sn0wwhite's Wichita Coop for the Twin Cities

[sn0wwhite]

You know, I never did figure it out... but my dad checked the outlet and it was fine and when I plugged it in the garage the heater worked, so I plugged it back in outside and it's been working since. I think maybe the plug was just not fully in and maybe I bumped it or a chicken bumped the cord unseating it just enough to lose power.

I'm happy it's working... we're about to hit a really cold stretch this week.

 

[aart]

You know, I never did figure it out... but my dad checked the outlet and it was fine and when I plugged it in the garage the heater worked, so I plugged it back in outside and it's been working since. I think maybe the plug was just not fully in and maybe I bumped it or a chicken bumped the cord unseating it just enough to lose power.

I'm happy it's working... we're about to hit a really cold stretch this week.

That's good....yeah, old man winter is about to blow back in, one more really warm day here then fahgetaboutit!

 

[Sam3 Abq]

You know, I never did figure it out... but my dad checked the outlet and it was fine and when I plugged it in the garage the heater worked, so I plugged it back in outside and it's been working since. I think maybe the plug was just not fully in and maybe I bumped it or a chicken bumped the cord unseating it just enough to lose power.

I'm happy it's working... we're about to hit a really cold stretch this week.

So , how many hens did you end up with in your version of the WCC ?
I'm considering 7 and need to decide if i need to enlarge the size of what i'm going to build :/

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Sam: Coop space should be 4 square feet per bird and 10 square feet per bird on the Run to give adequate space and avoid pecking issues.

7 birds: you should do 28 or 30 square foot coop. 70 square feet for the run portion.

 

[Sam3 Abq]

Sam: Coop space should be 4 square feet per bird and 10 square feet per bird on the Run to give adequate space and avoid pecking issues.

7 birds: you should do 28 or 30 square foot coop. 70 square feet for the run portion.

That's exactly what i came up with - just checking in with others who have already built the WCC.
One did tell me they have 7 and it works ?
Thanks for your response.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I have 4 because that's all my city will legally allow, but I think I'd be comfortable with 5 in the 5x7 coop. Mostly because they really only get yard time on the weekend so they spend better than 80% of their day time hours in that 5x7 run. I don't want them to be crowded or bored to the point that they pick on each other.

I'm also finding that the larger poop now from the hen laying chickens would indicate 4 is enough! Sheesh, egg size poops are HUGE! It's bigger than what the Chihuahua leaves behind.

 

[Sam3 Abq]

I have 4 because that's all my city will legally allow, but I think I'd be comfortable with 5 in the 5x7 coop. Mostly because they really only get yard time on the weekend so they spend better than 80% of their day time hours in that 5x7 run. I don't want them to be crowded or bored to the point that they pick on each other.

I'm also finding that the larger poop now from the hen laying chickens would indicate 4 is enough! Sheesh, egg size poops are HUGE! It's bigger than what the Chihuahua leaves behind.

Thanks !

 

[aart]

........I'm also finding that the larger poop now from the hen laying chickens would indicate 4 is enough! Sheesh, egg size poops are HUGE! It's bigger than what the Chihuahua leaves behind.

I know, right!?!?! Those cute little pullet poops make you think 'oh, this is easy!'

 

[sn0wwhite]

No kidding. At one point I actually worried the little holes I drilled in my shovel for sifting the sand might be too big! Ha!

In other news... Poor chickens. I caved in to the people who thought they needed heat and installed a heat bulb on a thermocube outlet so that when it got below 20 last night (it got to at least -10) the light would warm them up. I got up at 3am and they looked like the red window women in Amsterdam all standing around in there. I don't think they got any sleep and now they're colder than ever because they want to be outside with the food and water. From now on the heat bulb can be for me, and they can acclimate and be toasty in their feathers.

 

[chickiegrrl]

I went out to check on the girls at 6:30 this morning. Of course, I turned the light on in the run and they all came rolling out of the coop, so I decided to open it up and see what the temp was in there. It was 18 degrees inside! That is totally doable for the girls. Right now they're sitting on the ramp in the run. The sun is streaming in. I know it's not warm, but it's not windy.

I love the idea of putting the heat light in the run so when you're cleaning it's warm. I may do that! Although I was so bundled up that it wasn't half bad this morning. The worst part was trudging through the snow to get out to the coop!

Do your girls go out in the snow at all?