Questions on starting out

[shadley]

Hi All--

I have been lurking for a while and finally signed up. Thanks to all of you that have given me insights without you knowing it! I have a few questions that i need some advice on....

1. I am going to start with 6 chicks. We want them as pets and for eggs, and for our kids who are 3 and 5. However, i want to make sure that they are fairly predator aware--we live in 4 acres with quite a few predators around, including hawks in the day. I live in Western MA, so they need to be cold hardy. I was considering Buff Orpintons, Rhode Island Reds, or Barred Rocks. Any thoughts?

2. I have an old coop that has not been used in about 12 years that is 6' x 10' and about 8 feet tall that i need to rehab. It sits on the ground (about 6inches above the ground). Someone told me i should raise it at least 2-3 feet off the ground so that they will be warmer and protect against predators, and that i should insulate it. Seems like a lot of work. Thoughts?

3. I plan on putting in an enclosed run off the coop, but will mostly pasture them on our land with some netting and a solar charger. I imagine i would also need some sort of shelter for them while they are outside in the netting, which would also need nest boxes. Is this correct? We plan on bringing them back to the coop each night.

Appreciate all your help!

 

[TwoCrows]

You might want to start with some reading in our learning center here on BYC as many of your questions can be answered. There is a predator section there as well and tips on how to protect your flock....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/maintaining-a-healthy-flock

As for your coop...Build it well and nothing can enter. Raising it will not deter predators. Make sure nothing can dig under, open doors, don't use any chicken wire as it can be chew thru. And if you do use it, reinforce it with hardware cloth. Get your birds in at dark and locked in and use a run if you have day time predators such as hawks, fox and coyotes.

On insulating a coop....Chickens can survive incredibly cold temps as long as they are able to get out of the wind, and are dry. So you want a draft free coop, (no cracks near the roost bar blowing wind on them), ventilation in the roof or eaves so the moisture from the pooping and breathing can go up and out of the coop, and have them roosting in still air close to the floor. This way, all this moisture rises up and out the vents. 1 square foot is a good amount for ventilation. You don't want to close the coop up completely even in the coldest of temps. You need the moisture to be pulled away from your birds so it does not refreeze and fall back on to the birds, giving them frost bite and just plain cold birds.

You also don't want the coop to be too much warmer than the outside air. They should be able to go outside everyday without huge temp changes. And you want healthy air in the coop at all times. You can close off some venting on a very windy night to slow the air down around the roost bar, but you never want to shut them completely down.

As for hardy birds, you might check out this link to a breeds page. I like this page for it's quick but good info on the aspects of each breed...

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Good luck with you new adventure and welcome to BYC!

 

[Cluck Wild Farm]

Hi All--

I have been lurking for a while and finally signed up. Thanks to all of you that have given me insights without you knowing it! I have a few questions that i need some advice on....

1. I am going to start with 6 chicks. We want them as pets and for eggs, and for our kids who are 3 and 5. However, i want to make sure that they are fairly predator aware--we live in 4 acres with quite a few predators around, including hawks in the day. I live in Western MA, so they need to be cold hardy. I was considering Buff Orpintons, Rhode Island Reds, or Barred Rocks. Any thoughts?

2. I have an old coop that has not been used in about 12 years that is 6' x 10' and about 8 feet tall that i need to rehab. It sits on the ground (about 6inches above the ground). Someone told me i should raise it at least 2-3 feet off the ground so that they will be warmer and protect against predators, and that i should insulate it. Seems like a lot of work. Thoughts?

3. I plan on putting in an enclosed run off the coop, but will mostly pasture them on our land with some netting and a solar charger. I imagine i would also need some sort of shelter for them while they are outside in the netting, which would also need nest boxes. Is this correct? We plan on bringing them back to the coop each night.

Appreciate all your help!

First of all, welcome, and hooray for getting chickens!!

1. While I can't speak for Buff Orps, or RIR, we have four Barred Rocks that free range on our ten acres. They are stocky birds that have kept themselves out of harms way (fingers crossed that I don't jinx myself and go home to dead chickies). They are friendly, but can definitely fend for themselves - our cats certainly don't mess with them lol.

2. We too, have an older coop. It sets on the ground, and I don't use any type of bedding other than the dirt. As long as there are no holes in the coop, your coop shouldn't need to be raised. Not to say something couldn't dig in there, but I've personally never had that issue. Our coop is made of plywood, with no insulation. Our Barred Rocks are very hardy birds, and can keep themselves pretty warm huddled together during the winter.

3. Is there a reason you're choosing netting/fencing as opposed to free range? For the first three to four months of their lives, we had them in a small run attached to their coop, but now that they're adults, we free range them. I let them out in the morning to roam the property, prop the coop door open, and they go in an out as needed to eat, drink, or climb up in their nesting boxes to lay eggs. At dusk, they all file back in the coop to be tucked in for the night.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

 

[ChickenExplorer]

I have a Buff and Barred Rock. Can get down to 0 degrees out here and plenty of snow. I have a heat lamp in their coop, but they honestly couldn't care less if it was there. I often find them sleeping outside the coop in the run.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Any birds left unprotected here have a very limited shelf life due to predation. I have had them snatched from the back yard while I was in the front. Depending on your circumstances, a predator-proof run can protect the investment you have made in your birds.

Google the Henderson chicken chart for a good resource on breed characteristics.

You can have a coop on the ground, although it may be harder to predator-proof.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You might consider a chicken tractor in the summer to move with your electric poultry netting, will probably be easier than trying to move the birds back and forth to the coop.

 

[drumstick diva]

If you are in a flood prone area you will want you coop elevated - off the ground. Also a raised coop is less likely to have rats coming up underneath. A covered run is good for shade, keeps the flyers inside, offers some protection from rain & snow, and prevents hawks from dropping in for lunch.

I think it's worth the effort to make things as sound as possible. Do it up right the first time and you won't be constantly repairing or replacing materials.

If the coop and run are made like Ft.Knox - you'll find predators will go on to the next farm where pick'ens are easy.

 

[gander007]

 

[chickie farmer]

Two Crows x2. Raising the coop will help keep rats, snakes and other predators from building nests under it. plus, if the coop is put inside the run, the chickens can get under it for shade and dust bathing. The chickens will go in by themselves at dusk. Just be sure they are securely closed at night. Use 1/2 inch mesh around the bottom of the run to help keep predators out. Set the mesh in the ground about 10-12" leaning outward to keep predators from digging under it. and at least 2' above ground so raccoons won't pull chicken parts through the fenced in area. A chain link fence with mesh is almost like fort knox. You shouldn't really need next boxes outside in the run. You want them to lay in the coop where you know where the eggs are being laid. You want them to get used to laying their eggs inside the coop.