Chickens, and things related
- Thread starter Tororider
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bmac
Veteran Member
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Lookin good! That is going to be a big coop. What thickness osb did you use for the floor? I am thinking I am going to build a 4'x6' coop that will match the pen in height and width. I am trying to find some inexpensive exterior grade plywood, but I may just have to bite the bullet and get some new at home depot/lowes and then use osb on the interior. I may try to pick up some of the supplies today.
The girls stayed out last night, the lowe was only forecasted for 52 so I figured might as well. Checked on them at 1 before going to bed, and they were there when I got up with the youngest at 7. I had figured that the chicken smell has been in the run for a couple weeks now and nothing had seemed to mess with the run that I could tell so might as well give it a shot. They seemed to enjoy not having to wait for me to be put out. Depending on rain in the forecast I think I might start leaving them out, I have a little covered tupperware structure so they just tuck in there I think. I hope to get the coop built sooner rather than later, but with so many things going on we will have to see.
I am now thinking that the chicken tractor may go out to the farm. I can use the brooder as a transport and when I take the boys out to the farm the chickens can go in the tractor and weed the place for me. Big ideas anyway.
The girls stayed out last night, the lowe was only forecasted for 52 so I figured might as well. Checked on them at 1 before going to bed, and they were there when I got up with the youngest at 7. I had figured that the chicken smell has been in the run for a couple weeks now and nothing had seemed to mess with the run that I could tell so might as well give it a shot. They seemed to enjoy not having to wait for me to be put out. Depending on rain in the forecast I think I might start leaving them out, I have a little covered tupperware structure so they just tuck in there I think. I hope to get the coop built sooner rather than later, but with so many things going on we will have to see.
I am now thinking that the chicken tractor may go out to the farm. I can use the brooder as a transport and when I take the boys out to the farm the chickens can go in the tractor and weed the place for me. Big ideas anyway.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Bmac you got two posts in while I was posting, strong work! Its fun when our kids enjoy the outdoors and things that come along with it.
I know you said this, but are those silkies?
I know you said this, but are those silkies?
bmac
Veteran Member
The coop is 10'x12'. I tried to size it for 20+ chickens and from what I've read, that is about right. Also, when my daughter loses her "chicken fever", I wanted it big enough to use as an outbuilding for storage (if I can get the smell out of it).
The flooring material is 3/4" OSB. I ordered plywood, but got OSB instead. It was on the bottom of the stack of material and I didn't uncover it until yesterday so I was a little disappointed. I'm sure this is standard (don't know 'cause I'm a real novice with this stuff) but this OSB was less than 4' wide. This kept the flooring from extending to the edge of the floor frame.
She has 2 breeds of bantams, Black Cochins and Blue Silkies. Good eye!
The flooring material is 3/4" OSB. I ordered plywood, but got OSB instead. It was on the bottom of the stack of material and I didn't uncover it until yesterday so I was a little disappointed. I'm sure this is standard (don't know 'cause I'm a real novice with this stuff) but this OSB was less than 4' wide. This kept the flooring from extending to the edge of the floor frame.
She has 2 breeds of bantams, Black Cochins and Blue Silkies. Good eye!
4720 OWNER
Gold Member
Have found that for chicks it is easier if the door opens inward to give them food and such, less chance of them getting out, esp the week before they go into the chicken tractor or the hen house. The layers not as big of a deal since there is less chance they even want to escape. Bottom sill should be 3-5" higher to account for bedding. If there is a rodent problem, prevention is way better than after the fact, secure the corners with overlapping metal.
Adam23
Silver Member
Toro - Great now I am addicted to this one too!! 
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Adam23,
With regards to your chicks being afraid of you, try moving slow(obvious and I am sure you have been doing that), but also put your hand almost flat on the bottom of the brooder with your palm up, then move your hand slowly under them from there. If you come at them from the top, they view you as a predator, ie hawks from the sky. Also, try treats, go to the pet store and get some mealworms or crickets then only give them to the chicks when they are in your hand. Positive reinforcement.
Post some pics of your chicks and your hens/roosters. You may want to watch the two roosters, as that is a lot of roosters to have with only four hens right now.
With regards to your chicks being afraid of you, try moving slow(obvious and I am sure you have been doing that), but also put your hand almost flat on the bottom of the brooder with your palm up, then move your hand slowly under them from there. If you come at them from the top, they view you as a predator, ie hawks from the sky. Also, try treats, go to the pet store and get some mealworms or crickets then only give them to the chicks when they are in your hand. Positive reinforcement.
Post some pics of your chicks and your hens/roosters. You may want to watch the two roosters, as that is a lot of roosters to have with only four hens right now.
bmac
Veteran Member
4720 OWNER said:
4720,
I know I've WAY over-engineered my coop. But here's what I'm planning:
I'm going to have a front door that opens out. Inside the front door, there will be a small "foyer" or vestibule (about 3'x3') that has chicken wire walls and a screen door. This screen door will open in and will be sitting over a 4" sill to keep the bedding in the coop. So, the foyer will be a chicken free zone, unless one escapes when entering through the screen door. But, they won't go far as the front door will be closed before opening the screen door.
Clear as mud. Right?
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Perfectly clear to me. I was thinking about doing the same thing, only smaller, a 2'x4' foyer/storage area to keep a bag of feed, etc. That would also allow me to expand the coop a little down the road if I wanted. Sounds like a great plan to me. 2'x4' might be too small, I may just have to make the coop 4'x8' and a 4'x4' foyer. This is going to get expensive. Is osb exterior rated? I was trying to avoid it so as to make it look "nicer" for the neighbors, but I could build it out of osb, and then search for siding or something. Any ideas to keep this on the cheap?
