I am wanting to build a coop in the yard to house a couple chickens. Mainly for a hobby, and for fresh eggs. I am going to need one that is enclosed, as I have a bunch of hawks and owls in the 'hood that will have them for breakfast. Plus I don't want them digging up my pepper plants and garden
I guess my questions are?
How many chickens would I need to produce eggs for a family of three?
And what dimensions for the enclosure and nesting box area?
Been looking on craigslist, but I am convinced I can build one cheaper than they are selling for
I have one chicken (1 too many if you ask me) that my wife got for the girls. She consistenly lays at least 1 egg a day, sometimes two. If you want to eat eggs everyday, you'll probably want at least 3.
Not sure of the coop dimensions, but my MIL used to stack a few egg crates and put some hay in there. They would roost and lay in there. I'm sure you can google up some plans. It shouldn't be too hard.
One word of advice, put them away from the house. You'll have flies from all the crap that they produce. You'll have more mosquitos buzzing around in the summer too.
X2 on keeping the coop far enough from the house
Also, be sure if you are going to build it yourself that it is strong. My aunt has lost several chickens from her coop from wild animals just tearing it open and getting them out.
Plan on one egg per chicken per day. I recommend picking up a book titled The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. It has 886 pages of information in it ranging on information about crops to tanning and skinning. It has stuff in there about chicken housing, raising and hatching chicks, places to order from. It has recipes for all kinds of things in there too. You can pick it up for around 20 bucks. http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Country-Living-Carla-Emery/dp/1570615535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323707453&sr=8-1
If you'd rather not get a book I found this link http://www.instructables.com/id/Backyard-Chicken-Coop/
hope it helps good luck.
Oh also check out ocala4sale.com if you are looking for chickens or other livestock.
yardbirds in "DA HOOD" are for teaching the chilldrens how to walk.
