Six Chicks in S.C.

[olbupp]

This is one of the best - if not THE BEST site about chickens. I have been reading here for the last few years and dreaming about getting chickens for the last 10 plus years! Finally, at 59 yrs young I have my own chickens! They are Silver Laced Wyandottes that a local couple I met at Tractor Supply gave me. I picked out 6 one week old chicks and am praying that they are not all roos!
I've been going thru all the forums - which there are numerous pages upon pages of info - but still have never seen a tractor like I've envisioned. I'm in South Carolina and on 5 acres. Have an empty horse stall and really feel they may end up there....but I wanted a run/coop that could be moved around to enjoy the bugs/grass/weeds but fear predators. I've thought of a coop with fold down wire apron. Imagine an upside down open flapped box. the flaps are hardware cloth attached to wood with hinges that allow it to fold up to move and fold down and stake with tent stakes. Ground is never level and I feared something quickly pushing/burrowing under the edges....the apron would make that effort a tough or near impossible feat. Has anyone see such - or do I need to sketch it out for it to make more sense?
Anyway - any help/advice appreciated. Being in the sunny south I don't have major concerns with frozen pipes but summer heat may be another thing!
Cheers!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Have you checked out our coops pages/tractors? You might see something there that you can work from...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-tractors-mobile-chicken-coop-designs

As long as it is built well, I think you will be ok. I don't use tractors, so I can't really help you much there.

But I wish you all the luck and enjoy your new babies!

Oh and if you need any tips and hints on raising your new brood, stop by our learning center for lots of good reads on all aspects of keeping your new flock...

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

Great to have you aboard and enjoy your new babies!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your new Silver Laced Wyandottes, they are pretty birds, hope they are all girls for you! Don't remember seeing a coop like you suggest, think they usually have wire on the bottom if they are doing something like that... have you considered the movable poultry netting for hilly ground?

 

[drumstick diva]

I understand what you are saying - all four wire flaps engaged on the ground would keep some diggers at bay but, what about the 90 degree angle- open space between end flap and side flap,etc.

 

[gander007]

 

[olbupp]

I had thought thru the fold out areas and realized the corners wouldn't be truly covered....so, I envisioned an additional fold out....that would then cover that area....Imagine the upside down box...now each flap also has a right side flap, too....that one would reach up and be beside the other flap...covering all sides like a wrap around porch with heavy wire.

It's still an idea and I was just hoping someone here had seen something like this...or something more secure than just wire that goes down to boards - because those level boards will never find a true level spot on my land.

I was under the belief that with chicken's scratching, etc. that I needed to leave the bottom open and not covered with wire.

Thanks and I'll keep everyone posted! All six chicks look healthy and are flexing their wings and wanting to see what is beyond....time for a larger containment.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[olbupp]

Have a temporary run....daytime only when we're home. But we need to build a coop Yesterday! Thoughts on Hardware cloth 1/2" OK and are there different types that are best? Don't want to rebuild....plus, putting apron around and would another type be better and less expensive? I'm going to make a coop that is portable and the apron will flip up to move and then be staked when re-set. I really don't want to lose any of my investment due to lack of info.

THANKS! (btw, I did look at other notes on forum but want to be sure that latest info is up to date....also, best place to purchase?!!)

 

[olbupp]

Plus, another question.....do I need to lock my coop every night if I have a pen that I believe is secure using the hardware cloth and with an apron around the outside. I'm in S.C. and it can get HOT during the summer months....so, can the coop part be part screen/hardware cloth or does it need to be completely covered in wood with just a vent?