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Chicken coop help #6826121
04/01/20 07:31 PM
04/01/20 07:31 PM
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SW MISSOURI
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Rockfarmer Offline OP
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Rockfarmer  Offline OP
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SW MISSOURI
All info is appreciated. We are wanting to get a coop and set up a run. Probably 4-6 laying hens. But also want enough room to raise some for meat. what size of coop and what is best flooring? any recommendations on size of coop and run and set up. Please give all advice. Absolutely dumb on this but want to do it right the first time if possible. We are on 51 acres and have plenty of predators - coyotes, bobcats, coons, and possums. Gonna have to have a secure coop. Thank you all in advance.
AND YES - I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THE PIG CASTRATER. lol


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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826136
04/01/20 07:43 PM
04/01/20 07:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,527
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline
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MN
Dirt is the best floor in my opinion, many of the commercial poultry barns do not have a floor and use "deep litter method" which is something I would look into. Chicken wire is cheap but it is easily chewed through, 1/2 inch hardware cloth will make a better more predator proof run, still advisable to lock them in the coop at night. As far as coop size, that will depend on how many birds you want to raise for meat, commercial meat birds are raised on less than a square foot per bird, you may want to go a bit bigger than that for ease of care though.

Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826143
04/01/20 07:50 PM
04/01/20 07:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,241
Indiana
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keystone Offline
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Indiana
Inside the roost concrete is easiest for clean up, also i see a lot of people make these little coops that you can’t even stand up in. When i’m feeding and watering chickens everyday it’s nice to be able to stand up and walk around. Use a good sturdy fence and i’ve got a net on top. It’s to wide open where i’m at to let them free range. They don’t have enough cover to protect themselves from predators so they stay in the run covered by a net. The run is 20x50 divided into two sections so whenever i get new chicks they can be separate until there big enough to run together. I’ll post some pics in the next couple days. You may want to consider more hens, no matter how many eggs we have the kids sell them for $3 a dozen, people beg for them.

Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826160
04/01/20 08:03 PM
04/01/20 08:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,491
New Hampshire
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Nessmuck Offline
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New Hampshire
We had copied some plans for a 5x6 coop....the wife went to Home Depot with the material list,and it was 900.00 ! So then we found this guy...Coops For A Cause in Center Harbor NH...who makes all kinds of coops. He said that he’s been Bombed with calls for coops and is 6 weeks out. With the egg shortage...he’s a busy man. His coops are all pre wired for lights and an outlet for a hot plate. This fancy 5x8 is 1495.00 [Linked Image]


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: keystone] #6826167
04/01/20 08:04 PM
04/01/20 08:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 469
SW MISSOURI
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Rockfarmer Offline OP
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Originally Posted by keystone
Inside the roost concrete is easiest for clean up, also i see a lot of people make these little coops that you can’t even stand up in. When i’m feeding and watering chickens everyday it’s nice to be able to stand up and walk around. Use a good sturdy fence and i’ve got a net on top. It’s to wide open where i’m at to let them free range. They don’t have enough cover to protect themselves from predators so they stay in the run covered by a net. The run is 20x50 divided into two sections so whenever i get new chicks they can be separate until there big enough to run together. I’ll post some pics in the next couple days. You may want to consider more hens, no matter how many eggs we have the kids sell them for $3 a dozen, people beg for them.

Thanks for the info!
How long do you let the hens set on eggs for new chicks? or do you use an incubater?
Dont know if we will go concrete. any other suggestions?
How big a coop if we want a few laying hens and get 1 or 2 to butcher every month or so?
Thanks again!!


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3rd Infantry Division
1st Infantry Division
U.S. ARMY
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826185
04/01/20 08:21 PM
04/01/20 08:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,760
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
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Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD
Find a old lawn barn shed they work great you can always section it off for fewer birds. If you stick with less birds a guy can build a 4x8 coop just using plywood pieces just put on treated lumber. Old doors and windows will round it out.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by Law Dog; 04/01/20 08:29 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826190
04/01/20 08:28 PM
04/01/20 08:28 PM
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Posts: 2,566
TN/OH
R
RM trapper Offline
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I just built this little coop with scrap stuff I had laying around then bought some 4×4 posts and made a 20ft x 8ft run on the outside. The coop is 4×8 and has two roosting poles and 3 laying boxes. I've got 7 hens and a rooster and have room for a few more. I put some wire in floor to help with easier clean up, and a door in the back to get the eggs from the nest. It's works great [Linked Image]

Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Law Dog] #6826198
04/01/20 08:34 PM
04/01/20 08:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
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SW MISSOURI
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Rockfarmer Offline OP
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SW MISSOURI
Originally Posted by Law Dog
Find a old lawn barn shed they work great you can always section it off for fewer birds. If you stick with less birds a guy can build a 4x8 coop just using plywood pieces just put on treated lumber. Old doors and windows will round it out.

[Linked Image]

more pics please . looks great


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3rd Infantry Division
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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: RM trapper] #6826199
04/01/20 08:34 PM
04/01/20 08:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 469
SW MISSOURI
R
Rockfarmer Offline OP
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Originally Posted by RM trapper
I just built this little coop with scrap stuff I had laying around then bought some 4×4 posts and made a 20ft x 8ft run on the outside. The coop is 4×8 and has two roosting poles and 3 laying boxes. I've got 7 hens and a rooster and have room for a few more. I put some wire in floor to help with easier clean up, and a door in the back to get the eggs from the nest. It's works great [Linked Image]

more pics please. looks great!


www.nationwidecartparts.com
3rd Infantry Division
1st Infantry Division
U.S. ARMY
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826217
04/01/20 08:44 PM
04/01/20 08:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,760
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

White brooder house built on a 4x8 sheet of plywood treated 2x4s touching the ground. If the lake does not take it this summer.
[Linked Image]

Last edited by Law Dog; 04/01/20 08:48 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826221
04/01/20 08:46 PM
04/01/20 08:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 533
MI
S
Supergoose Offline
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MI
Know why a chicken coup has two doors......because if it had four doors— it would be a chicken sedan

Last edited by Supergoose; 04/01/20 08:46 PM. Reason: Because I can

A goose may honk....but he won't wave
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Law Dog] #6826235
04/01/20 08:54 PM
04/01/20 08:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 469
SW MISSOURI
R
Rockfarmer Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Law Dog

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

White brooder house built on a 4x8 sheet of plywood treated 2x4s touching the ground. If the lake does not take it this summer.
[Linked Image]

Looks good. May pm you for more info if thats ok. let me know. Thanks again!!


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3rd Infantry Division
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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826248
04/01/20 09:00 PM
04/01/20 09:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,760
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
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Law Dog  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,760
Central, SD
Anytime no problem


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826259
04/01/20 09:07 PM
04/01/20 09:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
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traprjohn Offline
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Central NC
a smart thing to do is to dig a mini trench bout 3-4" deep to put the fence bottom into then pour concrete mix in the trench. The dirt moisture will soak into the mix an a few days. and keeps em from digging under.
Coon and opossum will get thru 2x4" wire.
Run a hot wire bout 3" high all around, too.


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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826260
04/01/20 09:07 PM
04/01/20 09:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

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In the coop I have cement. No rats or vermi can get in that way!

Outside in the run i rented a trencher burried the wire dbl. Chicken wire and chain link 3 ft down. No predators in 10 years.


NRA and NTA Life Member
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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826272
04/01/20 09:12 PM
04/01/20 09:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 469
SW MISSOURI
R
Rockfarmer Offline OP
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Rockfarmer  Offline OP
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You guys are awesome! Please keep the info coming!


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Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826278
04/01/20 09:16 PM
04/01/20 09:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
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Lugnut Offline
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SEPA
Here's my set up. It's 6' X 6" and it has a 3/4" Advantech (resin impregnated OSB) floor that has held up great for the last twenty or so years. We have had as many as 14 chickens in it but our normal flock size is seven or eight. I built it on 6 x 6 pressure treated skids and installed heavy eye-bolts so it could be easily moved from time to time. I tow it with my Kubota tractor.

[Linked Image]

I built a bump-out in the back for nesting boxes.

[Linked Image]

The waterer and feeder. In this pic the water fount is sitting on a heater base. It is hung up off the ground (like the feeder) during warm weather.

[Linked Image]

The nesting boxes.

[Linked Image]

I installed blinds because some of the girls like a little privacy sometimes.

[Linked Image]

Fold down glass windows for ventilation in warm weather. The openings are covered in hardware cloth.

[Linked Image]

The windows in the up position in cold weather.

[Linked Image]

The ramp to the run which can be lifted and locked at night.

[Linked Image]

The ramp in the up position. It has been replaced with a new one since this pic was taken.

[Linked Image]

We use a timer to provide 15-16 hours of light during the short days of fall and winter. It makes a big difference in egg production,.

[Linked Image]

An old oil drum just so happens to hold exactly 100 pounds of pellets.

[Linked Image]

There is about 18 feet of roosting bars inside. Happy girls lay lots of eggs!

[Linked Image]


Eh...wot?

Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826290
04/01/20 09:20 PM
04/01/20 09:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,241
Indiana
K
keystone Offline
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keystone  Offline
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Indiana
Originally Posted by Rockfarmer
Originally Posted by keystone
Inside the roost concrete is easiest for clean up, also i see a lot of people make these little coops that you can’t even stand up in. When i’m feeding and watering chickens everyday it’s nice to be able to stand up and walk around. Use a good sturdy fence and i’ve got a net on top. It’s to wide open where i’m at to let them free range. They don’t have enough cover to protect themselves from predators so they stay in the run covered by a net. The run is 20x50 divided into two sections so whenever i get new chicks they can be separate until there big enough to run together. I’ll post some pics in the next couple days. You may want to consider more hens, no matter how many eggs we have the kids sell them for $3 a dozen, people beg for them.

Thanks for the info!
How long do you let the hens set on eggs for new chicks? or do you use an incubater?
Dont know if we will go concrete. any other suggestions?
How big a coop if we want a few laying hens and get 1 or 2 to butcher every month or so?
Thanks again!!


I don’t ever hatch them, i just buy the chicks. They don’t cost much at all and i see them free quite a bit also.
A rule of thumb has always been 2 sq ft per bird inside the coop, i like to give them a little more room.
Most important factor to raising any livestock is clean water, clean water, more clean water and good food! You’ll get back the best in return in my opinion!

Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826305
04/01/20 09:24 PM
04/01/20 09:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,760
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD
Yep trenched in old wire under the run to stop diggers, the 2X4 horse wire comes in 6 foot heights and is cheaper to use.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Chicken coop help [Re: Rockfarmer] #6826565
04/02/20 01:24 AM
04/02/20 01:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 494
Underwood,Indiana
M
mask bandit Offline
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Underwood,Indiana
I can't post any pic's , but I built one with 6 foot walls and used a old truck camper for the roof. Used treated lumber and treated plywood.

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