SouthCoop

[SouthCoop]

Hi, I received 16 day old chicks from a hatchery 6 weeks ago. I sold 7 and am going to keep the rest. I can only keep 4 egg layers because of where we live. I will use 5 for meet. I'll keep 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Barred Plymouth Rock and 2 'Easter Eggers'.
My husband is helping me build a Hen House because they are in need of more space. They still live in a Dog Play Pen in the office room and it's getting very dusty
I have some questions : My new coop is 8 Ft. x 8 Ft. and i designed a small indoor space for roosts. Than i started thinking........in this warm climate of south Florida they might not need an enclosed space for the roosts. What if i just put up some roost within the coop and leave it open? I do have a roof over the enclosure to protect them from sun & rain.
Also : At what age do male chickens start to crow?

 

[Kevin565]

. I don't raise chickens so I don't have any answers for you but hopefully are experts can chime in.

 

[redsoxs]

Howdy Southcoop and

! I think they would be okay roosting outside weather-wise as long as they have rain and sun protection. Just make sure your enclosure is predator proof! Best of luck to you!!

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!

 

[Ashlyn Baack]

My neighbor has 2 roosters and I think they started to do tiny crows at 2-3 months. Then they got louder at about 4 months. I hope that helps.

 

[Ashlyn Baack]

Oh and also.......

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!