And then there were the ones who managed to hide their nests and show up with a flock of chicks. He is a backyard chicken breed and very well taken care of. Did you know the word “chicken” is actually considered gender-neutral? But make sure you don’t mix large breeds with small breeds, because the smaller hens will get bullied! I got her from someone that said she was egg bond. I have tried separation but it hasn’t work. This gives them fresh grass and areas to explore. so I hope it works this time. Hi! The Rocks are about 3 pounds. Both meet your suggested mins and are not easily moved. Me and my family are thinking about getting 2 rhode island reds. Right now they are allowed to roam in the backyard during the day, but they are really tearing up the grass and of course they poop everywhere. You can either have a large ‘open-plan’ nesting box or separate individual nesting boxes. You will find lots of punny, funny ideas scattered (see what we did there?) Does the “grass” have to be live grass or is dead grass okay? https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/the-definitive-guide-to-keeping-chickens-in-winter/, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-to-feed-your-chickens/, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-chicken-breeds-that-do-well-in-cold-climates/, Automatic Chicken Coop Door: What to Know Before Buying, 17 Best Blue Chicken Breeds for Your Flock, Easy to access; designed with two doors, an open/close nesting box and sliding doors making access easy for your hens, Easy to maintain; removable bottom tray which makes cleaning the coop, roost and nesting box easy, Safe; comes with robust metal wire fencing to keep pests out and two doors with metal locking systems, Quality Materials – High density plastics, EASY TO ASSEMBLE! Hi we just recently bought two chickens, a hen and a rooster and since we havent found a good place to put them at the moment since we live in Canada and its winter, is it ok if we put them in a small space approximately the size of a medium box. All of these are fair game to get turned into a unique chicken name for your new feathered flock member. I had chickens free rangevyears ago and it was easter every day hunting eggs on 5 acres. If so, how much should I give them and how often? Is it OK to build both coops inside the run or will 2 cause issues (and we recycle one) please? Claire, Hello my name is Lucy and I have a small chicken coop (5 square feet) with a 12 square foot run attached to it. Unless otherwise noted in your recipe, … By Charles Pearman December 20, 2020. I’m assuming it would be better to keep them in my fenced (sides and bird netting) 15×30 blueberry garden? Your fenced run in, the larger the better. Hi John, When building a run is there a minimum height that is required? I would always recommend feeding them laying mash regardless of how much roaming space they have. They’ll only eat the low berries. If this isn’t possible I wouldn’t let them roam together… When we used to have completely free range, some of them would lay in the nests, but some always decided the hollow tree down the road was better, or a dozen and more other spots. [source] Or should the grass be mowed down first? I wouldn’t recommend splitting the flocks. We have been given 2 smallish coops/nesting areas. Put the rest of the stock ingredients in the pot along with the chicken. I have a 12’X12′ red sailcloth over their free space so they always have a shadow cover if not the safety of their coops. Which is fine by me but I grew up in Oregon where our winters were like here in Eastern a Washington. I would remove one of the coops and keep only one open to suggestions? It depends on how much they are being harassed. I’ve never owned chickens before, but I know they’re a large breed. But weight? Lowest prices, best selection, USA products! 3 bars for roosting in middle, each 4 ft long so I guess that’s 12 ft of roosting space. Good luck. I live in a housing development with ample space in the backyard and a privacy fence. We have 12 ladies, barred rock, orpingtons, easter eggers Good luck That’s just the coop size. Males (cockerels/roosters) will grow bigger. Keeping them contained for night and morning works way better, if you want the chickens safe, and easy-to-find eggs in the nests. Inspired by traditions, 'Top Chef's' Whitney Otawka recreates unique dining experiences at Greyfield Inn I have also sent you an email with a useful article! I’d guess that most people who want to keep chickens for the first time would look to get around six, so let’s use six chickens for this example. To have both a free range backyard and a chicken run lifestyle? We were struggling to decide exactly how much space a chicken needs to be classed as ‘free-range’. I bought myself a house at the end of last year, and my greatest wish was to have chickens in my garden! I haven’t been able to observe much as before work they are just getting up and when I get home it is dark and they are in bed. Are they all male? Even if your hens free-range it’s still hard for them to meet their dietary requirements. We built a 5×6 coop (which includes 5 nesting boxes off to one side, leaving 4×6 for roosts. Is this big enough? Recent studies report that 70% of processed foods contain GMO ingredients , so unless you’re feeding certified Organic or Non-GMO dog or cat food, chances are high that GMOs are in your pet’s bowl. If you have hawks in the area, to be on the safe side I would always recommend keeping them in a fenced area. Floor joists are two by six with sixteen inch centers. You shouldn’t need to train them providing you make the nesting box comfy for them. And how often would I need to move the location of the fence if I didn’t feed them much feed? With the coop as long as there is at least 2 nesting boxes and 6 foot of roosting space then it will be fine for them! I’ve been letting them out at 7am, do they get distressed if you leave them in longer? Cover, bring to a boil. I’m concerned it’s too small. I had a Bantam rooster mate with the only 2 hens I have (both silkies) We hatched 5 eggs from them but one hatched 4 days late & was being pecked bad so we removed him & have been raising him inside. When are you planning to get your chickens? 70 Best Chicken Names When I got the 2nd dog my first one trained him and does not let any other dogs near them. I have large and small breeds mixed and they do very well. Thoughts? My wife and I are considering getting chickens and might have a larger space to put a few coops in. Best of luck, Fortunately, this isn’t the case (unless you are planning on keeping thousands of them!) Is there something else I could do? Thanks! If you want to know more about nesting boxes and what to do with your freshly laid eggs, read here. Hi what is the best time to let the chickens out of the coop in the mornings? These cute ideas based on popular cartoon, comic and movie hens and roosters can really bring your chicken’s personality to life. Why? Hope this helps! https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-chicken-breeds-that-do-well-in-cold-climates/ So to answer our original questions: “Can I keep chickens in my garden or do I need acres of land?”. Can I get 1 chicken, but can I keep it in a very small space?? Firstly, are you intending to allow your chickens to free roam? The run grass has died and I use expanding wood pellets & pine. In addition to a coop you will need to ensure you have enough space to fix a nesting box to the back or side of your coop. If they are spending their daytime in the mobile coop then you don’t need to worry about building a run on their permanent coop. Hi Jason, Chickens must be able to forage naturally to improve their life quality and diet. You don’t strictly have to insulate the coop to keep them warm during these cold spells- there are other options. Thanks for all the great information you provide! My neighbour sometimes comes in the day and gives them treats and says they 4 are relentless on the 1. No not at all. [ 20 ] In 2009, the United States imported 44,284 tons [ 23 ] of processed Brazilian beef mostly for use in hamburgers, hot dogs, and lunch meats. I could let them out in the yard but I am afraid they would run into the road or get caught by a coyote or a hawk. You only need 3 square feet of room per chicken in a coop. So in total that would mean you’d need just under 110 square foot to keep six chickens. Would a 10’x10’ coop be too big? The 4 new rescues have been bullying my existing chicken. I have done a 4 x 16 for 20 chickens so when they cannot free range they still have some area for dust bathing and scratching and it has worked out well, considering they free range most of the day. I have 4 barred Rocks and 3 Leghorns. Claire. Hi, I’m a first time hen owner to be. I don’t let them run on their own in the yard unless I am with them, because we have Great Horned owls, hawks of several flavors, and both bald and golden eagles. Chicken feed is low cost and you can expect to spend less than $100 per month even if you purchase higher-quality, non-GMO feed. The Leghorns have a separate coop bigger in scale to better match their size and the heat they generate. ), this does not include their run or any other space which they can roam in. I think the key is not to have more than two of any specific breed of large chickens in your flock. When i’m at home they can roam in back yard. Claire. As long as it’s properly fenced and predators can’t get access they will be fine Naming stress is a quick creativity killer! Please help me figure out what to do next. My original chicken hardly comes out of the coop at the moment. Also how big should our fenced in run be? Have you considered making your own feed Trish? It is likely that at some point you will get more birds; this is known as ‘chicken math’ or ‘more hens’ disease’! Claire. We have 4 hens that free range on 1200 square feet all day. Should I have different types of chickens seperated . You can even get them with mesh floors to stop predators such as Coyotes digging underneath… You can normally let them roam at around 7-8 weeks and you will need to keep an eye on them during the first few times they roam to make sure they come back at night! Before we ever entertained the idea of keeping chickens in our garden we were long under the impression that you need lots of land to keep chickens- ideally at least an acre of grass. Too much calcium for a meat bird reeks havoc on their digestive system. I have 6 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buffs. Obviously the coup should be the same size, but if they are getting moved around daily do I still need the 15sq ft for the run on the bottom? Our family shares in the butchering, we have the chicken feet and the healthy organs like liver and heart which also provide many nutrient. I measure it out and keep it in labeled zipper bags in the freezer. If you want to know more about chickens, quail, and goats, The Happy Chicken Coop is the place to be! I have a cochin that recently starting laying tan eggs instead of brown. We are getting ready to build a fenced in run also that will be attached to the coop. And after cooking the whole carcasses (that's why there are sometimes chicken beaks and feet parts in the bags - found them in "high end" Purina brand bags) for 72 hours in a giant pressure cooker, the nutrients are dead. Just over a month ago I got 4 rescues. You can get a single chicken, however I would recommend getting at least two- this way they aren’t bored and isolated! Thanks for the tips. (of course this is without knowing your dementions or situation). I live in a small town and just found out (after 5 years of living here) that I can have chickens. my girls were out almost every day this year and I only had to bring them in during the Polar Vortex. I am soon getting 12 chickens and i have a 8 by 11 sized coop. Now where and how you allow your chickens to roam is up to you. They don’t need a lot of grass and leaves, providing you are feeding them a healthy varied diet. I live next to a highway and don’t want to lose them. Some chickens also lay eggs in different colors, including blue, buff, silver, brown, white, pink and more. Claire. Maybe a couple of different coops to help us better manage 50-60 until we get used to it. I have a hen that is walking up right and acts like she can’t see sometimes. Claire, Hi we just got our coop and it is 7×8, we had it delivered, but it is facing north, is that bad? After so many dogs (and people apparently), loved my Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Treats, I thought it would be fun to make another one for the pooches. Claire. They were in the coop inside from age 3 weeks w heat lamp. We’re in mid-stream building a chicken coop. Beef trachea, trim, chicken and turkey feet are loaded in natural chondroitin and glucosamine which help to build healthy joints. You can certainly let them free roam whilst they are pullets and young hens. They’re 5-6 weeks old now. Claire. Right now I have 6 hens and a rooster and will probably end up with around 10-12 hens. Claire. Regardless of the choice you make, you will need a foot cubed of space per chicken in your nesting box. PROS : Comes in … Choosing chicken names for your new pet hen or rooster can be a lot of fun once your creative juices start flowing! Hi K, Helpful. We live in Montana where 15-20 below temps are not uncommon for weeks at a time, never getting above zero. I haven’t had to train dogs not to chase my chickens as my girls are within their own fenced run. Carried them out and built fence 1 week ago. We ship worldwide. The other key item inside the coop is the roosting/perching area. I am building a coop out of scrap lumber and not counting the nesting boxes that will hang out of it, I am making it a 5′.4″ x 3′ that will fit in our yard and still have space for a run. I have read a previous post that stated he lets his chickens have free reign of the garden for 2 hours before dusk. When I had bantams I placed the 2×4 on it’s side, narrow side up. Thanks. Bone Broth for Dogs & Other Pets: Bone Broth Recipes for Pets. Claire. We have an acre of land where they could free range, but my sister (who is my next door neighbor and on the same property) had some of her chickens attacked by dogs. Pick them up and really rummage through their feathers to spot any infestations. Hi there! We built a 12’x12′ outdoor enclosed run. Hi. LoL They do GREAT together but now I REALLY need advice on introduction & get my husband to stay away from the store! My lady wants as many as possible that we can hold without making them cramped. Not diameter, circumference. All chicken keepers know that birds love to perch and they will hop on to anything they can lay their feet on to give them a good view of the world. Just as an FYI and hello! The run is a touch small however if your hens are free ranging in the evening then it isn’t a problem Large chicken coops with only a small number of chickens in them can actually be a bad thing because the chickens can’t generate enough heat to keep the coop warm. Chicken feet: Chicken feet have similar benefits to chicken necks, however the bones are much smaller and crumble more easily, rather than scratch the throat or get stuck. I have done this before, you can connect both together and connect them through a 2×2 ft cutout if necessary. Producing one hamburger destroys 55 square feet of rainforest. What should I put down on the concrete floor for the best ? They will then wander back to roost fore night before dark. I have 23 chickens in a 1680 square foot portable fence. Thus a Great den is 10 times larger! That sounds like a good sized coop for them How many people have gotten chickens in the past five years? 30% protein is much closer to a recommendation for a human, but dogs and their natural counterparts could even thrive without many veggies or carb sources like rice and such. Best, do you think they will get too cold in the winter? Is there any particular reason why you want to split the flock? Claire, we don’t have grass will the chickens be ok, Hi Bob, They will certainly help your garden and keep the pests away, but will also go after the blueberries! let CurrentYear = new Date().getFullYear() Claire. Let's stay updated! Claire. These types of conditions also promote the spread of parasites amongst your flock. Maybe and idea for you? Free shipping nationwide! Coop in middle. Keeping chickens has become so popular as more people want to eat fresh organic eggs and enjoy the company of these smart, social and sweet birds. We will have 1 enclosed run about 6ft x 15ft (with an outside mobile tractor also). The actual chicken coop needs to be at least 3 square foot per chicken. The also keep a healthy distance from George The Hedgehog. Please advise! You can build your own chicken coop for around $100 or less (for a very simple structure) or, if you can find pallets, you can build it for the cost of nails.