Prospective Mid MO Chicken Owner

[CallaStars]

CallaStars here from Missouri! I'm new to chickens. I have 7 Columbian Wyandotes on order for early May.

I've done three different cardboard mockups for chicken coops and a lot of reading and lurking. Picking a design is particularly hard (preferably one I can build myself). I'm a landscape designer/maintainer by trade and I love working outside.

Nice to meet all of you!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to hang out. Don't forget the Forums to explore.

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
When building a chicken coop and run each chicken should have a minimum of 4sq ft of coop space, 10sq ft of run space, 1 ft of linear roost, and 1sq ft of ventilation. Also 1 nesting box per 3-4 hens.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining us.

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you, CallaStars, and welcome to BYC. I enjoy the planning stages so much. The choosing and thinking about things seems very fun, and I hope you enjoy it!

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!)

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Winter chicken care

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

 

[N F C]

Hi, if you would like to run your mock ups past other members, you can get opinions/advice/tips here: Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance

Best wishes with your upcoming flock!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck in establishing your coop and flock.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Good luck with the coop build, and your future flock!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC.
I have never regretted that we built before getting our hens, or that we built bigger and stronger than was advised.
Good luck!