Raising Hens in the City - Help Please

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Seven chickens in a 64 square foot tractor (two 4' x 8' sections linked). I moved them this morning. Took about 15 minutes.

About 3-1/2 days in one place. When it rains, it gets worse. Same area, just two different directions.

 

[4theloveofhens]

Wow, thanks, that has probably been the most helpful. I have decided to not go with a tractor and just keep the coop in one place to minimize the damage. Thank you for these pics, exactly what I needed! I am thinking of building a coop where the coop sits ontop of a little run, like on stilts. Curious if anyone else has done this? Then perhaps building an 8 foot run attached? What fencing does everyone recommend? I grew up with chicken wire, but I see many people say it's not strong enough for raccoons...

Thanks!

 

[4theloveofhens]

Quote:
what does it mean to "reseed"? I am unfamiliar with this?

 

[Svejk]

Reseed means to go to the hardware store, buy a bag of grass seed and start growing new grass in the bare spots.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
Thank you yes that is what it means to reseed, grass is a plant so you need to reseed it when you move the tractor around if the grass doesn't grow back.

 

[chickenray]

We have two hen in a pretty small area.... here is another idea... go vertical

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=349743

 

[4theloveofhens]

Hope this works, this is what I have so far for the plan. Suggestions??

Thanks!!

 

[ColoradoMike]

Good concept to start with - though I might suggest you build fewer nest boxes. You should only need two nest boxes for four hens. I designed my coop for 4 boxes, but backed off that number when I finished them out. Also, the run effective 'space' is a bit lower than you calculated, imo, since the triangular edges near the ground aren't too accessable to the hens. It shouldn't be too much trouble to design/build more of a box-type run...

As far as fox proofing, you could either dig a trench around the perimeter of the coop/run to 20" miniumum and extend your welded wire fencing down there, or bury an 'apron' of welded wire fencing or hardware cloth a few inches and extend out away from the coop/run a foot or two... Just be aware you will get foxes - I know of several people who have lost their flocks here in the Fort due to attempting to 'free range' or insufficient predator prevention measures. As I said, we get frequent fox visits, but they haven't been able to dig in.

 

[4theloveofhens]

Quote:
Thanks Mike! You are so helpful, as is everyone on this site. It's nice to know someone else who lives in fort Collins. Can you tell me if my chickens will still lay in the winter if I have a heat lamp out there? I don't expect an egg every day, but you are familiar with fort collins and its weather, wondering if you still get eggs..

I'll bring my boxes down to 2, establish a much longer perch out of a 2 x 4, bring up plans for a box type run instead, and perhaps make my upstairs coop a 4 x 4? Will that be sufficient for 4? I'd hate to have aggressive girls, but I already ordered 4 (good number). I can always only take three, but if not that much extra space is needed for 4, then i'll stick to it. Thanks!

 

[ColoradoMike]

Quote:
I had one chicken, our Red Sex Link, lay faithfully through winter - pretty much an egg a day. Our other two hens stopped laying about 6ish weeks before the winter solstice and resumed about 6ish weeks after the solstice. I did not add artificial light (or heat) in the coop.

As I understand it, the winter layoff has more to do with length of day than heat....though my Red Sex Link didn't seem to care. I've also read that since she was a new layer (started laying around Labor Day) she was still approaching her prime, thus layed through the winter. We may not be so lucky this winter...

Regarding heating your coop, I'd suggest reading the 'cold weather coop' guide written by PatandChickens here at BYC. She's up in Canada and has some outstanding advice. Also, she has a great page on coop ventiliation.

As far as the size, 4x4 should be fine for four full size hens.

Good luck!