Hi there, long time follower, but rare poster. Mostly because when I first started this account, I was living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and the city was considering allowing backyard chickens, but then didn't.
We've moved to Nanaimo, BC now, and we're allowed six chickens based on our property size!!!
So, in trying to figure out an area for where to put the chickens (my daughter is going mental about this already!), there is a spot on the backside of the house that is south facing, however, there is enough cover between trees and bamboo that it doesn't quite get direct sun, but it does get plenty of light.
It's dimensions are 10'8' x 11'7" x 8"7', and there is also room under the stairs of the deck to be used. I can actually add an additional three feet to a part (making 14' wide) based on how it sits. This area is quite literally never used, and just has a few Hostas growing to fill in the space, along with rocks and moss.
My plan is to build the entire area as an enclosed run with the coop being set off to the side where we can get to the eggs outside of the run, under the deck, which is on the second floor.
I know that I need to remove all the plants, and rocks, etc. I need to dig down about six inches and lay down mesh to keep the rats and raccoons from digging under to get into the coop as both are living on the other side of the creek that runs through my backyard.
What I'm curious about, is your thoughts on a coop.
Basically, the nests need to be accessible from under the deck, but the rest can be along the length that is 10'8" long. How long and wide should I make this, while maximizing space? I'm going to raise it up off the ground as well by about four feet, which will give me additional space under the coop, as well as protection.
How wide and long should it be for six chickens that will spend a lot of time in that area during our very rainy winters, and free range throughout the yard during the summer?
We've moved to Nanaimo, BC now, and we're allowed six chickens based on our property size!!!
So, in trying to figure out an area for where to put the chickens (my daughter is going mental about this already!), there is a spot on the backside of the house that is south facing, however, there is enough cover between trees and bamboo that it doesn't quite get direct sun, but it does get plenty of light.
It's dimensions are 10'8' x 11'7" x 8"7', and there is also room under the stairs of the deck to be used. I can actually add an additional three feet to a part (making 14' wide) based on how it sits. This area is quite literally never used, and just has a few Hostas growing to fill in the space, along with rocks and moss.
My plan is to build the entire area as an enclosed run with the coop being set off to the side where we can get to the eggs outside of the run, under the deck, which is on the second floor.
I know that I need to remove all the plants, and rocks, etc. I need to dig down about six inches and lay down mesh to keep the rats and raccoons from digging under to get into the coop as both are living on the other side of the creek that runs through my backyard.
What I'm curious about, is your thoughts on a coop.
Basically, the nests need to be accessible from under the deck, but the rest can be along the length that is 10'8" long. How long and wide should I make this, while maximizing space? I'm going to raise it up off the ground as well by about four feet, which will give me additional space under the coop, as well as protection.
How wide and long should it be for six chickens that will spend a lot of time in that area during our very rainy winters, and free range throughout the yard during the summer?
