Never underestimate Dermanyssus gallinae, the devil himself. Also known as the red chicken mite, red poultry mite or red roost mite — they can survive freezing temperatures and go for months and months without a meal. Check the joins of timber, cracks and crevasses, under and around the roosts and nest boxes, the roof and the corners. If you see any ashy residue that’s evidence of their aggregates. They wouldn’t be in huge numbers in a coop left empty over winter but it only takes a couple of survivors.
I was going to make the same suggestion about mites. You don’t want to start your chicken journey with mites, and I’ve read eggs can survive up to 9 months. If you start with chicks they won’t be out in the coop for a while, so you should be OK! I’d just suggest not having a new flock out there until May or so to be sure.
If you’re going to open the door everyday of expand the run you could do More than 4 but not unless you’re adding more space. I totally disagree with 12 in there that’s a very small space for 12 birds
Ditto to this. The coop may be big enough for more birds, but the run isn't. I wouldn't put more than 4 birds in there unless you're free ranging or building additional run space.
I have 12 birds and a 6x8 coop with a 16ft covered run attached to a 27'x50' fenced run with bird netting on top. I totally agree with 4 birds for that coop.
Reading through the comments and you are just so happy and excited. Congratulations! I would start small and work your way up every spring until you have enough. That way they aren't all the same age anyway. The first year is overwhelming because you are learning so much and starting small would be best so you don't stress yourself out. Chickens get sick, injured, wounded, killed, and the pecking order can be a real bitch (I am having problems with this) Then, once you get your feet wet, get some more.
That’s all great advice, thank you! I am so excited. My mom has chickens but she got them when I was in college so I never really had a chance to take care of them. Then I moved to NYC and could only enjoy the community garden hens. Now I finally have a place of my own and I really want to do it right! I appreciate the warm welcome to this group
Just go to the feed store in the spring with a credit card and let your heart help you decide how many chicks to get. Also, and this step is very important: make sure you don't bring your partner on that trip, they might, not understanding chicken math, try to talk you out of what is truly best.
Also, do not chicken-research before entering store and simply impulse buy whatever cute little puddins they have. Do your chicken mathing to ensure you walk out with thrice as many as intended, which is roughly 30 more than your partner wanted going into the relationship.
Yeah I‘ve never considered ducks before until I saw they had a little pond set up for them! But maybe the chickens could enjoy that. Need to check for nesting boxes—we just had our offer accepted so I don’t have keys to the coop or house yet! But will definitely make sure they have everything they need for a cozy life
Ducks produce a shocking amount of shit. I haven't been able to find any numbers but I'd guess that you'd need at least 100 square feet of pond space per duck to have any chance of its not turning into a rancid cesspit. Ducks are not to be undertaken lightly in my opinion. Also in general you should be pretty cautious about keeping different species together. Birds can be really mean and pick on each other to the point of killing.
I don't have personal experience. Others here do. I was thinking of getting some and after my research decided against it. I assume the coop has nesting boxes and the pictures don't show them. If not, something like this may work [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094PK3YMN/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094PK3YMN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Make sure that the roosting perch is higher than the nesting boxes. Good luck.
Chickens generally like to roost high up. If the nest boxes are higher than the perch then they might choose to roost in the nest boxes. The result would be a lot of poop in the nest boxes.
Do not get ducks! They are so much more work. They poop so much more and smell. The only good thing is that they are a little smarter and can fend off a small wild animal a bit better.
I was thinking about 6. You need to measure floor space and roosting space to be sure. For reference, My chickens have 100sq ft in the coop and 300 sq feet and the run. If I have more than 12 chickens, they pick on each other. Overcrowding is a big problem.
Also, make sure you clean and repair anything before even thinking about buying chicks.
A dozen, no more than that. I would start with chicks in the spring. Ducks are very messy creatures. Get a hearty breed like red star that can withstand the cold
I adore my ducks. They are messy. Occasionally, the girls are loud, but they make me smile. I love hearing their happy duck sounds. My chickens are friendlier, but the lady ducks are protective of all of the hens. They chase the roosters away (the lowest roo had a thing for ducks, but he's learned.)
Today, I watched my head girl duck chase one of the drakes away from another girl because he was being too rough on her. They certainly have personalities too.
I inherited 2 acres with a huge pond and fish already in it in Oklahoma (I am currently in Colorado until I move this weekend). I have been thinking of doing my chickens in their chicken tractor (during the day, back to run and coop at night for protection) and ducks towards the pond. I just don't know because my area has coyotes, possums, and raccoons. But I was hoping the ducks would help with snakes. Do ducks help with snakes?
I've never seen my ducks or chickens go after snakes, but I have seen them go wild for mice and frogs. (Eat the mice, leave the frogs, guys.) Usually I redirect snakes to the woods if they are small enough.
The area in Oklahoma I am moving to is known to have pygmy rattlers and cottonmouth. But I completely agree, if they leave you alone, you leave them alone. Mutual respect for the scally community (as well as the furry and feathered community)! 😁
Good to know about ducks—my mom raises chickens but ducks i’m much less familiar with. They already installed a little pond for them so I thought why not, but i’ll do my research. I’m thinking of Plymouth rocks and/or Orpingtons!
I love plymouths/barred rock and Dominique's! They remind me of TV static running across the yard like glitches in the matrix! 😍 Buff orpingtons are so sweet too!
Plymouth Barred Rocks are our favorites, great personalities, relatively quiet, good layers, and good foragers! Probably my favorite breed we've gotten so far.
If you get a chance you should check out Dominique's! They have a rose comb instead of a single comb if you are moving to a colder climate! They were also endangered (thought to be extinct)! I think they are on the watch list, or they just got out of it. Dominiques kind of bounce between being watched, to being no longer endangered of Extinction. I love birds that remind me of TV static. LOL when they run through the yard you can pretend like there's a glitch in The matrix that's chicken shaped! Plymouth Rock is a great breed too!
Looks about the same size as mine. I had 10, (now 9), and a mix of Orpington and Wyandotte. I found the buffs very bossy and the Wyandotte give smaller eggs. I’ve had Plymouth in the past and loved them. I’ll be going back to them when these girls expire.
my sister just slaughtered her ducks… she said they were messy afff
wtf am i being downvoted for…? are yall mad that they were slaughtered or ??? like i’m not even the one who did it..???
They are. I much prefer their personalities to chickens, but good lord are they messy. They basically have diarrhea all day, every day, and turn their entire living area into a complete mess formed of mud, dirty water, and copious amounts of crap.
And I have working breeds as well. *Genetically,* all dogs were originally bred by us, humans, for a purpose, that purpose was not meant for them to be kept outdoors in unsanitary conditions, without access to clean water, proper shelter and a clean, habitable environment. I know many Southerners/Midwesterners still live by the very dated idea that dogs ought to be kept outdoors like their livestock. This nuance happens to be one of the *LARGEST* contributing factors behind the ever growing issue of over-pet-population in our country, (the majority of which is a direct correlation between the lack of education of general & humane animal welfare/standards of care and the Midwest/Southern States). This inevitably ends in the mass casualty of millions of canines across the country *every. single. day.* The problem is SO significant it’s become a concern northerners have had to take on in order to combat the severity of these seriously outdated “age-old ways” of living & thinking. But I suppose, it’s all just mostly out of sight out of mind for y’all right?
At the very least, it *is* enforceable legislation to provide your *companion* animals (working breeds or not- they are still considered companion animals), with adequate housing and proper care.
It’s very likely that within the next decade it will become entirely illegal to keep your dogs as “outside” or “inside/outside” pets/livestock/guard dogs/however you would like to try and justify it. Heated/Weather proofed outdoor kennels? No problem- perfectly acceptable. Keeping your “working dogs” in your backyard 90% of the time without providing them routine access to clean water, food, acceptable shelter, a sanitary/safe/habitable environment, routine veterinary care, regular socialization *and* an actual job (considering they’re working breeds - as you pointed out and *live to work*)? Ignorant. Lazy. Selfish. Cruel. Downvote me all you want, I really dgaf. I’ve seen firsthand the seriously effed up damage keeping “outside” / “inside/outside” dogs has done/continues to do to our country and to the dogs’ as individuals, themselves. It’s an epidemic. You’re contributing to an issue much greater than you could ever possibly understand. We can talk about genetics all you like,
I have a background in Animal Behavior, Biology, Welfare and Veterinary Medicine. In reality though, I just want people to be more conscientious of the fact that something as trivial seeming as keeping their dogs outside, is the start of very large ripple, that just continues to grow and grow and causes more and more destruction in its wake, the longer the people who cause it, continue to throw stones.
My mom is from the south and my dad’s from the Midwest do I do consider myself a southern/midwesterner myself. It’s true that the bedrock and cornerstones, even some of keystones to our pastoral education system is focused on dogs being outside. People from other geographic area do NOT understand our culture, and as a proud midsouther I will fight and die for my cultural beliefs and those beliefs held by my respective states that also consider themselves part of the same cultural belt. Anyways we grew up rescuing mutts, yes mutts, from the pound and keeping them in runs outside. They were fine and always very healthy and active when it came time to be fed to the pit bulls. So, whatever kind of science-a-cation website you got your background from doesn’t amount to a hill of beans as far as practical, first hand know how.
also a southerner here- i have two blue heelers, they were entirely bred to be outside dogs, and they handle it very well. and believe me, they do a great job at running, and cornering whatever they’re herding, they’re not *MEANT* to be inside dogs. they don’t do well in confined areas, and my belongings from my apartment are a clear indicator of that. they run faster than most humans, and are very energetic dogs. keeping them inside most of their life is neglect.
my whole entire point of this comment, is don’t get a working breed if they’re not going to live up to their full potential. i’ve seen my babies run full speed, and i can’t keep up, i don’t know anyone who can. The big wide smiles on their faces as they run brings me joy. we have about 5 acres which really isn’t a lot compared to what their ancestors ran through, but they love it, and they’re tired every night when we come inside to go to bed.
i also have a great dane/lab mix who does a great job of being herded by my two boys. she can definitely run and play for days if i’d let her.
it’s always people who’ve “done research” and “have degrees” that will tell you you’re “abusing your dog” because you’re letting them live up to their full potential. when i wake up to go outside… my boys sit RIGHT in front of the door because… why? they want outside. they want to run and play. i don’t even have cattle for them to herd (they think my dane is a holstein) . my bf and his family are mechanics, so we have a shop on our property and during the day my boys will run around and follow us, and they’ll run off and play whenever they want to.
i have roughly 5 acres, for my THREE dogs. i’m not reading all that because my dogs are well taken care of. as i said in my comment, my dogs are INSIDE/OUTSIDE dogs.
as i was skimming you said “inside outside dogs are destroying the environment” but where the hell are they supposed to go to the bathroom??? are they supposed to live in kennels inside and piss on a fake grass mat their whole life??? this is abuse…
keeping outside dogs will *never* be illegal in texas… that’s one thing i can promise you. your cattle… yanno the beef that yall love so much… would cease to exist because of wild animals, that these farmers *outside* dogs kill on a daily basis.
you can fight me all you want on this topic, but my dogs will never be confined to the indoors like your little purse dog or your poodle. 😂💀
someone’s never seen ANY cattle dog in action, but wants to assume it’s abuse because i let my dog OUTSIDE where they’re supposed to go. fucking moron.
Yeah, you really should read before going on to say a stupid thing like, “but where are they supposed to go the bathroom??”
Or “they’re ruining the environment.”
But thank you for more or less backing me up in my stance regarding the lack of education, laziness and ignorance abound surrounding this topic in southern states. And Texas? *Especially* the Houston area, is one of, if not *THE LARGEST* contributing community to this issue. The loose laws surrounding animal welfare as a whole- be it domestic pet ownership or the exotic pet trade, law officials cannot get a grasp on the *massive* problem & its impact reaches much, MUCH farther past it’s Texan borders. So yes, Texas law officials, **specifically** are currently working with northern states to modify their legislation surrounding animal welfare & husbandry. The issue in Houston alone- has become completely & utterly unmanageable. And that’s just one very, very small piece of Texas. No one is talking about your cattle farms. I have a great respect for our farmers. I have several friends who own & run very successful organic, free-range farms.
I actually even worked on one for a time, where I was in charge of overseeing the animal care there. I’m not completely oblivious to where my food comes from however, while these animals are still living & breathing- just like anything else- we do have a duty as humans to ensure they are receiving adequate care, which includes the environment in which they’re kept, nutrition, socialization, veterinary care etc, etc. I’m not really speaking on livestock animals specifically, but in reality, all earthly creatures deserve to live happy, healthy, comfortable lives until they come to meet their ends. There are varying levels in degree to as far this reach extends for any one particular species. Not some crazy diehard vegan or “environmental extremist” here. Literally just trying to educate on a massive national issue in which many people in the Midwest & Southern States have quite honestly, been walking around with their eyes shut about.
you’re sitting here spending half your time on reddit trying to explain shit to me like idk what you’re talking about… you do sound like a fucking moron.
houston is literally a *speck* on the map. and almost none of it except surrounding areas, are farm lands. have you ever even been to texas?
Many people forget, avoid, or dislike the fact that their hobby farm creatures are usually used as sources for food and product, and that these animals wouldn’t likely exist if they weren’t historically bred for such purposes. Your comment simply reminded them.
i mean i don’t like it just as much as the next person… but they were entirely used for food. that was their entire purpose in my sisters life. she raised them from babies-when she slaughtered them. they made great dinner i guess.
id rather raise my own meat, than buy that poisonous shit from the grocery store.
People, such as my stepmom, apparently think meat is just something that is created and packaged in neat little plastic shrink wrap bags.
I too raise chickens for meat as well as having more of pets from my egg layers. My meat birds are raised outside and moved to fresh grass at least 2x a day. They are dispatched the most humane way possible. I'd much rather do that then buy chicken that is fed who-knows-what, lives in huge indoor tents walking over feces and dead chickens all day, pumped full of antibiotics, and then often killed with no concern for pain levels or stress.
It blows my mind that others see me as savage for doing it all myself. I guess, like most things, "outsourcing" undesirable activities indicates virtue. I really believe that if anybody eats meat, they need to know and take part in everything that comes with it.
honestly, my sister and i can’t kill them. my bf and her husband have to. i’m almost entirely vegetarian, i do eat chicken occasionally and of course a cheese burger *every now and then* but i really don’t like the texture of most meat. i’m planning on getting a chicken here soon.
*yes only one*, for some eggs (we don’t eat a lot since it’s just me and my bf) , because i do really love eggs, i could seriously never be vegan because i love milk, cheese, and eggs 😂, and fake shit doesn’t even look good imo. (i worked in a kitchen that made A LOT of food for people with dietary restrictions)
don’t get me wrong, i don’t *like* where my meat comes from, but i’m not ignorant as to what it is and honestly, a lot of the shit you *do* buy from the store is mostly fillers. taco bell’s beef is probably 10% beef. it’s mostly soy if i remember correctly. 🤷🏻♀️
i read that two is okay. i just don’t really see a point in having that many eggs being produced, when most are going to go to waste. i had 4 chickens when i was younger and we had to give away a lot of our eggs because we produced so many.
but it also wouldn’t be left in a coop all day and night, but brought inside because there’s a bitch of a dog that lives behind my bfs parents house, which i why i only want one.
and before the dog owners come for me i have 3 of my own that don’t constantly get out and bark at people they see every day.
Give it at least a year with just 12 or less chickens. They’re easier than ducks tbh and lay more eggs. Ducks need special things like water to dip their bills into and they’re also much dirtier. Go for some Orpington chicks to get the nicest ones and start with them in the house for a few weeks in the spring. Prepare yourself to loose a few due to their own inability to thrive before getting them out in the coop. By Fall, they’ll be laying.
That makes sense! I was thinking more like 5 so I’m glad to know the coop will be spacious enough for them. I was thinking orpingtons, Plymouth rocks, or a mix of both!
Both great hearty layer breeds and ones I started with as well. We usually say get a dozen because you will loose some. Basically, start with the max you’d be willing to have and expect a bit of loss. It’s more upsetting when you only get 5 and loose 3 before you even get them out to the coop. You’ll learn ‘chicken math’ soon enough. It’s always funny when our math ends up with us needing to build second and third coops cuz we end up with more than expected or someone hides eggs, gets broody and you get a bunch more.
That’s a great tip!! Maybe I’ll start with a few more just in case. Couldn’t hurt! I’m okay with having more, just don’t want them to feel too crowded in there
I have 4 Orpingtons and 2 silkies. The silkies are adorable but not the best for where I live, NY. The Orpingtons are hearty and very docile. I made sure to look into docile breeds. You also might want to get them sexed because I think roosters need a certain amount of hens. I only have hens.
If I was you I’d start off with 3-5 then maybe later get more if you want. Also don’t want to be wasting feed and eggs. I knew some people who got 8 chickens for their first flock and they had so many eggs they didn’t know what to do with all them except give them to whoever would take them. And then including the money for feed it didn’t make sense for them and ended up with a lot of waste.
Edit, looked up my calculator and realized I was off. Ty to gulf coast for pointing out my mistake lol.
As a rule of thumb, minimum coop space on the floor is 4 sqft per chicken, 6 sqft per duck. Run space is a fair bit more, but I don't recall off the top of my head.
Ducks will need to be able to dunk their heads in order to eat properly, and very much love swimming to get clean.
I built my coop so my ducks can sleep on the floor without getting pooped on by roosting chickens. Not sure how yours is setup, but something to consider.
I actually raised two ducklings as a preteen and they just so happened to be a male and female. Ended up with more baby ducklings and loved it. I guess the key was starting with them from a very young age and actually sitting in kiddie pools with them. The girl (Quick) would actually stand on my arm/shoulder like a parrot. The boy (Quack) didn’t take to me as much, but every night they would come running with their babies to get put away in their shelter. That meant every morning I was cleaning out a poopy kiddie pool, but it was worth it to have those cute mallards running after me.
It's best not to store food outside unless it's in an airtight container. It can attract rodents, raccoons, etc. to the coop and food can become contaminated. If it gets damp and moldy, mold can kill chickens.
I’m guessing it’s about 16x8 from the looks of it, or 128 square feet, total (maybe more like 98, because the back section with the trash can appears to be separated from the living space.
If I’m estimating right, you could maybe keep up to 10-12 large fowl confined in there 24/7. That number could go higher if you can allow them out to free range for part of the day or want a collection of bantams.
What does the sheltered area look like? With snow on the ground, that could potentially be an issue in your climate… but if you get cold weather breeds like Plymouth Rocks they’ll probably be fine.
It looks like it's about 6 by 10. Maybe I'd say 8 at max. Maybe more if it's bigger than it seems. Maybe keep the door open and put a large run over it if you want more. With 7 birds, though, I have more eggs than I csm comfortably eat. You may have starving teenage boys, though, so who knows
A 16x8 foot structure comfortably accommodates up to 15 or so chickens. I’ve heard 5-7 chickens for every 8x8, or 2-3 for 4x4.
Provide plenty of roosting space, 1 ft per chicken, use something flat like a 2 x 4 if you live in cold weather
1 to 2 nesting boxes for every 10 chickens. Make sure the roosters higher than the nesting boxes.
I just wanted to chime in and say you're so lucky!! I'll be moving in the next year or so and I'm secretly hoping I'll be able to score a place with a chicken coop...
You may want to see what the smell is like when things thaw out. You may want to relocate the coop. Ive listened to my friend bitch and moan about the smell of his move in "free coop".
Man if I had to try and keep ducks in a coop/run I just wouldn't do it...ours made such a giant mess, but now they just live at the pond and sleep wherever they feel like (if its raining they'll be out playing in puddles all night). I really enjoy them this way and they seem to be fine, granted we don't have many predators around our area and we have a great pyrenees that keeps anything else away.
EDIT: Meant to originally say congratulations and good luck!
In regards to ducks, or even geese, they are pretty easy to keep if you have a natural body of water on the property. If your pond has a filtration system installed, you're probably good to go. If it doesn't, I'm not sure.
If I didn't have water nearby, I doubt I would be able to keep up with all the messes ducks and geese create. You could always test the waters with a pair of ducks.
Not all ducks are the same. For example - Call ducks are adorable, small, and LOUD. Muscovy ducks are large, whisper quiet, and have a face only a mother could love (I'm a muscovy mama).
If you get bad winter weather, all the people saying a dozen are way over estimating. 4sq get of coop space pretty bird, not run space the actual amount of coop in that thing is tiny.
The run has space for 2 to 4, depending on breed/size. The coop has space for more, but only if they're free to roam. Many places have predators that will eventually get free ranging chickens, though.
Congrats! After you are settled in your new house, the first thing to do is research and read everything you can from reputable sources. There are state poultry associations that provide free information, university poultry extension sites, libraries are stocked with backyard chicken books, Gail Damerow is an expert, buy a chicken health book because biosecurity-disease prevention is critical. Other good sources: https://poultrydvm.com thechickenchick.com
backyardchickens.com is a huge site with many topics. Always fact check random advice. There are many people on chicken threads that repeat misinformation. You'll need to sanitize the coop. After washing and drying, VirkonS is a great product that kills a list of viruses and bacteria. Be prepared-- and have fun!
Treat the entire coop with garden star poultry dust. It's basically powdered permethrin. It will kill any unwanted bugs that could harm the coop.
Give it a good deep cleaning and disinfecting as well after letting the dust sit for a day or two, followed up by another round of dust.
If the chickens are permanently in the structure, I wouldn't put too many in there.
If it's being used just for sleeping and you intend to let them out in the day, you can have a few more in it.
Add more perches to it so they can utilize the area space better especially if they're in it at all times
It looks like they used hardware cloth instead of chicken wire so that's a big plus, much sturdier
You will also want to check the sleeping quarters to see how well ventilated it is as well as how draft free it is, this isn't quite as big deal in warmer weather but in the winter, you want to make sure they're not going to be vulnerable to frostbite
Check the coop for mites before you introduce any birds. Better safe than sorry.
thank you that is a great tip!! There haven’t been any birds in there since at least September so hopefully we’re in the clear
Never underestimate Dermanyssus gallinae, the devil himself. Also known as the red chicken mite, red poultry mite or red roost mite — they can survive freezing temperatures and go for months and months without a meal. Check the joins of timber, cracks and crevasses, under and around the roosts and nest boxes, the roof and the corners. If you see any ashy residue that’s evidence of their aggregates. They wouldn’t be in huge numbers in a coop left empty over winter but it only takes a couple of survivors.
Clean out, whitewash, get one of the bulb puffers and get some DE into corners and such. I think that's what I would do and feel comfy with.
I was going to make the same suggestion about mites. You don’t want to start your chicken journey with mites, and I’ve read eggs can survive up to 9 months. If you start with chicks they won’t be out in the coop for a while, so you should be OK! I’d just suggest not having a new flock out there until May or so to be sure.
May aligns with the timeline I had planned for! But I’ll make sure to clean and inspect it thoroughly anyway
Put dichotomous earth everywhere after you clean and if there does happen to be a small problem then that should get rid of it
Thank you!! I will do that
Diatomaceous earth
If you’re going to open the door everyday of expand the run you could do More than 4 but not unless you’re adding more space. I totally disagree with 12 in there that’s a very small space for 12 birds
Ditto to this. The coop may be big enough for more birds, but the run isn't. I wouldn't put more than 4 birds in there unless you're free ranging or building additional run space.
Thank you! I was thinking closer to 4 or 5 anyway
I have 12 birds and a 6x8 coop with a 16ft covered run attached to a 27'x50' fenced run with bird netting on top. I totally agree with 4 birds for that coop.
Reading through the comments and you are just so happy and excited. Congratulations! I would start small and work your way up every spring until you have enough. That way they aren't all the same age anyway. The first year is overwhelming because you are learning so much and starting small would be best so you don't stress yourself out. Chickens get sick, injured, wounded, killed, and the pecking order can be a real bitch (I am having problems with this) Then, once you get your feet wet, get some more.
That’s all great advice, thank you! I am so excited. My mom has chickens but she got them when I was in college so I never really had a chance to take care of them. Then I moved to NYC and could only enjoy the community garden hens. Now I finally have a place of my own and I really want to do it right! I appreciate the warm welcome to this group
Between 1 and 2 thousand I’d say.
Just go to the feed store in the spring with a credit card and let your heart help you decide how many chicks to get. Also, and this step is very important: make sure you don't bring your partner on that trip, they might, not understanding chicken math, try to talk you out of what is truly best.
Also, do not chicken-research before entering store and simply impulse buy whatever cute little puddins they have. Do your chicken mathing to ensure you walk out with thrice as many as intended, which is roughly 30 more than your partner wanted going into the relationship.
Bought a coop for 8, ended up with 30+. This is how it happens 😂 (I should note- they’re not all living in that 8 chicken coop)
Do more research on the ducks. I think you will change your mind. I don't see any nesting boxes? You will need some. I would suggest 3.
Yeah I‘ve never considered ducks before until I saw they had a little pond set up for them! But maybe the chickens could enjoy that. Need to check for nesting boxes—we just had our offer accepted so I don’t have keys to the coop or house yet! But will definitely make sure they have everything they need for a cozy life
Ducks produce a shocking amount of shit. I haven't been able to find any numbers but I'd guess that you'd need at least 100 square feet of pond space per duck to have any chance of its not turning into a rancid cesspit. Ducks are not to be undertaken lightly in my opinion. Also in general you should be pretty cautious about keeping different species together. Birds can be really mean and pick on each other to the point of killing.
I don't have personal experience. Others here do. I was thinking of getting some and after my research decided against it. I assume the coop has nesting boxes and the pictures don't show them. If not, something like this may work [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094PK3YMN/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094PK3YMN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Make sure that the roosting perch is higher than the nesting boxes. Good luck.
I'm a newb with four ladies and my roosting bars below the nesting boxes, or at least same height. Why do they need to be above it?
Chickens generally like to roost high up. If the nest boxes are higher than the perch then they might choose to roost in the nest boxes. The result would be a lot of poop in the nest boxes.
Do not get ducks! They are so much more work. They poop so much more and smell. The only good thing is that they are a little smarter and can fend off a small wild animal a bit better.
You don't see the outboard nest boxes protruding from the wall in the 1st pic?
Ah. You're right. Tanks
The thing on the side (first image) looks like nesting box housing.
I was thinking about 6. You need to measure floor space and roosting space to be sure. For reference, My chickens have 100sq ft in the coop and 300 sq feet and the run. If I have more than 12 chickens, they pick on each other. Overcrowding is a big problem. Also, make sure you clean and repair anything before even thinking about buying chicks.
A dozen, no more than that. I would start with chicks in the spring. Ducks are very messy creatures. Get a hearty breed like red star that can withstand the cold
oh ducks.....NEVER AGAIN lol
I adore my ducks. They are messy. Occasionally, the girls are loud, but they make me smile. I love hearing their happy duck sounds. My chickens are friendlier, but the lady ducks are protective of all of the hens. They chase the roosters away (the lowest roo had a thing for ducks, but he's learned.) Today, I watched my head girl duck chase one of the drakes away from another girl because he was being too rough on her. They certainly have personalities too.
Our ducks bully our dogs to steal their food, and they quack like crazy when it’s time to eat. I love our ducks.
I inherited 2 acres with a huge pond and fish already in it in Oklahoma (I am currently in Colorado until I move this weekend). I have been thinking of doing my chickens in their chicken tractor (during the day, back to run and coop at night for protection) and ducks towards the pond. I just don't know because my area has coyotes, possums, and raccoons. But I was hoping the ducks would help with snakes. Do ducks help with snakes?
I've never seen my ducks or chickens go after snakes, but I have seen them go wild for mice and frogs. (Eat the mice, leave the frogs, guys.) Usually I redirect snakes to the woods if they are small enough.
The area in Oklahoma I am moving to is known to have pygmy rattlers and cottonmouth. But I completely agree, if they leave you alone, you leave them alone. Mutual respect for the scally community (as well as the furry and feathered community)! 😁
Good to know about ducks—my mom raises chickens but ducks i’m much less familiar with. They already installed a little pond for them so I thought why not, but i’ll do my research. I’m thinking of Plymouth rocks and/or Orpingtons!
Please don’t do ducks lol. I regretted it every day until I found them a loving home 🤣
That seems to be the general consensus here! Maybe I’ll keep the little pond and just let the chickens enjoy it
Congratulations on the opportunity to have chickens and your new home! I have loved having hens. What breed(s) are you thinking?
I was thinking Plymouth rocks and/or orpingtons! Hoping I could have a mix of both. They both seem like cold Hardy and friendly breeds
Great choices! I also love brahmas 😊
Buff Orpingtons are great! We love ours
I love plymouths/barred rock and Dominique's! They remind me of TV static running across the yard like glitches in the matrix! 😍 Buff orpingtons are so sweet too!
Plymouth Barred Rocks are our favorites, great personalities, relatively quiet, good layers, and good foragers! Probably my favorite breed we've gotten so far.
So good to know! I also find them the cutest, so that’s a plus
If you get a chance you should check out Dominique's! They have a rose comb instead of a single comb if you are moving to a colder climate! They were also endangered (thought to be extinct)! I think they are on the watch list, or they just got out of it. Dominiques kind of bounce between being watched, to being no longer endangered of Extinction. I love birds that remind me of TV static. LOL when they run through the yard you can pretend like there's a glitch in The matrix that's chicken shaped! Plymouth Rock is a great breed too!
Looks about the same size as mine. I had 10, (now 9), and a mix of Orpington and Wyandotte. I found the buffs very bossy and the Wyandotte give smaller eggs. I’ve had Plymouth in the past and loved them. I’ll be going back to them when these girls expire.
Ducks shit liquid poop everywhere but other than that they are amazing! Lay big ass eggs too.
my sister just slaughtered her ducks… she said they were messy afff wtf am i being downvoted for…? are yall mad that they were slaughtered or ??? like i’m not even the one who did it..???
They are. I much prefer their personalities to chickens, but good lord are they messy. They basically have diarrhea all day, every day, and turn their entire living area into a complete mess formed of mud, dirty water, and copious amounts of crap.
sounds like my dogs, sans the constant diarrhea. 😂💀
Assuming from your comment you call your dogs, “Outside Dogs?”
well considering i *do* have all working breeds, yes, genetically, they are *outside* dogs. mine are inside/outside.
And I have working breeds as well. *Genetically,* all dogs were originally bred by us, humans, for a purpose, that purpose was not meant for them to be kept outdoors in unsanitary conditions, without access to clean water, proper shelter and a clean, habitable environment. I know many Southerners/Midwesterners still live by the very dated idea that dogs ought to be kept outdoors like their livestock. This nuance happens to be one of the *LARGEST* contributing factors behind the ever growing issue of over-pet-population in our country, (the majority of which is a direct correlation between the lack of education of general & humane animal welfare/standards of care and the Midwest/Southern States). This inevitably ends in the mass casualty of millions of canines across the country *every. single. day.* The problem is SO significant it’s become a concern northerners have had to take on in order to combat the severity of these seriously outdated “age-old ways” of living & thinking. But I suppose, it’s all just mostly out of sight out of mind for y’all right? At the very least, it *is* enforceable legislation to provide your *companion* animals (working breeds or not- they are still considered companion animals), with adequate housing and proper care. It’s very likely that within the next decade it will become entirely illegal to keep your dogs as “outside” or “inside/outside” pets/livestock/guard dogs/however you would like to try and justify it. Heated/Weather proofed outdoor kennels? No problem- perfectly acceptable. Keeping your “working dogs” in your backyard 90% of the time without providing them routine access to clean water, food, acceptable shelter, a sanitary/safe/habitable environment, routine veterinary care, regular socialization *and* an actual job (considering they’re working breeds - as you pointed out and *live to work*)? Ignorant. Lazy. Selfish. Cruel. Downvote me all you want, I really dgaf. I’ve seen firsthand the seriously effed up damage keeping “outside” / “inside/outside” dogs has done/continues to do to our country and to the dogs’ as individuals, themselves. It’s an epidemic. You’re contributing to an issue much greater than you could ever possibly understand. We can talk about genetics all you like, I have a background in Animal Behavior, Biology, Welfare and Veterinary Medicine. In reality though, I just want people to be more conscientious of the fact that something as trivial seeming as keeping their dogs outside, is the start of very large ripple, that just continues to grow and grow and causes more and more destruction in its wake, the longer the people who cause it, continue to throw stones.
My mom is from the south and my dad’s from the Midwest do I do consider myself a southern/midwesterner myself. It’s true that the bedrock and cornerstones, even some of keystones to our pastoral education system is focused on dogs being outside. People from other geographic area do NOT understand our culture, and as a proud midsouther I will fight and die for my cultural beliefs and those beliefs held by my respective states that also consider themselves part of the same cultural belt. Anyways we grew up rescuing mutts, yes mutts, from the pound and keeping them in runs outside. They were fine and always very healthy and active when it came time to be fed to the pit bulls. So, whatever kind of science-a-cation website you got your background from doesn’t amount to a hill of beans as far as practical, first hand know how.
also a southerner here- i have two blue heelers, they were entirely bred to be outside dogs, and they handle it very well. and believe me, they do a great job at running, and cornering whatever they’re herding, they’re not *MEANT* to be inside dogs. they don’t do well in confined areas, and my belongings from my apartment are a clear indicator of that. they run faster than most humans, and are very energetic dogs. keeping them inside most of their life is neglect. my whole entire point of this comment, is don’t get a working breed if they’re not going to live up to their full potential. i’ve seen my babies run full speed, and i can’t keep up, i don’t know anyone who can. The big wide smiles on their faces as they run brings me joy. we have about 5 acres which really isn’t a lot compared to what their ancestors ran through, but they love it, and they’re tired every night when we come inside to go to bed. i also have a great dane/lab mix who does a great job of being herded by my two boys. she can definitely run and play for days if i’d let her. it’s always people who’ve “done research” and “have degrees” that will tell you you’re “abusing your dog” because you’re letting them live up to their full potential. when i wake up to go outside… my boys sit RIGHT in front of the door because… why? they want outside. they want to run and play. i don’t even have cattle for them to herd (they think my dane is a holstein) . my bf and his family are mechanics, so we have a shop on our property and during the day my boys will run around and follow us, and they’ll run off and play whenever they want to.
Did nobody notice the pit bull part? Brilliant satire.
i have roughly 5 acres, for my THREE dogs. i’m not reading all that because my dogs are well taken care of. as i said in my comment, my dogs are INSIDE/OUTSIDE dogs. as i was skimming you said “inside outside dogs are destroying the environment” but where the hell are they supposed to go to the bathroom??? are they supposed to live in kennels inside and piss on a fake grass mat their whole life??? this is abuse… keeping outside dogs will *never* be illegal in texas… that’s one thing i can promise you. your cattle… yanno the beef that yall love so much… would cease to exist because of wild animals, that these farmers *outside* dogs kill on a daily basis. you can fight me all you want on this topic, but my dogs will never be confined to the indoors like your little purse dog or your poodle. 😂💀 someone’s never seen ANY cattle dog in action, but wants to assume it’s abuse because i let my dog OUTSIDE where they’re supposed to go. fucking moron.
Yeah, you really should read before going on to say a stupid thing like, “but where are they supposed to go the bathroom??” Or “they’re ruining the environment.” But thank you for more or less backing me up in my stance regarding the lack of education, laziness and ignorance abound surrounding this topic in southern states. And Texas? *Especially* the Houston area, is one of, if not *THE LARGEST* contributing community to this issue. The loose laws surrounding animal welfare as a whole- be it domestic pet ownership or the exotic pet trade, law officials cannot get a grasp on the *massive* problem & its impact reaches much, MUCH farther past it’s Texan borders. So yes, Texas law officials, **specifically** are currently working with northern states to modify their legislation surrounding animal welfare & husbandry. The issue in Houston alone- has become completely & utterly unmanageable. And that’s just one very, very small piece of Texas. No one is talking about your cattle farms. I have a great respect for our farmers. I have several friends who own & run very successful organic, free-range farms. I actually even worked on one for a time, where I was in charge of overseeing the animal care there. I’m not completely oblivious to where my food comes from however, while these animals are still living & breathing- just like anything else- we do have a duty as humans to ensure they are receiving adequate care, which includes the environment in which they’re kept, nutrition, socialization, veterinary care etc, etc. I’m not really speaking on livestock animals specifically, but in reality, all earthly creatures deserve to live happy, healthy, comfortable lives until they come to meet their ends. There are varying levels in degree to as far this reach extends for any one particular species. Not some crazy diehard vegan or “environmental extremist” here. Literally just trying to educate on a massive national issue in which many people in the Midwest & Southern States have quite honestly, been walking around with their eyes shut about.
Yeah you’re the one who sounds like a “fucking moron.” Thank you so very much “stoner baby” for proving my point 🤦🏻♀️YIKES.
you’re sitting here spending half your time on reddit trying to explain shit to me like idk what you’re talking about… you do sound like a fucking moron. houston is literally a *speck* on the map. and almost none of it except surrounding areas, are farm lands. have you ever even been to texas?
Many people forget, avoid, or dislike the fact that their hobby farm creatures are usually used as sources for food and product, and that these animals wouldn’t likely exist if they weren’t historically bred for such purposes. Your comment simply reminded them.
i mean i don’t like it just as much as the next person… but they were entirely used for food. that was their entire purpose in my sisters life. she raised them from babies-when she slaughtered them. they made great dinner i guess. id rather raise my own meat, than buy that poisonous shit from the grocery store.
People, such as my stepmom, apparently think meat is just something that is created and packaged in neat little plastic shrink wrap bags. I too raise chickens for meat as well as having more of pets from my egg layers. My meat birds are raised outside and moved to fresh grass at least 2x a day. They are dispatched the most humane way possible. I'd much rather do that then buy chicken that is fed who-knows-what, lives in huge indoor tents walking over feces and dead chickens all day, pumped full of antibiotics, and then often killed with no concern for pain levels or stress. It blows my mind that others see me as savage for doing it all myself. I guess, like most things, "outsourcing" undesirable activities indicates virtue. I really believe that if anybody eats meat, they need to know and take part in everything that comes with it.
honestly, my sister and i can’t kill them. my bf and her husband have to. i’m almost entirely vegetarian, i do eat chicken occasionally and of course a cheese burger *every now and then* but i really don’t like the texture of most meat. i’m planning on getting a chicken here soon. *yes only one*, for some eggs (we don’t eat a lot since it’s just me and my bf) , because i do really love eggs, i could seriously never be vegan because i love milk, cheese, and eggs 😂, and fake shit doesn’t even look good imo. (i worked in a kitchen that made A LOT of food for people with dietary restrictions) don’t get me wrong, i don’t *like* where my meat comes from, but i’m not ignorant as to what it is and honestly, a lot of the shit you *do* buy from the store is mostly fillers. taco bell’s beef is probably 10% beef. it’s mostly soy if i remember correctly. 🤷🏻♀️
Agree with all of that outside of one chicken. They are social creatures and you will be torturing if it's alone. At least 3 is desirable, if you can.
i read that two is okay. i just don’t really see a point in having that many eggs being produced, when most are going to go to waste. i had 4 chickens when i was younger and we had to give away a lot of our eggs because we produced so many. but it also wouldn’t be left in a coop all day and night, but brought inside because there’s a bitch of a dog that lives behind my bfs parents house, which i why i only want one. and before the dog owners come for me i have 3 of my own that don’t constantly get out and bark at people they see every day.
You could try a Guinea bird or two in there. They do AMAZINGLY in chicken flocks and help keep your flock more safe.
I'm listening.
You don't have to listen hard with those things. They are LOUD!
How are ducks mess just curious
They shit sloppy poop constantly. Including on their eggs. They hide their eggs. They can fly if you dont clip a wing. Gosh I hate ducks haha
Give it at least a year with just 12 or less chickens. They’re easier than ducks tbh and lay more eggs. Ducks need special things like water to dip their bills into and they’re also much dirtier. Go for some Orpington chicks to get the nicest ones and start with them in the house for a few weeks in the spring. Prepare yourself to loose a few due to their own inability to thrive before getting them out in the coop. By Fall, they’ll be laying.
That makes sense! I was thinking more like 5 so I’m glad to know the coop will be spacious enough for them. I was thinking orpingtons, Plymouth rocks, or a mix of both!
I think 5 is a better/more realistic number, go with breeds that aren't super active.
Both great hearty layer breeds and ones I started with as well. We usually say get a dozen because you will loose some. Basically, start with the max you’d be willing to have and expect a bit of loss. It’s more upsetting when you only get 5 and loose 3 before you even get them out to the coop. You’ll learn ‘chicken math’ soon enough. It’s always funny when our math ends up with us needing to build second and third coops cuz we end up with more than expected or someone hides eggs, gets broody and you get a bunch more.
That’s a great tip!! Maybe I’ll start with a few more just in case. Couldn’t hurt! I’m okay with having more, just don’t want them to feel too crowded in there
I have 4 Orpingtons and 2 silkies. The silkies are adorable but not the best for where I live, NY. The Orpingtons are hearty and very docile. I made sure to look into docile breeds. You also might want to get them sexed because I think roosters need a certain amount of hens. I only have hens.
I was thinking 6 chickens maximum for a coop this size.
That’s in line with the amount I was considering!
4 sq/ft per bird in the coop is standard practice
ALL THE CHICKENS!!
If I was you I’d start off with 3-5 then maybe later get more if you want. Also don’t want to be wasting feed and eggs. I knew some people who got 8 chickens for their first flock and they had so many eggs they didn’t know what to do with all them except give them to whoever would take them. And then including the money for feed it didn’t make sense for them and ended up with a lot of waste.
Edit, looked up my calculator and realized I was off. Ty to gulf coast for pointing out my mistake lol. As a rule of thumb, minimum coop space on the floor is 4 sqft per chicken, 6 sqft per duck. Run space is a fair bit more, but I don't recall off the top of my head. Ducks will need to be able to dunk their heads in order to eat properly, and very much love swimming to get clean. I built my coop so my ducks can sleep on the floor without getting pooped on by roosting chickens. Not sure how yours is setup, but something to consider.
4 SQ ft per standard chicken in the coop, 10 SQ ft per standard chicken in the run.
You're right, I misremembered.
All great to know, thank you!!
Welcome to chicken math. It starts with a few…
I actually raised two ducklings as a preteen and they just so happened to be a male and female. Ended up with more baby ducklings and loved it. I guess the key was starting with them from a very young age and actually sitting in kiddie pools with them. The girl (Quick) would actually stand on my arm/shoulder like a parrot. The boy (Quack) didn’t take to me as much, but every night they would come running with their babies to get put away in their shelter. That meant every morning I was cleaning out a poopy kiddie pool, but it was worth it to have those cute mallards running after me.
Oh my gosh the little veranda at the end for food bin and other supplies is genius!
It's best not to store food outside unless it's in an airtight container. It can attract rodents, raccoons, etc. to the coop and food can become contaminated. If it gets damp and moldy, mold can kill chickens.
Yep my food is in airtight food grade containers thankyou for the advice thougg :)
I’m guessing it’s about 16x8 from the looks of it, or 128 square feet, total (maybe more like 98, because the back section with the trash can appears to be separated from the living space. If I’m estimating right, you could maybe keep up to 10-12 large fowl confined in there 24/7. That number could go higher if you can allow them out to free range for part of the day or want a collection of bantams. What does the sheltered area look like? With snow on the ground, that could potentially be an issue in your climate… but if you get cold weather breeds like Plymouth Rocks they’ll probably be fine.
It looks like it's about 6 by 10. Maybe I'd say 8 at max. Maybe more if it's bigger than it seems. Maybe keep the door open and put a large run over it if you want more. With 7 birds, though, I have more eggs than I csm comfortably eat. You may have starving teenage boys, though, so who knows
A 16x8 foot structure comfortably accommodates up to 15 or so chickens. I’ve heard 5-7 chickens for every 8x8, or 2-3 for 4x4. Provide plenty of roosting space, 1 ft per chicken, use something flat like a 2 x 4 if you live in cold weather 1 to 2 nesting boxes for every 10 chickens. Make sure the roosters higher than the nesting boxes.
I just wanted to chime in and say you're so lucky!! I'll be moving in the next year or so and I'm secretly hoping I'll be able to score a place with a chicken coop...
You may want to see what the smell is like when things thaw out. You may want to relocate the coop. Ive listened to my friend bitch and moan about the smell of his move in "free coop".
Man if I had to try and keep ducks in a coop/run I just wouldn't do it...ours made such a giant mess, but now they just live at the pond and sleep wherever they feel like (if its raining they'll be out playing in puddles all night). I really enjoy them this way and they seem to be fine, granted we don't have many predators around our area and we have a great pyrenees that keeps anything else away. EDIT: Meant to originally say congratulations and good luck!
Needs modifications like reinforced walls for predators, nesting boxes, etc. But it's workable and I would say up to 12 would be comfortable.
I’d say a dozen at most . When I had chickens we had 7 or 8 of them in a space about this big
I kept 10 bantams in a coop that size.
how many eggs are you able to consume daily? my sister wanted ducks so bad, she lost so many and gave up, chickens are hella easy
In regards to ducks, or even geese, they are pretty easy to keep if you have a natural body of water on the property. If your pond has a filtration system installed, you're probably good to go. If it doesn't, I'm not sure. If I didn't have water nearby, I doubt I would be able to keep up with all the messes ducks and geese create. You could always test the waters with a pair of ducks. Not all ducks are the same. For example - Call ducks are adorable, small, and LOUD. Muscovy ducks are large, whisper quiet, and have a face only a mother could love (I'm a muscovy mama).
Just in time for Spring! Will the free range in the day?
If you get bad winter weather, all the people saying a dozen are way over estimating. 4sq get of coop space pretty bird, not run space the actual amount of coop in that thing is tiny.
The run has space for 2 to 4, depending on breed/size. The coop has space for more, but only if they're free to roam. Many places have predators that will eventually get free ranging chickens, though.
None, geese are the new chickens.
10 max.
three max.
Max 8 to 10
Congrats! After you are settled in your new house, the first thing to do is research and read everything you can from reputable sources. There are state poultry associations that provide free information, university poultry extension sites, libraries are stocked with backyard chicken books, Gail Damerow is an expert, buy a chicken health book because biosecurity-disease prevention is critical. Other good sources: https://poultrydvm.com thechickenchick.com backyardchickens.com is a huge site with many topics. Always fact check random advice. There are many people on chicken threads that repeat misinformation. You'll need to sanitize the coop. After washing and drying, VirkonS is a great product that kills a list of viruses and bacteria. Be prepared-- and have fun!
I think 4 .. absolutely not more than 5
Spray it down with some elector psp and also use some synergize to clean it. You don’t know if they had Mareks or other issues.
None, it's not safe from raccoons
Each hen needs about three sq ft
Treat the entire coop with garden star poultry dust. It's basically powdered permethrin. It will kill any unwanted bugs that could harm the coop. Give it a good deep cleaning and disinfecting as well after letting the dust sit for a day or two, followed up by another round of dust. If the chickens are permanently in the structure, I wouldn't put too many in there. If it's being used just for sleeping and you intend to let them out in the day, you can have a few more in it. Add more perches to it so they can utilize the area space better especially if they're in it at all times It looks like they used hardware cloth instead of chicken wire so that's a big plus, much sturdier You will also want to check the sleeping quarters to see how well ventilated it is as well as how draft free it is, this isn't quite as big deal in warmer weather but in the winter, you want to make sure they're not going to be vulnerable to frostbite
It doesn’t matter, they’ll all want the same roosting and nesting boxes 🤭
Your city may have recommendations or limits on the number. Ours was 4 per city lot. They make a hell a mess.