Texas

[tiedyemommy]

Mine still sleep snuggled up with each other Lol.

Mine sleep snuggled with each other too. They've never had a roost. Is this okay, or should they eventually need a roost?

 

[tiedyemommy]

(Old pic...the day we got the flock & coop)

Now that I'm thinking about nesting boxes & chicken math.

What do ya'll think...would it be relatively easy to enclose the run and turn the whole structure into a coop?

(Old pic, back when we had the ducks & "pond")


They have a 400sq/ft yard they roam around in (pictured above), with supervised (to keep my garden safe) full access to the rest of our yard daily. They only ever go into their current run, during the day, if it's raining. If we turn the whole thing into a coop, complete with roosts, nesting boxes, etc...we can get more birds (yay), and make sure everyone has what they need for egg-laying and protection.

 

[magpiesing]

Your coop is so BIG. I'd love to do egg crate nesting boxes, but I don't think I have enough room for more than one. I've been eyeing those TSC nesting boxes...I could probably put two or three in our coop if I use the side hatch to retrieve the eggs. Still working out how best to instal nesting boxes...and, possibly, roosts. My ladies never had roosts, so they kind of sleep piled on top of one another. Might end up making/buying a bigger coop just to have room for everything.

It's 10 x 16. We took advantage of havng the little barn so we used the side of the barn for the wall. We were blessed in that all the wire and most of the 2 x 4 came from the lady we got the first batch of hens from so was able to built it pretty cheap. Since then we've made changes and add better security and fans. Basically the chickens tell us what to build....LOL

 

[tiedyemommy]

It's 10 x 16. We took advantage of havng the little barn so we used the side of the barn for the wall. We were blessed in that all the wire and most of the 2 x 4 came from the lady we got the first batch of hens from so was able to built it pretty cheap. Since then we've made changes and add better security and fans. Basically the chickens tell us what to build....LOL

Awesome! My husband has recently been talking about expanding our coop. The coop we have came with the birds we have...it was a package deal from a neighbor of ours who had to move suddenly. We don't "plan" on having more than 10 birds at a time...we currently have 5...but in case we get swept away by Chicken Math, we'll want to make sure we've got room for everyone. Plus, in the meantime, our 5 ladies can enjoy the extra space. That is...IF we expand.

 

[magpiesing]

Our biggest issue is cleaning. I already have respiratory problems and allergies so minimum cleaning is best for me. Hubby does alot of the harder stuff, but I just don't like poop everwhere the birds have to walk and sleep. Since they insist on getting "up" we just had to limit what they can get "up" on. The plastic nest boxes are gonna be nice. Just lift them off the wall and take 'em in the yard to clean, plus the birds can't roost on top of them.

 

[magpiesing]

Awesome! My husband has recently been talking about expanding our coop. The coop we have came with the birds we have...it was a package deal from a neighbor of ours who had to move suddenly. We don't "plan" on having more than 10 birds at a time...we currently have 5...but in case we get swept away by Chicken Math, we'll want to make sure we've got room for everyone. Plus, in the meantime, our 5 ladies can enjoy the extra space. That is...IF we expand.

Thank you...I don't think expansion can be helped!!! We started with 20 birds. Now have 38 at various ages and maybe a last batch of chicks up to 6. We are about at our max. Anyway they have a 20 x 30 yard and we give them grass and greens and extra stuff since they don't free range. Free ranging was just too much stress on my DH! When he couldn't find one of the hens he worried until they cams home from the woods and they are safer.

 

[tiedyemommy]

Thank you...I don't think expansion can be helped!!! We started with 20 birds. Now have 38 at various ages and maybe a last batch of chicks up to 6. We are about at our max. Anyway they have a 20 x 30 yard and we give them grass and greens and extra stuff since they don't free range. Free ranging was just too much stress on my DH! When he couldn't find one of the hens he worried until they cams home from the woods and they are safer.

My daughter & I keep an eye on The Ladies when they free range in the back yard. Usually when I'm hanging laundry on the line, or my daughter wants to play in the back yard. They can go anywhere they want (and they do), except our veggie garden. They avoid the garden, for the most part...but every now and then, they wander that way & my daughter sounds the alarm for me to shoo them away.

Our cat (indoor/outdoor) and dog don't seem to care much about their feathered friends...except when the birds harass the four-legged ones.

 

[magpiesing]

Well, gonna go out. DH gonna mow grass. Can't let it get high...not after 2 snakes in 4 days. And the chickens will enjoy it.

 

[CHICKADEE6]

Hello.I am new to the group.we have six hens we got as chicks.they are production red- Rhode island red-red sex link crosses.and one feral rooster and hen that showed up one day in our yard and stayed.rooster is still here but the hen started leaving couple days at a time and this last time she left she hasn't been back.its been a couple weeks.someone said she may be nesting somewhere.

 

[txjay]

I live in kenefick tx about 45miles from houston tx