Chicken coop: plans and suggestions

[MarkLeininger]

Any plans, pictures or suggestions for building a chicken coop? We have 6 chickens that are mostly pets; we do eat the eggs. I've had them since spring and put them in an old dog kennel with a tarp over the top. They just wander all over the yard during the day and then go back in their kennel at night.

We live west of Chicago so winters are cold. Is a light bulb enough to keep them warm? How warm does it have to be for them? How much ventilation do you need to keep the moisture down? Can they wander around in the snow or will their feet freeze? If they can't wander around in the snow, what kind of little pen can I build for them to use during the day?

thanks for all suggestions

 

[Seat_Time]

You might try this over at Countrybynet.com under the livestock forum...good luck

 

[ronjhall]

Mark
You may get more information on Countrybynet.com

Here is one that a quick search found.
Click Here

 

[ronjhall]

Seat_Time

If I had hit the refresh button, I would have seen your post saying the same thing. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MarkLeininger]

Thanks, that's a good site.

 

[MicroPilot]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Any plans, pictures or suggestions for building a chicken coop? ...)</font>

Check the Building and Facility Plans web site of North Dakota Stat University Extension Service. Lots of plans here and most are downloadable as PDF's.

I also noticed that the Google ads at the top of the page were actually being useful for this thread. You might want to check those and help pay for TBN at the same time!

 

[kensfarm]

I've been looking at this site... they have lots of pictures.. just scroll down... and free plans for Poultry Housing you can print.

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/housing/

 

[MarkLeininger]

Great pics. I was planning on building a simple little box, but I really like the detail work on some of these walk in coops. I feel project bloat coming on.

 

[dlabrie]

Anything you want to know about poultry can be found at Back yard chickens There are links and a great discussion board.

 

[Boondox]

Mark -- We raise chickens for eggs and meat in the hills of northern Vermont. You can visit our Chicken Page to see how we do it. I built the coop just after Hurricane Floyd slammed into us, so it's a tad overbuilt. It's drafty on purpose, as moisture and especially ammonia are a chicken's worst enemy. By winter we'll be down to a dozen birds, and while they are heavy breeds they do just fine with no heat. Chickens don't like snow, though, and after a few inches will stand in the doorway and stare suspiciously at the white stuff. I clear off some bare dirt for them to play in just so they don't stay inside all the time, but have found that a short patch of deep snow between them and all I hold dear (garage, truck, tractor, tools) will keep them and their droppings where they belong. I once made the mistake of plowing a path to the henhouse...and they soiled the entire driveway, car and truck, tablesaw, etc.

We grain them in winter so they have more fat and body heat, and make sure they have liquid water though they will eat snow when thirsty. Egg production dropped after two weeks of minus 30, but aside from a frostbitten comb on the rooster there were no ill effects.

Pete

 

[josephrettig2012]

Please if anyone want to get suggestion and want to buy or want to make chicken coop by own then please talk with me.I will help my best.

Thanks

 

[bp fick]

Wow, way to find an eight year old thread, so you could advertise your link, eh? :laughing: