Trying to design my first coop

[Jaybo]

Hello, all! I posted this in the intro section, but decided to add the info here as well to get as much advice as I can. The old "measure twice, cut once" philosophy!

I had stumbled across this site and decided to join up to learn what y'all can teach me. My wife and I bought 12 acres of land to get out of the city and raise as much of our own food as we can. The next project on the agenda is a coop/run and approximately 20 chickens. The basic inspiration for the build is coming from this article: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/silveira44a.html

I especially like the rotation of the crops/run, and centralized compost pile! We have a plan to place this near, but not next to, the house.

I am thinking about making the outer fencing of run 50 feet to each side, with an 8'x12' coop in the center column along with the compost area. Given that we have two dogs that are not farm dogs, and will kill critters if they can, I may do a double fence - they can jump! The dimensions may change as I learn, as my wife wants to also raise a few turkeys, some ducks and some guinea fowl, due to their reputation for getting rid of snakes. The effect they'll have on ticks and scorpions is another bonus, but this is my first foray into domesticated fowl, so I have no experience with how well they'll get along. I have done some reading on the subject, but while a 2x2 door seems to work for turkeys, do I want them all in one coop using the big doors or do I want the turkeys in their own coop?

My current thought is to have the fencing for the run at 4' high, with no roof, and I'm looking at half-inch hardware cloth, at least as a liner for the lower part of the fence to keep as many pests and snakes out as possible. I've seen some great ideas here (and Ga Boy's thread has given some real inspiration) which I can incorporate into the design, and I can at least stake out and prepare the area while I make sure I design it properly. Luckily, we have trees that need to be cleared out anyway, so there is a source for fence posts. I am also keen on recovered materials. I like to maximize the budget!

As far as the crops to grow, I'm leaning towards crops that I can use to feed the birds, but I'm open. The other crops we'll be growing in other areas will be fenced in, just in case.

Hadn't settled on breeds yet, though I hear good things about Americaunas, Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns. As long as they can tolerate Texas summers, that's what I need.

May get a few farm cats to help with the expected rodent problem, since they do seem to figure out where the food is. Hopefully they can get along with the birds. Any suggestions are welcomed, because there are scads of candidates for entry level farm cat.

My wife will be home full-time, and I'm staying fully-employed, plus, but we'll both be pitching in on the project. Anyhow, that's about what I can think of as an intro, so thanks in advance for your help!

Jay

 

[silkiechicken]

Best of luck! Lots of poultry raising is a trail and error type thing where you find out what works for you. I would start with chickens and/or turkeys before getting into waterfowl. Waterfowl = slippery slimy stinky poop. A note on guineas is I've heard more than once their aggression is something fierce when they decide to out a domestic fowl from the "in crowd".

 

[Jaybo]

Thank you! I definitely don't mind "easing" into this, and adding the chickens and turkeys first suits me.

 

[HandsomeRyan]

Looks like a neat idea. I might have some concerns about that amount of chicken poop adding too much nitrogen to the garden soil and causing a nutrient imbalance ending up with big leafy tomato vines with fewer fruits. It might work fine though.

As I read your plans for guinea hens and fencing to get rid of snakes and then getting a cat to control rodents, I couldn't help but think of the old lady who swallowed the fly. Wouldn't it make more sense to leave the snakes and let them eat the rodents directly? I guess if you have a lot of poisonous snakes it is a little different than here in MD where we have plenty of harmless snakes and very few that pose a danger to us as gardeners.

Best of luck with the design/build process. Remember that gardens use the same math as chickens. No matter how much you have, you'll probably want more.

 

[aart]

I love the picture and concept in that article!

I would highly suggest you spend alot of time reading on this forum before deciding on a plan, you may have to wade thru alot of chat, but there is a plethora of good experienced based info here.

I'll just make one point here.....you'll want your run tall enough to walk in and probably covered to deter flying predators.

Good Luck, Have Fun!

 

[Jaybo]

Looks like a neat idea. I might have some concerns about that amount of chicken poop adding too much nitrogen to the garden soil and causing a nutrient imbalance ending up with big leafy tomato vines with fewer fruits. It might work fine though.

As I read your plans for guinea hens and fencing to get rid of snakes and then getting a cat to control rodents, I couldn't help but think of the old lady who swallowed the fly. Wouldn't it make more sense to leave the snakes and let them eat the rodents directly? I guess if you have a lot of poisonous snakes it is a little different than here in MD where we have plenty of harmless snakes and very few that pose a danger to us as gardeners.

Best of luck with the design/build process. Remember that gardens use the same math as chickens. No matter how much you have, you'll probably want more.

Thanks! Yes, we have a lot of the poisonous snakes, so I'm ready to "inspire" them to move along. We have one dog who's been bitten twice, and the other one once. I've had to kill two rattlesnakes that were right by the house, and that's too close.

 

[Jaybo]

I love the picture and concept in that article!

I would highly suggest you spend alot of time reading on this forum before deciding on a plan, you may have to wade thru alot of chat, but there is a plethora of good experienced based info here.

I'll just make one point here.....you'll want your run tall enough to walk in and probably covered to deter flying predators.

Good Luck, Have Fun!

I had been thinking of letting it stay open, but my wife had mentioned some "hoop houses" to cover the grow beds. Maybe a hoop roof over the three channels, with some netting... Partial or full...

 

[coffeekittie]

One thing to consider is your fence height. Chickens and even heritage breeds of turkeys can fly very well, and you might be spending a lot of time chasing critters. 6 ft plus something to deter flying out/predators flying in would by my suggestion. Some people use strong fishing line or even white clothesline to crisscross over their otherwise open pens and report very good results.

As for keeping chickens and turkeys together, I have done so without problem, but there is something called Blackhead that you should research before reaching a decision. I have no experience with it, and can't help with that, but thought it a prudent thing to bring to your attention.

The cats should be fine with the poultry if they are either brought up in the chicken house, or are introduced calmly. My cats could care less about the chickens, and are wary of being pecked. Some people contain the cats inside the coop/run, and that could keep the kitties safer from snakes, too. Their presence would be a good deterrent to small pests.

 

[Jaybo]

Thanks! We may well do the netting over top, and I will probably always have access to kittens to bring up as chicken cats. LOL

I'll look into the blackhead issue. Thanks for the warning.