*waves hi* Need some advice. Just getting started. :)

[caprice859]

Welcome to BYC!

Depending on the number of chickens you are planning to keep, that coop may be too small. This is the minimum of space you should provide for your chickens. Remember, the more space, the better.

• 4 square feet in the coop, (0.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in run, (0.93 square meters)
• 1 linear foot of roosting space, (30 centimetres)
• 1 nest box for every 4 to 5 birds
• 1 square foot, (0.09 square meters) of permanent ventilation, which is best located above your chickens when they are perched on their roost.

Best of luck starting off your chicken keeping journey.

I'm planning on only 4 chickens. There's room for 2 - 3 nesting boxes in there. And I think the run will be 15 by 15 ... maybe bigger. I've got the space back there. There's more on the left side of the photo that's not shown. Probably another ten feet.

Thanks so much for the reply and advice!

Dahn

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you, Dahn. You would be surprised if you set up a wildlife cam near a dumpster anywhere near your home - I am pretty willing to bet you have raccoons and opossums at least, and very probably foxes as well. I live in a small town that is pretty much an extension of Boston. I KNOW we have those at least as well as hawks flying over.

You should plan to cover your run, which means for your ease, make it 6 + feet tall (how tall is your husband?? how tall are you?) You guys will want to move around in there easily to put down bedding, clean, get to the attached coop, feed chickens, etc. There is no bigger pain than trying to do all that bent over!

Raccoons, foxes and opossums climb well and hawks will swoop down into a run and all will consider your beloved hens a fast food snack. Save your daughter and yourselves the sadness and trauma of losing the birds unnecessarily by planning now to make it as secure as you can! You will also want an apron of the 1/2 inch hardware cloth about 2 feet around the base of the run to prevent those clever predators from digging into the pen.

If you do the work now before you have the birds, you will have so much fun and pleasure keeping the chickens. Your daughter will have the same happy memories you have. That is a lovely gift to give her! What a nice idea. Best wishes and may all your chicken plans prosper!

 

[caprice859]

UPDATE::

Chicken coop is almost done!! Just put mulch down and put a pole up for a mesh cover so the hawks don’t get them. Just have to find something big enough to go over top.

I think it looks amazing and I am SO HAPPY with it. Just want to get done so I can get my girls!!!!

 

[Boppo]

Best wishes with your new chicken venture! Please let us know how it goes. We love pictures si if you manage to get some photos, please post them here!