Hi all,
I may have posted an intro years ago when I first joined; I don't remember, and the info is different now anyway. We moved to northeast Ohio almost 3 years ago, but we were renting while looking for a place to buy until this past summer. I gave our chickens to a friend when we moved, so we've been eating grocery store eggs. Now that we have ourselves and our quadrupeds more or less settled in, it's time to get chickens again!
We plan to convert a horse stall to a chicken coop, although we haven't started the actual renovation yet. We've ordered a variety pack
of chicks for late April and are trying to come up with the best possible plans before we get started. There are a few things we'll do differently from our first coop, and we'll be building heavier and lower this time, because I decided I need some Jersey Giants and Brahmas. I also ordered Buckeyes, Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, Easter Eggers, and Golden Laced Wyandotte. The first time around, we started with supposed Ameraucanas (likely more accurately Easter Eggers), and over time we ended up with Red Stars, some unknowns, one Silkie, and some Orpingtons. We enjoyed them all, and the Silkie was particularly sweet, but we like bigger eggs. We also enjoy the color variety of both eggs and birds. I thought the Orpingtons were pretty big birds, and I just thought very big chickens were very cool. (I'm the same with cats, but not dogs and horses. No idea why.) So I went for some even bigger this time since I can plan suitable sized roosts, doors, and nest boxes from the start.
So anyway, the stall has a concrete floor and wood walls. We'll cut a door into the wall for access to a fenced run. I was looking at 4' x 8' plastic sheets to possibly line the walls, or the bottom portion of them. But I am looking through the forums now and very open to suggestions. I'm thinking maybe their door should be a bit above floor level, and it might be good to build up some pea gravel and/or sand around the door to minimize mud.
I've been reading here https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/ about brooding outside, and next I'm going to look up the mama heating pad. I also want to figure out how to make everything as easy to clean as possible and what bedding is best. Should I put something over the concrete, more than just bedding? Thank you for all that I've already learned!
I may have posted an intro years ago when I first joined; I don't remember, and the info is different now anyway. We moved to northeast Ohio almost 3 years ago, but we were renting while looking for a place to buy until this past summer. I gave our chickens to a friend when we moved, so we've been eating grocery store eggs. Now that we have ourselves and our quadrupeds more or less settled in, it's time to get chickens again!
We plan to convert a horse stall to a chicken coop, although we haven't started the actual renovation yet. We've ordered a variety pack
of chicks for late April and are trying to come up with the best possible plans before we get started. There are a few things we'll do differently from our first coop, and we'll be building heavier and lower this time, because I decided I need some Jersey Giants and Brahmas. I also ordered Buckeyes, Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, Easter Eggers, and Golden Laced Wyandotte. The first time around, we started with supposed Ameraucanas (likely more accurately Easter Eggers), and over time we ended up with Red Stars, some unknowns, one Silkie, and some Orpingtons. We enjoyed them all, and the Silkie was particularly sweet, but we like bigger eggs. We also enjoy the color variety of both eggs and birds. I thought the Orpingtons were pretty big birds, and I just thought very big chickens were very cool. (I'm the same with cats, but not dogs and horses. No idea why.) So I went for some even bigger this time since I can plan suitable sized roosts, doors, and nest boxes from the start.So anyway, the stall has a concrete floor and wood walls. We'll cut a door into the wall for access to a fenced run. I was looking at 4' x 8' plastic sheets to possibly line the walls, or the bottom portion of them. But I am looking through the forums now and very open to suggestions. I'm thinking maybe their door should be a bit above floor level, and it might be good to build up some pea gravel and/or sand around the door to minimize mud.
I've been reading here https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/ about brooding outside, and next I'm going to look up the mama heating pad. I also want to figure out how to make everything as easy to clean as possible and what bedding is best. Should I put something over the concrete, more than just bedding? Thank you for all that I've already learned!
We are glad you joined this flock!
