick reminder of how fast a predator could get into it if they were determined. So we reinforced that corner an are now in training mode to get the dogs to understand the chickens are not on the menu.

We went ahead and buried the wire under the coop as much as possible, but hubs says he still may need to add some chicken wire for more reinforcing as we go along. We've never had problems with any wildlife other than squirrels, bats and birds in town and our neighbor has had chickens for 3 yrs without incident. Hope i don't jinx them or us by saying that out loud. LOL We will remain vigilant and keep our fingers crossed the predators stay out of our area. Thank you again, Take care!

Predators and night critters usually establish a route they constantly use. Sometimes a property is in their route and suddenly someone with chickens causes the predators to review or alter their established route if the pickin's are EASY. We have city Raccoons and Oppossums that easily climb stucco, drain gutters, block walls, chainlink, trees, etc etc etc. All us neighbors chopped down our old and dying trees, cleaned out sheds/garages, and moved or dismantled old woodpiles and abandoned equipment to discourage Rats, Skunks, loose neighborhood Pet Snakes, feral Cats, loose stray Mutts - Chiququas can squeeze through small slits in gates/fences, etc. The more secure a coop the less likely the digging or clever predators (especially 'Coons) can enter a coop. 'Coons have rubbery spines and manipulative claws for squeezing through small openings or tearing open loose wire. That's why everyone on this thread will recommend 1/2" hardwire and burying it or skirting it around the coop/pen. We didn't have to bury wire because our coop is on top of a paver stone patio and the girls are fairly safe free-foraging during the day. We have a Cooper's Hawk (chicken hawk) that will visit from time to time and can be 5 feet away from a hiding hen but won't go after it. Our Hawk only likes open range birds to swoop on as we've seen him go after the Mourning Doves mid-air. We have 3 large doghouse, a couple low lean-to's, a pop-up canopy for shade, and plants for the hens to dive into when the barnyard alert is sounded by one of the girls - we have no roo so the hens have their own warning calls. I wish the Hawk wasn't so skittish so I could catch a picture of him hanging around a hiding hen. I wouldn't leave chicks or ducklings out in an open yard until they were at least 4 or 5 months old and as big as the adult hens. I love the security you are contemplating for your flock - you'll be happy you planned for security after finding the first predator tracks around one of your pens.

 

[Red Star Hens]

A little farther along today.

 

[mwallin]

Here is my first coop. The bottom is fenced in and has a lift able ramp so I can close the girls out when cleaning. I built a tray that I slide out for cleaning as well. Size is 24x48 and 2ft off the ground.

 

[Rayelene]

This is my first coop. Built it all by myself so was pretty pleased with myself as I have never built anything before. (I have since built a sheep pen and a rabbit hutch).

I have 8 chooks and one rooster. There are very few predators here in New Zealand so although I lock the run at night I don't snib the door on the coop, just close it and my rooster pushes it open in the morning and that way I don't have to rise so early. Then I let them out of the run around 10am and they free range during the day and return by themselves at night. I have since built some sheltered areas inside the run for the winter and also lined the inside of the roost area with builders paper so its a little warmer.

In hindsight it could have been a bit bigger (I plan on building a bigger one later this year). Its not a problem now and there is more than enough room as they only sleep in there and all get on really well, but if integrating new chooks later the roosting space might be a bit small. I think I will build the same style, but a much bigger version.

 

[peastix]

This is my first coop. Built it all by myself so was pretty pleased with myself as I have never built anything before. (I have since built a sheep pen and a rabbit hutch).

I have 8 chooks and one rooster. There are very few predators here in New Zealand so although I lock the run at night I don't snib the door on the coop, just close it and my rooster pushes it open in the morning and that way I don't have to rise so early. Then I let them out of the run around 10am and they free range during the day and return by themselves at night. I have since built some sheltered areas inside the run for the winter and also lined the inside of the roost area with builders paper so its a little warmer.

In hindsight it could have been a bit bigger (I plan on building a bigger one later this year). Its not a problem now and there is more than enough room as they only sleep in there and all get on really well, but if integrating new chooks later the roosting space might be a bit small. I think I will build the same style, but a much bigger version.

Well done .I like it! What part of NZ are you from? Penny Auckland

 

[Rayelene]

Well done .I like it! What part of NZ are you from? Penny Auckland

I'm in South Waikato Penny

 

[peastix]

Any eggs yet? That's the exciting bit.Grandkids will love it.