We are in the process of building a new chicken coop. You can see a bit of the old coop on the left. It was one of our first building projects and I call it the “slanty shanty.” We built it from logs we cut on our property. We spent many hours building it. It is about 5 x8 ft which is large enough for our current flock but when we combine the new chicks it won’t be. It is also impossible to get into and clean and the nesting boxes are not ideal and they only use them on occasion (we find most of the eggs in our hay shed). We’ll repurpose the old coop as a garden shed or maybe we can modify it for the pigs. The new coop will be 100 sq feet (the max we can get away with with out getting a permit). We opt’d to use pole framing which is much easier, faster, and cheaper. We’re covering the sides with board and batten which will match our horse shelter. We have two triangular windows the previous owners left in the attic which we’ll put above the door and match the roof pitch (Yay for planning!). Most of the boards are salvaged from a portion of our deck that we replaced last year. Pole bulidings are really easy to put up, mark out where your posts will go (make sure it is square!) set your posts in the ground, nail on your girts, add your roof, nail your siding to the girts and shingles to the roof and done. You’ll probably have to add some bracing here and there while you are buliding. We didn’t bother adding much in the way of bracing, if you can get enough siding and roofing on to make the structure ridgid it’ll work. On a larger building you would need to use bracing as you wouldn’t beable to get enough roof/siding completed before a gust of wind reduced it to a heap of lumber. We’ll eventually insulate the coop and provide some roof vents and air intake (so we don’t create drafts over the chickens). We have power already in the old coop, we’ll move it over to the new one and add an outdoor light with a motion sensor (be nice for closing up the coop at night). We probably won’t have water at the coop this year but it isn’t too bad taking down a fresh jug every morning. There will also be a second room at the back of the coop for feed/bedding storage and will give us a place to segregate chickens or raise chicks if we want to. We should have it closed in in about a week or so with the insulation and finishing touches to complete over the remainder of the summer.
So, by reading this and previous posts, you have chickens, horses (rifding trail) and pigs! May I ask, how many acres you have? In Ontario land is realitively expensive. Farms out this way are bigger , I find, but we contend with the fact we have a shorter growing season. I find that we are starting out and I am CONSIDERING chickens because of the relatively low cost of set up (no fences, watering system, small enclosure). I will probably use a chicken tractor for the summer and then kill them in the fall. I will be ready for next spring, raising them in the basement, once I find a dealer or a local farmer culling his pens.
Pigs are easy to raise?
Again, I won’t consider a animal I have to overwinter as the winters are minus 40 here. Not ALL winter, but the thermometer drops below minus 20 for the most part.
We have chickens, 2 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs. We are still working towards having pigs. We have 5 acres, 1 acre of pond, 2 acres bush, 1 acre for the house and 1 acre for the remainder.
I’m curious, how long is your growing season. I believe we have an average of 130 frost free days here in Ontario. My sister lives in Delaware USA and they have an even longer growing season. About 2-3 months I think. The disadvantage is they have to deal with more pests. You win some you lose some.
Chickens are definitely an easy start. We strongly recommend not getting any of the commercial broiler varieties. We’ve had pretty luxurious accommodations for them and they are still getting injured. 1 died the first day, 1 broken leg a few weeks ago and 2 have had large wounds from their peers pecking them. So that is 4 out of 13. A fairly poor rate of success. Our heritage breeds on we’ve raised 29 last year and 16 this year for layers and 13 for food and not a single injury! When you get animals we’d definitely be interested in hearing about your experiences!
you are really blessed, live in thriving land. it wonderful.