Chicken Coop...Kit

[onidah]

When we were first researching chicken coops several years ago, I liked the design and mobility of this coop ( www.henhutch.com/ ). However, we decided to build a non-portable one instead.

As for winter coop temperatures and issues, here is a link to some good information:

www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

We occassionally run a heater in our coop during the winter, mainly to keep the water from freezing. We use a Little Giant Automatic Waterer ( www.amazon.com/Little-Giant-Automatic-Fount-Waterer/dp/B004XNMHFQ ) attached to the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket with a 10-12 inch sprinkler riser. We use a Gamma-Seal lid on the water bucket to keep the dust out of the valve on the waterer. Be sure to drill a small hole somewhere in the lid to equalize the air pressure or the water won't flow out of the bottom of the bucket like it should when the valve on the waterer opens up.

We usually keep our hens until the egg production starts to taper off and the feed to eggs ratio becomes unprofitable (usually around 4 years). Then we butcher them and get replacements as either pullets or chicks.

Onidah

[hunter63]

Up date.....
So OK, Coop arrived, and supprise SIL and friend put it togeather!........That means I don't have to do it.
It seems small, and most likey need a bigger 'run" ...and although it's discription says 13 chickens
....his discription is a run about 4 ft by 4 ft.......Might need to build a bigger run?



As both of them DD and SIL have a habit of getting into something, then losing intrest....I glad I could get them off to at least a start, and not spend a lot of money to have it sit there.

So, chicken raisers....couple of questions.
Do the chickens go into the coop at night on their own?
How much of a run is needed?....say for 6 chickens?

[ColcordMama]

Yes, chickens go into the coop at night on their own. You should have a light in there at night or they don't lay as much. When I had six chickens, they did very well in a run 6' long and 4' wide. A run 4' x 4' is not nearly big enough for thirteen chickens, by the way. Maybe four, at max five if they're a small breed.

[thywar]

Mar 6, 2013 10:45:45 GMT -7 thywar said:

SG I found this answer on a backyardchickens.com

The mainstream answer is 4 square feet indoor and 10 square feet of run for each bird.

Now having said that I can tell you that a coop that is too large in bitter cold is a bad idea. The chickens do not produce enough body heat and combs will freeze.

Too small and cleaning becomes an issue.

So in the end it is finding the balance "that works for you and your climate."

Same goes for the run size. If it is not a quick growing surface with enough sun or moisture to keep it growing they will turn an area that big into a desert.

www.backyardchickens.com/t/34001/coop-and-run-sq-feet-per-chicken

Hunter I found this earlier on this post.. maybe this will help answer some questions.

[hunter63]

Duh, Thanks I saw that.....