too many options! (update with barn pics added)

[chickpeaz]

I need some help deciding what is our best choice for housing the 15 birds we're expecting in the next few weeks.

We have available a 2-story barn with a section of the bottom already mostly set up for chickens, although it's been 15+ years since anyone has inhabited it so it needs some maintenance. The benefits are that it's very secure (and likely quite predator-proof), and it's basically *done* other than needing some cleaning and some perches replaced. The problems are that it's kinda far from the house (and therefore the water source), there's no easy way to set up a run area around it (and it's right next to the road which would make free-ranging risky), and it's HUGE. I was hoping to use the deep-litter method and there's no way I could afford bedding for this whole area -- it's easily 20' x 30' with a stone/dirt floor. I can't see any easy, inexpensive way to partition off a section, either...it's very open.

We also have a concrete pad, approximately 10'x30', out in the center of the main yard that up until several weeks ago was the foundation of a chicken coop, also used by the former tenants many years ago. It was falling over and completely overrun with bats, so it's since been torn down. We salvaged beams, plank walls, windows, doors and metal roofing and burned the rest. We have the option of rebuilding a smaller (10x10) coop right on this concrete pad using the salvaged materials and fencing a run area off the back. Or we can relocate to another area of the yard. If we relocate, DH insists that we need to build up off the ground to avoid rot, so he's talking about sinking posts at least 4 ft (below the frostline). He's quite busy with work and a house remodel, so I know this is time he would rather not spend. It would also involve investing more $$ than simply using the barn, which would only require some chicken wire or hardware cloth and a whole whack of bleach water.

Every time we discuss rebuilding it gets more and more involved and expensive. I'm of the mindset that it's just a chicken coop -- it doesn't need to be the Taj Mahal. He feels that if you go to the trouble to build something, you do it right, and you don't just slap it together. Having the barn available seems like a godsend,
but I'm not sure the barn is a really practical place to house a small backyard flock, either. I know many people would love to have so many options, but really, I'm just overwhelmed. Any advice?

 

[Judy]

I'd probably build the 10x10 on the concrete... but I'm not there. What does DH want to do?

Sounds like you may end up putting them in the barn til whatever gets done. Maybe that is the most peaceful solution, despite all the water hauling. Got a wheelbarrow?

 

[Ridgerunner]

As a temporary solution, why not use the barn. Maybe set up an area in a corner with roosts. Put something to contain bedding under the roosts; it would not have to be very large, and let them roam the rest of the barn as their run. Don't worry about bedding the rest of the barn as it may not prove necessary, especially if the food and water is either in the roosting area where the bedding is or spread out so their poop is not concentrated.

I agree water will be a problem. Can you collect rainwater during the warmer months to use? A piece of gutter with a downspout into a rain barrel or other tank can collect a lot of water.

Once the remodel is done, you can decide on a permanent solution.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
No-brainer

Use that for now. That'll give you much more time to wrangle about a permanent solution

With that much space indoors, they don't necessarily need much run space outside (you could even go a while without a run without being too much of a meanie, although personally I'd make sure to bring in a buncha green stuff for them to poke at and play with).

there's no way I could afford bedding for this whole area -- it's easily 20' x 30' with a stone/dirt floor.

To bed it initially with shavings would be something on the order of 12-15 bags of shavings. At $5 a pop, that isn't SO bad. And you would probably not have to do anything to the bedding (especially if you had a droppings board) for a very very very long time, although after 4-6 months it might have compacted enough that you might want to add another coupla bags. So, really, the size of the area is not such a problem.

And there are often ways around water problems (e.g. run a heavy duty hose down there, either permanently (can bury under turf) or unroll it every week or so to fill a cistern in barn))

If you truly cannot build a run there at all, though, that could be a deal-breaker. Chickens *could* live entirely indoors as long as there's enough light, but it wouldn't be ideal.

If we relocate, DH insists that we need to build up off the ground to avoid rot, so he's talking about sinking posts at least 4 ft (below the frostline).

On many soils, even up North, you would be ok for a 10x10 bldg (not necessarily much larger) to have it floating on blocks. Although, yes, sinking 4 posts 3.5-4' deep would be better.

He feels that if you go to the trouble to build something, you do it right, and you don't just slap it together. Having the barn available seems like a godsend, but I'm not sure the barn is a really practical place to house a small backyard flock, either. I know many people would love to have so many options, but really, I'm just overwhelmed. Any advice?

As I say, I think it is a no-brainer what to do in the short term

As for a permanent solution, it depends what you wnat to do. FWIW, I'm of the opinion that things should either be very cheap, or Done Right (which is usually pricier if you are on a deadline and must buy things new, or if you want things to look Just So; but needn't cost too much if you have time to scavenge and scrounge and amass materials before starting).

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[chickpeaz]

Quote:
Heh heh...I think DH would rather not get chickens at all. No, I'm kidding, he seems on board. He'd prefer not to have to invest a ton of work. But he's really particular and if there's building involved, he'll be the one doing it.

The barn is sounding better and better, at least in the short term...it will be a bit of a hassle with the water situation but maybe that will spur us on to build a permanent coop more quickly.

 

[goldenluver]

get one of those plastic barrels sold on cl and add a faucet like you are going to make a rain barrel, then place on cinder blocks. use pvc pipe and fittings to what ever fits your space and purchase one of those fowl fountains. this wil only need to be refilled once every 3 weeks.

 

[chickpeaz]

Here's a couple of photos of said big 'ol barn, taken in January:

This is from the far side to give you an idea of the size (that's the house and car on the left, which is where I'll be hauling water from -- it's not tooooo terribly far but it's down a steep bank <splash, splosh, splash>) and I can't run or bury a hose because the house sits across the road:

...the chix would be living in an area on this side of the building. You can't see it here, but there's a door coming out below the stone foundation just behind where that utility pole is in the photo. They'll be in there.

It's actually quite a cheery place when it's not buried in snow. I'll try to take some pics of the interior this afternoon.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I'd use the barn, no brainer!! It's exsisting and pretty much set up! I don't have a water source at the coop either, but we're on 2acres and the coop is on one corner of the lot, water in the middle, so I just use hoses. If you aren't getting a ton of chickens, then just get 2 of the 5 gallon plastic waterers from a farm store, they should not have to be refilled daily and will save on the water source issue.
Good Luck!!!!

Edited to add, BEAUTIFUL BARN!!!! I love it!!! Hoses won't work for you but I'd just go with the larger waters and get multiple ones to save on refilling daily!!

 

[Judy]

Afraid I'd get something like a 55 gallon drum, drag the hose across the road and fill it, then drag it back. If someone runs over it, so what. You can use the faucet setup on it described above. You would not have to fill it often.

You could put all the chicken stuff in one corner of the barn and only put shavings over about 1/3 of it or so. Between that and a poop board under the roost, there wouldn't be that much poop elsewhere. You could throw some shavings on the piles if they got smelly.

 

[chickens3]

Put them in the barn but make sure you make a run outside for them.