Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Firstchic]

Roughly 1 foot per bird but they like their space so I'd at least double that if it were me. As for the boxes, if you are going to access them from outside, put them on whichever side is convenient for you. I'd try to avoid the north side though.

Can you post a pic of this shed?

Hope this work for a pic.

 

[Celtic Chick]

So I assume by your comment on it facing west that the entrance is on the west. I would put the nest boxes on the east then. I always lean toward putting the pop door on either the south or the east side to avoid the prevailing winds. But I see the snow would come off the roof in front of the door if it were on the south. And I don't like the looks of the east side either. A pred would love to lurk in those trees/brush just waiting for a dinner to come out that door. You wouldn't be able to see if the door was open or closed from this angle either. How far is this shed from your house? In the cold & snow, are you going to want to haul water & feed that distance? If so, then maybe you could make a little overhang for the pop door on the south side? It wouldn't have to be anything fancy; a piece of plywood setting across a couple of concrete blocks would do. Or an old table or something on that order.

Boy, either everyone went on vacation or they are all having the screen issues. I can hear an echo in here.

Might have to rename this the chick thread for the weekend.

 

[bigzio]

Good Evening to everyone.....Chickens love their freedom and that is the way God meant it to be...one can do whatever they like...but the birds what their freedom..happy chickens lay a lot more eggs...I hope everyone loves the chicken freedom they deserve ..it's why we do the backyard flocks...for a better life...not just alive....give em room..however much they want..it doesn't take acres for them to be happy..just some precious space to explore....

Peace..bigz

 

[Firstchic]

So I assume by your comment on it facing west that the entrance is on the west. I would put the nest boxes on the east then. I always lean toward putting the pop door on either the south or the east side to avoid the prevailing winds. But I see the snow would come off the roof in front of the door if it were on the south. And I don't like the looks of the east side either. A pred would love to lurk in those trees/brush just waiting for a dinner to come out that door. You wouldn't be able to see if the door was open or closed from this angle either. How far is this shed from your house? In the cold & snow, are you going to want to haul water & feed that distance? If so, then maybe you could make a little overhang for the pop door on the south side? It wouldn't have to be anything fancy; a piece of plywood setting across a couple of concrete blocks would do. Or an old table or something on that order.

Boy, either everyone went on vacation or they are all having the screen issues. I can hear an echo in here.

Might have to rename this the chick thread for the weekend.

My son is going to put up a fence around the area. He says about 50 x50. And he is going to put wire on the top of it. The only pred I have seen on the property is a rabbit. I did see some deer tracks across the side yard this past winter tho. Walked right past by east facing window from my bedroom. I will let DS know what your suggestion are.

You are the only one who I have seen on here today, maybe a better name would be "Just the two of us".

 

[Firstchic]

Sorry, forgot to answer your question. Apx 150 feet from the house.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Lol! Rabbits are anything but predators. Same goes for deer.

A lot of preds usually only come out at night, but even a neighbors dog can be a threat. I think a run is a good idea in any case. It is a safe area (hopefully) that your girls can use when you are not at home or they are otherwise unsupervised. It is also good for keeping them out of your garden & the neighbors yards. But as Bigz said, they also greatly enjoy their freedom. If you can let them free range sometimes, that would be great. But if that is not possible, I would try to get as large a run as possible so they don't kill all the grass, which they will do (it is just a matter of time).

How many birds do you plan on having?

 

[Firstchic]

Lol! Rabbits are anything but predators. Same goes for deer.

A lot of preds usually only come out at night, but even a neighbors dog can be a threat. I think a run is a good idea in any case. It is a safe area (hopefully) that your girls can use when you are not at home or they are otherwise unsupervised. It is also good for keeping them out of your garden & the neighbors yards. But as Bigz said, they also greatly enjoy their freedom. If you can let them free range sometimes, that would be great. But if that is not possible, I would try to get as large a run as possible so they don't kill all the grass, which they will do (it is just a matter of time).

How many birds do you plan on having?

I originally wanted only 7. But, after I got my girls and my DS got involved, he wants more. He was looking @ 10 to 15 more, but, I don't think that shed would hold that many more birds. So, we probly only get 7 more. Wonder if anyone on here has some good fencing to sell me. Cheap is good for me. Say, I am only coming to the shingdig on Saturday for the pot luck. Do you know when the white elephant thing will be held. I did see any wrapped gifts related to chickens. Since I have not had chicks that long-guess I have to bring a couple of tail feathers

. My original though with chickens was we would use them for eggs and when they quite laying we would butcher them. Don't know if I can do that now after having them. On the other hand, I disagree with the FDA or whoever not requiring the country of origin to be printed on meat labels now, so you don't know what you are eating. Guess I will have to put on my big girl panties and deal with it.

 

[jvls1942]

good evening, I spent most of the day outside, except for my nap time..

that shed looks like it is about 10 feet wide, I can't tell how long it is from the picture..
it should handle your 15 chickens easily,,

I would not put the nest boxes outside.. it would take only one or two on the inside to handle that many chickens..

there is no need for a chicken door if you put the fence on the side where the big door is..
put a gate in the fence to let yourself into their yard.
make a 8 inch high gate sill so that you can still swing it open when there is snow on the ground..
If you put a cover on the chicken yard, and the fence would happen to be on either side of the shed, she snow sliding off of the roof will surely cave in the yard cover..
make sure that the holes in the cover are large enough to let snow fall through and not accumulate.
If you stretch a tarp for shade, do not lay it on top of the yard covering.. rain or snow will cave it in,,

just the two of you and a couple of guys ..

.........jiminwisc.........

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

I did my good deed for the week... I blocked 4 lanes of traffic in town so a momma duck could get her babies to the river! I'm sure I ****** off some people that didn't see why, but, it was for the babies! With Chocolate Fest going on, yea, WAY more people to piss off!

Can't find my hen turkey, hope she's safe on a nest! I'll try to look farther in the back later today.

Night All!

 

[gifters]

Hi All!

I did my good deed for the week... I blocked 4 lanes of traffic in town so a momma duck could get her babies to the river! I'm sure I ****** off some people that didn't see why, but, it was for the babies! With Chocolate Fest going on, yea, WAY more people to piss off!

Can't find my hen turkey, hope she's safe on a nest! I'll try to look farther in the back later today.

Night All!

Burlington eh? That's where my wife is from Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk