- Jul 5, 2011
- 2
- 0
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G'day Guys and gals from sunny Queensland Australia.
very new to forum being doing some checking about what I need to do to build a good, safe and plesant coop and run for my future chooks..
I have got a 10metre by 10 metre area sectioned off in my flat backyard to accomodate our chickens. According to local bylaws I am not allowed more that 16 chickens which should be more than enough for me..
I have done very basic calculations to keep the maths simple that 1 sqr metre is slightly more that 10 sqr feet.. (10.76 to be exact nearer 11 but then it to hard for me to figure our in my head)
now for the run if I had 16 chooks then I believe it's 10sqr feet per chook so 160 sqr feet which is (by my basic conversion) 16sqr meters..
for the coop I believe it's 4sqr feet per chook which if I had 16 chooks is 64sqr ft so by rough maths it's about 7 sqr meters.
now this is still basic planning at the moment, but my 10x10 area I have divided up in 1 area for the coop (I have gone for a 2mx6m coop which covers the minimum) and 4 runs 2 of 2x10m and 2 of 3x7m (all of which cover the minimum requirement) .. Initially I was going to just do 1 big run, but a neighbour had suggested splitting it up so I can let parts of it recover from a session from the chooks.. I have been warned by other members of the board that chooks live a rock and roll lifestyle and will trash an area they live in..
There is a1x6m area in front of the coop that I will use as an area to steer the chooks to their allotted run.
I am probably going to cover two of these runs with sheet steel and the other 2 with bird wire (we have hawks in our area) so depending on the day I can move the chooks to a dry run if need be. (wet season is the sub tropics chucks down the rain)
I am going to ensure that the all fence runs internal and external are dug at least 8 inches down in the ground.
the external fencing I will use logs probably 100mm (about 4 inch) diameter and 6foot high. the internal logs for the run will be 7 foot High so I can angle the steel sheets for run off.. (from what I have read a simple gutter system would be a good call too) fencing will be chain link.
I am unsure about the height I need to go for the coop, I am going to raise it at least a foot above the ground. We hope to get Rhode Island Red chooks, if I am correct I can set a roost bar about 4 foot up with a walk way up and this would suffice)..
I am looking at only creating 4 nesting boxes as I from what I have read this should be enough for the 16 chooks (should I get that many!)
Ventilation is a concern as it does get stinking hot and humid in the wet season.. what systems have people used to good affect.. (not really keen to install any aircon for them.. we don't have it in the house!)
I aim to put a easy entry door into the coop so I can clean it inside.. I guess it would be great to get some input on what people have designed for the internals of their coops. I have picked up from the boards that a south facing window really helps too.
I think that covers it so far..
This is all still early stages and I will try and document it all as I go and build this.
Any pointers, pit falls to avoid, things to add etc would be really appreciated.
Cheers
Sy.
very new to forum being doing some checking about what I need to do to build a good, safe and plesant coop and run for my future chooks..
I have got a 10metre by 10 metre area sectioned off in my flat backyard to accomodate our chickens. According to local bylaws I am not allowed more that 16 chickens which should be more than enough for me..
I have done very basic calculations to keep the maths simple that 1 sqr metre is slightly more that 10 sqr feet.. (10.76 to be exact nearer 11 but then it to hard for me to figure our in my head)
now for the run if I had 16 chooks then I believe it's 10sqr feet per chook so 160 sqr feet which is (by my basic conversion) 16sqr meters..
for the coop I believe it's 4sqr feet per chook which if I had 16 chooks is 64sqr ft so by rough maths it's about 7 sqr meters.
now this is still basic planning at the moment, but my 10x10 area I have divided up in 1 area for the coop (I have gone for a 2mx6m coop which covers the minimum) and 4 runs 2 of 2x10m and 2 of 3x7m (all of which cover the minimum requirement) .. Initially I was going to just do 1 big run, but a neighbour had suggested splitting it up so I can let parts of it recover from a session from the chooks.. I have been warned by other members of the board that chooks live a rock and roll lifestyle and will trash an area they live in..

I am probably going to cover two of these runs with sheet steel and the other 2 with bird wire (we have hawks in our area) so depending on the day I can move the chooks to a dry run if need be. (wet season is the sub tropics chucks down the rain)
I am going to ensure that the all fence runs internal and external are dug at least 8 inches down in the ground.
the external fencing I will use logs probably 100mm (about 4 inch) diameter and 6foot high. the internal logs for the run will be 7 foot High so I can angle the steel sheets for run off.. (from what I have read a simple gutter system would be a good call too) fencing will be chain link.
I am unsure about the height I need to go for the coop, I am going to raise it at least a foot above the ground. We hope to get Rhode Island Red chooks, if I am correct I can set a roost bar about 4 foot up with a walk way up and this would suffice)..
I am looking at only creating 4 nesting boxes as I from what I have read this should be enough for the 16 chooks (should I get that many!)
Ventilation is a concern as it does get stinking hot and humid in the wet season.. what systems have people used to good affect.. (not really keen to install any aircon for them.. we don't have it in the house!)
I aim to put a easy entry door into the coop so I can clean it inside.. I guess it would be great to get some input on what people have designed for the internals of their coops. I have picked up from the boards that a south facing window really helps too.
I think that covers it so far..
This is all still early stages and I will try and document it all as I go and build this.
Any pointers, pit falls to avoid, things to add etc would be really appreciated.
Cheers
Sy.