Thread: Chicken Coop

dont know a huge amount but i would say if your not going to free range them, then make it moveable as i would reccomend the coop gets moved around

if chooks are kept on any sort or fecal/rotting vegetation they can get what is called bumble foot......which causes sores and swelling to the feet

i would also say try and give them access to dirt to lie and scratch around in

keep them wormed......

and give them areas to nest if your having layers..

oh and put in some polls of the ground as they naturally like to roost.

my appologise if you know all this already

kill two birds with one stone

hey thanks - i actually don't know anything about them - never had them.
just that we've now got a few acres and were trying to fill it.
was going to build a shed like affair witth an enclosed outdoor area for the night and then just let them roam free during the day.
obviously we want the eggs and i'll probably have 1 for sunday dinner now and again though i prefer lamb - i am welsh after all

Hi Jason
All depends on your area.
I have a small orchard that the chooks live in,they have a shed to go in,and a small segregated area for winter.I lock them into the small area during winter as I have heaps of greens to throw them.Whilst locked in the small run I grow a crop of oats/peas under the dormant fruit trees for them to eat later.
Only run 4 hens,the 3 of us cant eat all their eggs.Dont bother with Roosters,they hassel hell out of the girls and production drops bigtime when they are a playin.
If its just you and the good lady and you have a bit of room.Get an old trampoline,weld 4 castors to it,weld a nesting box in,fit a water system and a bowl for pellets and cover with shade cloth.The idea is you wheel it every couple of days,the chooks eat the weeds fertilize the ground.Google Chook Tractor for ideas.
Dont bother with ex battery hens,been there done that they have too many emotional problems.They start eating their unborne when given acsess to the unborne.
There is a young bloke in town that breeds/sells chooks,Rhode Island Reds,my 4 girls are from him,$10ea.Best chooks Ive ever had.
If you want some PM me and I will give you his Ph no.
Nice drive down to pick them up,smelly drive home
Andrew

Feed them a nice blend of greens and grain, and you'll have the sweetest tasting eggs. Avoid the pellets, the meat meal gives them a funny taste.

thanks andy,
got the chooks when were ready from a customer of mine - free of charge, also offered me a few ducklings and 2 peacocks but 1 step at a time me thinks.
the local farm suppliers sell feed boxes so got that part sorted - just want to make sure i build the coop right as i dont want to have to do it all again when we've already got them and learned that what i've made is all wrong.
should also note that we've got 2 rotty's so whilst they be free to roam they probably won't come out of the coop at all

I was going to ask whether foxes were likely to be a problem where you are and give you a tip for stopping them digging under the fence, but with a couple of big dogs it may not be a problem.

Avoid the peacocks if you want to sleep at night they go to the highest roost available usually your roof then cry all night bloody great alarm guards but bad for your sleep.

if you go on line plenty of designs for portable hen pens that u move around garden for feedings and fertilizerising

Or go for building larger pen and run for permanent structure, watch out for foxes and dogs who will take your chooks unless locked at night securely