Virginia

[cholbach]

Hi there, new to all of this.

My name is Ruben, I'm in Chesapeake, VA. I just started working on a chicken coop and would love some ideas. So... Maybe someone can help me, I want this to be good for 6 hens. I was thinking of 2 nesting boxes, an easy clean out door, and roost for them. I can either put a nesting box on each side or put the nesting boxes together somewhere in the back with either 3 roosting bars that 2' long or 2 bars that are 4' long. The run itself is 8'x4'. Any ideas with that? The coop size is 2x4 because I'm trying to make it light weight so it can be a tractor. I'm also thinking of putting the PVC Pipes inside as a waterer and feeder. Any thoughts or ideas would be great.

I am also in Chesapeake. I built our coop and learned a lot in the process. Build your nesting box out from the coop, but attached with a hinged door on top (makes getting the eggs easy). Also, on the front, I put a double door to make clean-up easier. Mine is about your size only taller and stationary, although I am moving it over the summer to another area of the yard. I will try to find my pictures and post them up for some ideas to help. I am in the Hickory/Great Bridge area, so if you need help or other idea's let me know.

 

[annabellaknits]

ISO coronation or Isabel any breed
And barnevelder maran any super dark layer
But really want some blue copper Marans

I ask you all because shipped eggs have been giving me too much trouble so I'm think either northern Virginia folks or shipped from Virginia would be better

 

[jaimesr27]

I am also in Chesapeake. I built our coop and learned a lot in the process. Build your nesting box out from the coop, but attached with a hinged door on top (makes getting the eggs easy). Also, on the front, I put a double door to make clean-up easier. Mine is about your size only taller and stationary, although I am moving it over the summer to another area of the yard. I will try to find my pictures and post them up for some ideas to help. I am in the Hickory/Great Bridge area, so if you need help or other idea's let me know.

Nice, do you only have hens?

 

[cholbach]

Yes. We are in city limits so we only have hens (6). They free roam the backyard most of the time. We have lost one in the past 3 years to a hawk. No other animals have bothered them.

 

[pipAchick]

ISO coronation or Isabel any breed
And barnevelder maran any super dark layer
But really want some blue copper Marans

I ask you all because shipped eggs have been giving me too much trouble so I'm think either northern Virginia folks or shipped from Virginia would be better

I will keep an ear open.,,,hope you hunt some down&have better luck!

 

[jaimesr27]

New from Suffolk. 
Started raising about a year ago. 6 so far. 3 reds, 3 rocks

How do you like it? I have 6 hens in Chesapeake.

 

[tmorgan46]

@cholbach I like what you've got so far. I built my first couple of coops as well and the designs are nearly the same. I attached mine to a covered chicken run after we lost a chicken to a hawk. We only have 3 hens at the moment and it will probably change as we add to our small flock, but what we've noticed is that the hens only lay in one nest box. The other two are ignored, well not completely, they pull all the straw / bedding material out and then proceed to poop in them... Your mileage may vary, but that's not the first time I've heard of hens sharing a nesting box. And having it on the outside is a great way to go, but I opted to not do that, because the front entrance is big enough for me to gain access and also because it's harder to insulate during the winter. I put up prefab siding on the outside and 1/4 plywood on the inside with a sheet of insulation between the two. Even with a cheap crappy roof, the water never froze inside of the coop this past winter. And while it might be a bit on the pricey side, we found a 4 X 6 rubbermaid shed that we've converted into a duck coop, and let me just say how handy and simple that is!!! My old duck coop (now the goose coop) is U-G-L-Y!! I'll never be mistaken for a carpenter!!! Anyhow, this spring I plan to do the PVC feed pipe like you've mentioned. But for water I'm going to stick with a regular 3 gallon plastic water station I got at the local TSC. And the only reason is the containers we have now need to be scrubbed out once a month to get rid of the slick coating, not sure how toxic that becomes but it's nasty to feel!!! And with a set up like the PVC I wasn't sure how difficult it would be to clean.
Anyhow, best of luck and let me know if there's anything I need to clear up with this post.

 

[cholbach]

That was jaimesr27 starting his coop. I responded to him, but haven't posted pics of mine yet...Just making sure he see's you comments and advice.

 

[tmorgan46]

My bad. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of this.... Guess that means remedial training for me!!! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[jaimesr27]

Thanks for the advice guys. I already put my coop together about 8-9 days ago. Sorry, forgot to update the forum.