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- Jul 27, 2010
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There is no magic number. The more space, the better. Personally, having TRIED it at 4 sq ft per hen indoors (plus ample run) and at up to 15 sq ft per hen indoors (plus ample run), and SEEN how differently they behave with the larger space allowance, I will never be keeping chickens at less than 10-15 sq ft apiece (plus run). That would mean something on the order of a 12x12 coop for your 13 chickens... except that if you say you plan to have more, you'd need to build bigger.
OTOH if your main goal is just to avoid excessively-high risk of cannibalism, 4 sq ft apiece (indoors, plus run) is a reasonble ballpark figure, which would be something like 6x8; except, again, if you plan on enlarging the flock you need to build for the EVENTUAL number, not just the initial number.
I would not recommend building less than 8-10 sq ft per chicken as run space, and again, more is better.
Really, "more is better" is the only sensible thing anyone can tell you. Especially if you want to expand the flock.
So IMHO the best advice is simply to build absolutely AS BIG a structure as you can possibly manage, and then adjust your flock size to suit it and to suit your priorities of how you want to be keeping your chickens.
There is no magic number. The more space, the better. Personally, having TRIED it at 4 sq ft per hen indoors (plus ample run) and at up to 15 sq ft per hen indoors (plus ample run), and SEEN how differently they behave with the larger space allowance, I will never be keeping chickens at less than 10-15 sq ft apiece (plus run). That would mean something on the order of a 12x12 coop for your 13 chickens... except that if you say you plan to have more, you'd need to build bigger.
OTOH if your main goal is just to avoid excessively-high risk of cannibalism, 4 sq ft apiece (indoors, plus run) is a reasonble ballpark figure, which would be something like 6x8; except, again, if you plan on enlarging the flock you need to build for the EVENTUAL number, not just the initial number.
I would not recommend building less than 8-10 sq ft per chicken as run space, and again, more is better.
Really, "more is better" is the only sensible thing anyone can tell you. Especially if you want to expand the flock.
So IMHO the best advice is simply to build absolutely AS BIG a structure as you can possibly manage, and then adjust your flock size to suit it and to suit your priorities of how you want to be keeping your chickens.
3. How many nesting boxes will I need for 11 Hens?
Three is plenty, you could do four but at least two will probably never ever be used.
Three is plenty, you could do four but at least two will probably never ever be used.
4. How big will the nesting boxes have to be (Heavy breed hens)
16x16 is nice, but you can go a bit smaller if you have to.
16x16 is nice, but you can go a bit smaller if you have to.
5. How tall will roosts have to be? (Ok well I lied I have one bantam and one leghorn rest are Heavy)
Whatever works for your setup and tastes. I would not put the roosts more than 4' high, or so, if you have REALLY heavy breeds like Orpingtons.
Whatever works for your setup and tastes. I would not put the roosts more than 4' high, or so, if you have REALLY heavy breeds like Orpingtons.
6. How many roosts?
You need at least 8-12" linear feet of roost per chicken. For 13 chickens, a 10' roost would be fine unless there are major social stresses in the flock... but again, see above about "if you intend to enlarge the flock"
You need at least 8-12" linear feet of roost per chicken. For 13 chickens, a 10' roost would be fine unless there are major social stresses in the flock... but again, see above about "if you intend to enlarge the flock"
7. What kind of bedding for Indoor/ Outdoor?
Indoors: IMO shavings work best but straw (especially chopped straw) is another popular alternative, or sand if you are in a warm-winter climate, and other possibilities certainly exist. The material needs to be nontoxic, nondusty, not mat together, easy to clean, and not inherently damp.
Outdoors: lots of people just have bare dirt runs (the chickens exterminate the grass real fast unless the run is *vast*), sometimes chucking in leaves or garden weedings or whatever to give the chickens something to do. If you anticipate a mud problem there are other things to consider (see my mud page, link in .sig below)
Indoors: IMO shavings work best but straw (especially chopped straw) is another popular alternative, or sand if you are in a warm-winter climate, and other possibilities certainly exist. The material needs to be nontoxic, nondusty, not mat together, easy to clean, and not inherently damp.
Outdoors: lots of people just have bare dirt runs (the chickens exterminate the grass real fast unless the run is *vast*), sometimes chucking in leaves or garden weedings or whatever to give the chickens something to do. If you anticipate a mud problem there are other things to consider (see my mud page, link in .sig below)
8. How to keep opossums,raccoons,mice,rats,dogs,cats Out of my coop?
Appropriately strong construction of coop and run, DO NOT USE CHICKENWIRE, and remember that many predators climb (especially at night). This is too big a question for one little part of a reply, do a buncha reading here and you will get a sense of what kind of construction you'll need for a safe coop and safe run.
Lotsa luck keeping mice outta the coop, btw. The best you can do is not offer *too* much of an all you can eat buffet, and prevent them from actually *breeding* in the coop. Ditto with rats, which are a much more serious problem than mice.
Appropriately strong construction of coop and run, DO NOT USE CHICKENWIRE, and remember that many predators climb (especially at night). This is too big a question for one little part of a reply, do a buncha reading here and you will get a sense of what kind of construction you'll need for a safe coop and safe run.
Lotsa luck keeping mice outta the coop, btw. The best you can do is not offer *too* much of an all you can eat buffet, and prevent them from actually *breeding* in the coop. Ditto with rats, which are a much more serious problem than mice.
9. How do I install a poop tray under roosts?
Plenty of ways to do it. Mine are just fixed boards (16" wide shelving). I scrape them off every morning. Works great, takes about 10 seconds.
Plenty of ways to do it. Mine are just fixed boards (16" wide shelving). I scrape them off every morning. Works great, takes about 10 seconds.
10. Any Ideas for a watering system?
11. Any ideas for a feeder?
Do some reading, you will see what your options are.
11. Any ideas for a feeder?
Do some reading, you will see what your options are.
12. How to keep bedding out of food/water?
Have feeder and waterer up at the height of the hens' backs, preferably either hanging or on a *narrow* platform so that drifts of bedding aren't as easily kicked up against them.
Have feeder and waterer up at the height of the hens' backs, preferably either hanging or on a *narrow* platform so that drifts of bedding aren't as easily kicked up against them.
13. How to chick proof it soo the babies are 100% safe
There is no 100% safe. However, that said, put hardwarecloth on all mesh surfaces near the ground (to prevent heads or chicks from going thru mesh), and don't have rats or other predators, and you will be reasonably good.
There is no 100% safe. However, that said, put hardwarecloth on all mesh surfaces near the ground (to prevent heads or chicks from going thru mesh), and don't have rats or other predators, and you will be reasonably good.
14. I am putting a pretty big covered run for the chickens so do I need to insulate the coop?
Where do you live? Very few people "need" to insulate, but in cold-winter areas it is often very *worthwhile*. Not so much in warmer areas, except in a few very specific cases.
Where do you live? Very few people "need" to insulate, but in cold-winter areas it is often very *worthwhile*. Not so much in warmer areas, except in a few very specific cases.
15. What bedding to use inside of nesting boxes?
Whatever you use on the coop floor is fine; shavings, chopped straw, even shredded paper (not so good on floor, ok in nestboxes)
Whatever you use on the coop floor is fine; shavings, chopped straw, even shredded paper (not so good on floor, ok in nestboxes)
16. Am I missing anything?
Do a bunch of reading, you'll discover there's more
The only advice I can give offhand that I think it's real important for you to have at this point is: cut your popdoors at least 8" above what you expect to be the topmost level of the bedding. This may be a foot or more above the actual coop floor. Otherwise you will constantly be having bedding kicked out into the run. Oh, and it is highly advisable to shut (and predatorproof-latch) your popdoors by dusk every night of every week of every year, no matter HOW secure you THINK your run is. Cuz usually it someday turns out it wasn't so much.
Do a bunch of reading, you'll discover there's more

2. Put stall mats used for horses in there and cover the floor with them before I put the bedding on
Probably not worth it unless either a) you anticipate BIIIIG problems with mud or rising damp from the ground, or b) you have a bunch of spare stall mats hanging around that you can't figure out what to do with, in which case, I can send you my address LOL
Probably not worth it unless either a) you anticipate BIIIIG problems with mud or rising damp from the ground, or b) you have a bunch of spare stall mats hanging around that you can't figure out what to do with, in which case, I can send you my address LOL
5. Put lights in the run for the rainy days so it is not dark
Don't need that.
Don't need that.
6. Have square nest boxes put them 3in above the ground with circle openings
Many peoples' chickens prefer higher nestboxes, and if you do mount them higher, it will allow the chickens to walk aorund UNDER the nestboxes, thus giving you effectively more floorspace in your coop for them. Just make sure the nestboxes are *considerably* lower than the roost.
Many peoples' chickens prefer higher nestboxes, and if you do mount them higher, it will allow the chickens to walk aorund UNDER the nestboxes, thus giving you effectively more floorspace in your coop for them. Just make sure the nestboxes are *considerably* lower than the roost.
7. Have a big Mirror in the coop.
Be careful. Chickens sometimes fly into mirrors or large unprotected windows and get injured or killed (mesh or netting several inches in front of it can reduce this risk, but is OTOH a real dust catcher); also I don't know bout other peoples' chickens but mine were never really very interested in a mirror.
Be careful. Chickens sometimes fly into mirrors or large unprotected windows and get injured or killed (mesh or netting several inches in front of it can reduce this risk, but is OTOH a real dust catcher); also I don't know bout other peoples' chickens but mine were never really very interested in a mirror.
17. They Will Wear Chicken diapers outside... (Maybe)
Why on earth?
Thank your for all of the information I really don't know why I thought about making them wear diapers haha I was tired
I was going to bathe the chickens because they are covered in mud...
Why on earth?
18. Going to bathe all chickens before they go into the coop
Why? It will not get rid of mites or lice. They would need to be actually treated for.
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
Why? It will not get rid of mites or lice. They would need to be actually treated for.
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
Thank your for all of the information I really don't know why I thought about making them wear diapers haha I was tired
