mew5280
Chirping
This is my first experience with chickens and I am getting ready to put up a coop and run in my yard. I have 4 chicks that are 2 and 3 weeks old. I can't do much myself and will have to buy pre-made or hire someone so trying to keep costs down as much as possible. There is a coop builder in my area who makes very sturdy coops for the weather and predators (Colorado) and he delivers and is reasonably priced so will hopefully get a coop from him. For the run, I may do what a neighbor has done and purchase a dog kennel (walk-in) and cover the top with hardware cloth. Or buy one that has the top already covered. I would rather spend less money but this seems simplest and works for her.
My biggest decision is where to put it in the yard. I'm leaning toward a huge concrete pad that is already in my yard or an area of river rock in the back of my yard. The grass areas of my yard are all covered by underground sprinkler and I have considered having the sprinkler lines dug up and re-routed by the concrete and rock areas would be easier to control anything from digging under and getting into the coop.
Concrete: My idea for siting on the concrete would be to put the coop inside a secure fenced enclosure, walk-in, 10 x 10 or larger. Then I would like to fill the bottom with possibly a layer of dirt (because I have a huge pile of it from another project) and then a layer of sand OR skip to dirt and just use sand? I envisioned having someone build a bottomless sandbox that would keep all this inside the fence but I have no idea if this would really work. Also, wondering about drainage. In heavy rain, I can imagine mud and sand mixing and seeping out under the "sand box" idea.
River Rock: This area of the yard is not completely level but I think there's a spot that would work. It's in the back of the yard behind two huge trees so wouldn't be very visible from my house which I don't like but that's minor. The rock is pretty deep and has been there awhile (I bought this house like this so speculating). I like that it's a little more flexible than concrete and drainage would be much better. Not sure if I could fill with sand as I mentioned above? Any ideas on this?
Grass: A bigger project would be to site it in a grassy area, knowing the grass wouldn't be there after awhile but that's fine, I just have to move the sprinkler lines.
Sorry this is so long but does anyone have any ideas on the above? As I'm sure you know, once I do this, I'm probably not going to be able to move it!
Photos of the yard included. Oh and code for my area says I have to have a 5 foot easement from property lines. I originally had what I thought was a perfect spot between my house and the neighbors but there would be no easement.
My biggest decision is where to put it in the yard. I'm leaning toward a huge concrete pad that is already in my yard or an area of river rock in the back of my yard. The grass areas of my yard are all covered by underground sprinkler and I have considered having the sprinkler lines dug up and re-routed by the concrete and rock areas would be easier to control anything from digging under and getting into the coop.
Concrete: My idea for siting on the concrete would be to put the coop inside a secure fenced enclosure, walk-in, 10 x 10 or larger. Then I would like to fill the bottom with possibly a layer of dirt (because I have a huge pile of it from another project) and then a layer of sand OR skip to dirt and just use sand? I envisioned having someone build a bottomless sandbox that would keep all this inside the fence but I have no idea if this would really work. Also, wondering about drainage. In heavy rain, I can imagine mud and sand mixing and seeping out under the "sand box" idea.
River Rock: This area of the yard is not completely level but I think there's a spot that would work. It's in the back of the yard behind two huge trees so wouldn't be very visible from my house which I don't like but that's minor. The rock is pretty deep and has been there awhile (I bought this house like this so speculating). I like that it's a little more flexible than concrete and drainage would be much better. Not sure if I could fill with sand as I mentioned above? Any ideas on this?
Grass: A bigger project would be to site it in a grassy area, knowing the grass wouldn't be there after awhile but that's fine, I just have to move the sprinkler lines.
Sorry this is so long but does anyone have any ideas on the above? As I'm sure you know, once I do this, I'm probably not going to be able to move it!
Photos of the yard included. Oh and code for my area says I have to have a 5 foot easement from property lines. I originally had what I thought was a perfect spot between my house and the neighbors but there would be no easement.
