post your chicken coop pictures here!

[scifisam]

Got this coop secondhand, added various veggies to the roof and some wildflowers, painted it egg colour, and added a pipe leading from the roof plughole to a water butt - going to turn that into an automatic watering system. It was VERY hard work to assemble, especially since my garden has no road access and very narrow doors and hallways to get through in the flat - and there were no instructions. Designed by an architect who lives across the road, cost £70 Very handy being able to collect onions and salad at the same time as eggs.

 

[gpeters3]

Here is a study on that topic, pay attention to the fact that chickens don't actually perch fully on their feet like true perching birds do... http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/4/715.long

The perch design they found the best, was basically a squishy 48mm foam rubber sleeve over a 27mm steel perch, that allowed the foam rubber sleeve to distort to best fit the bird...

It looked like this, a 4mm foam rubber sleeve slid over a 27mm steel pipe and secured only the bottom of the pipe, creating a 20mm vertical air gap on top and whatever on the side...

Dr Schols for chickens, eh? I think that is very nice but chickens (at least their ancestors) have been roosting in trees for a long time and our creator designed them to be able to do that so it seems to me that anything simulating a tree branch is going to be fine for them and no chance they can eat it and be poisoned.

Im sure the designers paid someone to test it and give it a good rating. That doesnt make it bad but is it necessary and how long will it last etc.. Wood lasts forever Just sayin......

 

[bigmrg74]

The rafters have a gap between the walls about 2" running the length of the coop on either side where they connect. I have a 4" hole saw and I plan on cutting a vent on the highest part of the coop on the short wall on both sides and probably a low one on the back that I will cover with chicken wire and possibly cover in the winter. As for the 2x4 roosts I put them that way because I saw many people using logs and sticks as roosts. Perhaps I could add another one running alongside it to make a makeshift 4x4 before winter so they don't get frostbite on their feet. That's a good idea. I'm still learning and taking all of the advice I can get. Thanks for the pointers!

Instead of chicken wire, you're better off covering your vents with hardware cloth instead. As woodsy as your location is, you're going to have all sorts of critters who would love to have a chicken dinner, raccoons, possums, and weasels, and you would want to keep those buggers out of your coop. Raccoons and possums can tear apart chicken wire, and a weasel can slip right on through.

 

[BruceAZ]

As normal they drastically over rate the coop size... The first one is more appropriate for 3 maybe 4 chickens based on the dimensions...

If you say the other one is 2/3 the size it's probably a 2 chicken coop regardless of any higher claims...

does it mean that my chicken coop/run is too small at 4'x8' for 5 hens ? the coop ix 3' x 4'

i used these videos as a guide so i thought i provided enough space for my chickens.


I live in the city with the HOA.. so i can't really have some garage size shed in the backyard.

 

[junebuggena]

does it mean that my chicken coop/run is too small at 4'x8' for 5 hens ? the coop ix 3' x 4'

i used these video as guide so i thought i provided enough of space for my chickens.


I live in the city with the HOA.. so i can't really have some garage size shed in the backyard.

Much too small, unless they are bantams. In general, you should have about 4 sq ft of coop space per bird and about 10 sq ft of run space per bird. Some breeds need more than that though. Barred Rocks, for instance are very inquisitive birds that have a tendency to get bored with coop/run life. That boredom can lead to aggression issues.

 

[BruceAZ]

Much too small, unless they are bantams. In general, you should have about 4 sq ft of coop space per bird and about 10 sq ft of run space per bird. Some breeds need more than that though. Barred Rocks, for instance are very inquisitive birds that have a tendency to get bored with coop/run life. That boredom can lead to aggression issues.

looks like might have to add in an extension later... but for now they will mainly stay in here and i'll let them out to roam the whole yard for 30-60 minutes when i clean the run/coop

honestly, i don't know which breed my chickens are

these are my chickens. Thanks

 

[perchie.girl]

rule of thumb 4 square feet of coop space per chicken....so 4 x 8 feet is good for eight chickens... a coop that is 4 x 3 feet is good for three chickens....

Keep in mind... rules of thumb are generalizations. Some need less space if they are smaller or more space if they are very active... If they are locked up most of the day.... they need more... If they only roost there at night possibly less.


The BEST coop is one that works for your situation. And some times you cant tell that till you have time to observe interact and care for your chickens. watch for aggression feather picking bullying.... could be an environment situation or simply a need for more than one feed station.

My thoughts ON coop building.... Make it expandable. or leave yourself options for expansion. Because even if it IS the ideal coop... sometimes chicken math takes its toll... You know... trip to the feed store that One lonely chick.... HAS to come home

been there done that. I been up to thirty chickens.... between impulse buys and Broodies hiding in the rosemary me thinking a coyote got her and she comes out with fifteen little fuzz butts.

 

[masondixonchix]

I have share this pic before. What you can't see is I have a remote control door and multiple cameras. Love the door, especially in winter!

 

[BruceAZ]

rule of thumb 4 square feet of coop space per chicken....so 4 x 8 feet is good for eight chickens... a coop that is 4 x 3 feet is good for three chickens....

Keep in mind... rules of thumb are generalizations. Some need less space if they are smaller or more space if they are very active... If they are locked up most of the day.... they need more... If they only roost there at night possibly less.

I noticed they will go in the coop around 730PM each day and already outside around 530-6AM in the morning. They stayed outside in the run during the day.

My coop/run is movable (with a hand truck) i can move it around the yard so they will have new patches of grass/dirt. The problem is they ate most of the grass in my yard already.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL people say get a goat or get a sheep to keep your yard up.... Um No.... four or five hens do a bang up job of keeping it down to the dirt.....