post your chicken coop pictures here!

[gpeters3]

Btw,I lost one chicken to cold (I believe) and had one with missing toes, I believe due to cold but in my region, southern michigan I don't think heat is necessary if you keep dry straw in both the coop floor and the nesting boxes. (My first coop effort was hard to keep dry) Chickens are very winter hardy but they do need a way to keep their feet warm. Keeping the floor dry with fresh straw makes a big difference. My new coop also has a 4" concrete floor with a small drain angle built in. My golden bantam died one winter but she was also bullied by all the other chickens so could have been killed rather than frozen. She was also my best brood mom. I found her remains after the snow melted.

 

[FarmerPhronc]

Not going to quote for space reasons but regarding the 16x16 and chickens not destroying the grass...I have 8 hens and it only took them a few hours to dig up all my raking efforts. If they are in an enclosed run on grass I'm sure they will dig it up quickly. Mine free range (no run) but my previous coop setup had a concrete 8x20 run in chicken wire. This winter I will try free ranging on no snow days and keep them in when its nasty. I've noticed a dramatic drop in feed consumption since I started letting them out which won't happen in a run due to over grazing. This morning I threw out some bread crusts to see what they would do and it was gone in minutes.

While free ranging may be great for your hens it's not an option for all. I have 2 dogs who would most likely chase them down and kill them if I chose to free range. In addition I live in rural Colorado where there are a number of predators, hawks, eagles, great horned owls, coyotes, foxes and skunks just to name a few. I have 90 sq ft of fenced run area that I will be putting 5 hens in tomorrow. It's a bit late in the year, however I plan on adding grazing boards next spring.

 

[perchie.girl]

for What its worth... I have eighteen acres. my run will be seventy five by twenty five covered with aviary netting. No free ranging here.

I have lost three flocks total to bobcat, Mountain lion, and raccoons... but coyotes count for most of them and the loss of my cats. Dogs are worse though... because they chase and kill but once one is killed they dont stop and eat they continue chasing and killing till the whole flock is gone.

The only thing that survives free ranging here are Guinea Fowel and the lighter flightier game crosses. The egg layers and heavier birds will not be allowed out...

And Yep never mind goats and sheep for clearing your property... all you need is a flock of chickens....

deb

 

[lancasterflock]

here's our little coop we just built for our girls. Its still a work in progress, but so far they seem to really like it!

 

[gpeters3]

I knew about the cayotes so I put a screen roof on my first run. A friend of mine and my niece both lost their whole flocks several times with 5 foot fencing but no top. The cayotes here will not venture into a yard during daylight hours so my chickens are safe and so far neighbors control their dogs so I never see them. I used to be a gun collector and had very strong feelings about stray animals on my property. I no longer own a gun but that could change if I Start having problems again). Flying predators are rare here but there are some. Ask me in a year how I feel about free ranging I'll be more 0f an expert then )

 

[ksguy]

Not going to quote for space reasons but regarding the 16x16 and chickens not destroying the grass...I have 8 hens and it only took them a few hours to dig up all my raking efforts. If they are in an enclosed run on grass I'm sure they will dig it up quickly. Mine free range (no run) but my previous coop setup had a concrete 8x20 run in chicken wire. This winter I will try free ranging on no snow days and keep them in when its nasty. I've noticed a dramatic drop in feed consumption since I started letting them out which won't happen in a run due to over grazing. This morning I threw out some bread crusts to see what they would do and it was gone in minutes.

Yeah it's amazing how much feed you save when they're out free ranging.

 

[janjan1]

This is my new run with the coop inside. I had the old one torn don, new walls, new wire and a roof added. The Hawks around here along with foxes were taking all my chickens for dinner. I added 6 panels of clear sheeting to the roof to allow for more light. The run is between my work shop and my hay trailer. Snug.

 

[tiffani day]

Wow there so many great coops out there and some very creative people out there! This past weekend we added to our coops and this weekend we will be building a new pin for the eggs due to hatch Wednesday.
The new coop

Our backyard ghetto

 

[ShrekDawg]

Moving the pallets out of the truck is a lot harder than anticipated lol

But then again I'm doing it all by myself

 

[perchie.girl]

Moving the pallets out of the truck is a lot harder than anticipated lol

But then again I'm doing it all by myself

the hard part is when they hit the ground.... But then I tie the load off to a stout fence post and dive out from under neath.... Slowly of course and make sure the Dog is in the truck with you.

I unload hay this way when i have no help.

deb "who gets about with a walker"