- Apr 10, 2012
- 31
- 0
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ok so i'm ready to build by first coop in the city for 3 hens. my goal is fresh eggs, friendly and quiet birds. I plan on a permanant coop 6 or 7 ft by 3ft with coop above the run. is one community nest a good idea or 3 seperate? I understand you dont want chemicals in the wood but i want it to last at least the support post. can i use treated 4x4 post to frame around? and for the plywood wall and roof should i use untreated and and stain it on the outside to prevent it from rotting? i need these birds to be as quiet as i can so should i use thin plywood and put foam insulation in between or just use a thicker plywood to start with. Also the run is going over a grassed area. will i need to cut the grass there or will they take care of that? how high should the coop be over the run ( 2 or 3 ft?) I live in pittsburgh so we can get snow and cold weather in the winter so I wanted them to have enough room in the coop if that becomes home for a few months or weeks. For the floor I was planning on wire and in the winter putting a wooden floor over it to keep it warmer in winter. also considering a catch pan of sand under the wire to catch the poop or at least some of it. This is my first coop and there is so many ways to go, I would appreciate anyones suggestions. byw I got my pullets from TSC, they look young but any idea how old they probably are? they look like tail featers are starting already. i heated the box to 95 degrees and they hovered in the corner away from heat so i backed it off and they still sit in the corner away from the heat so maybe they were not newly hatched as i thought. well thanks all, I appreciate your help