Farm Dreams
Homesteading, Organic Gardening, How to Farm, Preparedness, Self-Reliance
Rain & Metal Roof (Chicken living quarters)
We have a carport (20x42) that is not attached-to, but about 3 feet from the side of the barn.
I want to close-in the bottom well to keep critters out, and use chicken wire to close in the entire structure (2 doors). I want the space to be open and airy, mostly easy to clean. In the winter months I will hang clear plastic on the outside and use hay bales and heat lamps if necessary. But in the summer months, I want a space where they can move around inside on days they may not get outside because of rain or whatever.
I'm new to the forum, and I want to say thanks in advance for any advice or opinions on this idea.
We are wondering if the sounds on the rooftop in a rainstorm may freak the birds out. It is warm here, they will be ready to go out in a few weeks. Right now they are 4/5 days old and 10/16 days old. We have them in a Rubbermaid box in a sunny room with a heat lamp at night. We have Americana, Black Austrolorpe, Barred Rock, Buff Orphington. The weather is very warm so we're having a lot of storms. Will they get used to the rain hitting the metal roof of the carport? I've been out there, it's pretty loud.
I thought I had the perfect place for them to live. We're just now building a tractor for them but it doesn't have nesting areas. They will be free-range during the daytime eventually.
So please tell me the truth about my idea for their living quarters?
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Karen Paro on -
I don't see any problems with it at all, around here most chicken "barns" have and are built fully of metal with larger more commercial operations, if they can do it on a large scale I don't see why it wouldn't work in a Hobby Farm operation as well.
-
Permalink Reply by Heather S on -
Hi Dana,
How exciting! As for the metal roofing, lots of chicken houses have metal roofing - also, lots of barns have metal sheet roofing (ours does) and there's many a flock of chickens kept in said barns (including ours). So - I think you're totally safe on that idea. I can't comment on the rest of the plans for your structure (am not familiar with the weather systems where you are), but in general it sounds like a great idea. We have the roof (metal) and trusses from a long abandoned trailer that we're planning to do something similar with come summer, though we'll be framing the walls with plywood or something similar. Mark my words - you're going to love those birds!
-
Permalink Reply by Abitcrunchy on -
Thanks to both of you. I think we're a little overwhelmed with the babies and just not thinking. Yes, we have chicken-houses next door, and yes, the roofs are all metal! Duh!
Okay, so with that one out of the way, here's another ;)
Do the hens prefer their nesting boxes to be closed-in or out in the open (during the summer months)? The sides of this carport are open except the one side that's close to the barn. I want them to have sunshine coming in. It just seems a little warm to have closed-in nesting boxes.
We are building the nesting boxes with roosting sticks. I wanted to use metal nesting boxes that came out of old chickenhouses torn down. We have no idea what we're doing so we really appreciate the critique!
We live near Athens GA (zone 7) and this week will be in the 80's all day, every day for a week. I have lettuce and broccoli/cauliflower growing unusually early in the garden. Loving it!!!
-
Permalink Reply by Karen Paro on
-
As far as nesting boxes go I'll let people that are from the same climate as you answer that I'm in Maine so we don't get anywhere near as hot as you during the summer and our birds prefer their nesting boxes to be on the same wall as the window and door they like it a little darker when they lay. We have a 4 cubby metal nesting box that my sister bought used from the feed store where she works - some of their customers bring them these types of things to sell on consignment - ours is closed in on 3 sides and a 4 or 6 inch lip on the front I think the individual slots are approx. 12 inches square but they seem to prefer to be closed in to lay, even the ones that don't use nesting boxes lay somewhere where they are more hidden the only ones that seem to lay in the open are pullets when they first start laying but once they get up to full speed even they go for closed in.
-
Permalink Reply by Heather S on
-
I second Karen completely! I'm also up north (moving to eastern Canada and live in England currently). In my experience I've never known of hens to want to lay in an exposed area (aside from pullets as Karen mentioned). Just thinking 'out loud' on heat, I'd be cautious with metal nest boxes for the fear they'd literally heat up (the metal itself), so would make sure they're shaded - and away from general foot traffic/noise. The same goes for the metal roof on your house - commerical operators will have serious air circulation systems - you might want to plan on some sort of ventilation, whether forced or free flow to get some of that heat out. Another tip is that with very warm temps, the red mites and other nasties will be things to keep a close eye on.
-
Permalink Reply by Rebecca on -
I have a good friend in Statham, GA (I myself just moved to PA from Athens, GA, so hello!) that keeps about 50 birds in a house with full-time outside (completely closed in with chicken wire) access. She uses metal nesting boxes inside the chicken house and has for many years; I don't think she has any issues with over-heating despite the 100+ degree days in that area.
-
Permalink Reply by SELAH Farm on -
Hello Abitcrunchy,
I am a little more south than you, I'm in Barnesville, GA. And I would like to be using the metal nesting boxes that you are talking about. (I saw them on craigslist.) But I already have a nice nesting box that I built of wood. So I could not see spending money on something I already had.
Anyway, my opinion is that you would want the nesting boxes in the shade. Or at least the back of them facing more south or west, so that the openings and roosting sticks are in the shade during the afternoon.
But other than that, as long as the chickens have LOTS of water available, they seem to have no problems with the heat at all. Chickens actually prefer it a lot warmer than us humans. So don't worry too much about them as long as they have shade and water they will do fine.
Chickens will enjoy free ranging around and getting into everything.
Enjoy them!
Abitcrunchy said:Thanks to both of you. I think we're a little overwhelmed with the babies and just not thinking. Yes, we have chicken-houses next door, and yes, the roofs are all metal! Duh!
Okay, so with that one out of the way, here's another ;)
Do the hens prefer their nesting boxes to be closed-in or out in the open (during the summer months)? The sides of this carport are open except the one side that's close to the barn. I want them to have sunshine coming in. It just seems a little warm to have closed-in nesting boxes.
We are building the nesting boxes with roosting sticks. I wanted to use metal nesting boxes that came out of old chickenhouses torn down. We have no idea what we're doing so we really appreciate the critique!
We live near Athens GA (zone 7) and this week will be in the 80's all day, every day for a week. I have lettuce and broccoli/cauliflower growing unusually early in the garden. Loving it!!!
-
Permalink Reply by Abitcrunchy on
-
:) After getting a little more attached to them I could not put them at the barn. It's just too far from the house and I need them more protected. I had my husband clean out an old garden shed and that's where we decided to put them. Right now, they have sticks and roosting areas and lots of straw for bedding. We spent 3 weeks getting the dog adjusted (a lab) and he's been very trustworthy. The minute he left the yard, the dogs from the neighborhood came around and took out little cooper and another hen named Butterscotch. I was so outraged!!! And sad. But the rest seem happy and content except Rex the rooster who has a crossed beak. We're about to go to the vet for lessons in how to care for him. :)
-
Permalink Reply by SusanLea2 on -
Have you thought of moveable electric netting to let them free-range inside it? I'm just thinking your neighbors' dogs are bound to be back. We went two years with no problems from predators, and then a fox found us. In one night he killed four of our female ducks, and in the next few days he got 5 chickens in broad daylight. He got three in one day, and then we moved the chickens into the barnyard, but three flew out and two never came home. That was when we got a livestock guardian puppy. She is now almost a year old and already guarding our birds, either inside the fenced barnyard or inside a 2-acre horse-fenced pasture.
I'm so sorry about you losing your chickens. By the time you get them raised, you get attached! It's awful when they get their life snatched away like that. Good luck with the rest.
-
Permalink Reply by Abitcrunchy on
-
Thanks to everyone for responding. I'm happy to meet you all, specially those Georgians!
Rex, with the cross beak passed away. My son found him dead one morning when he went to let them out. I will likely use my other idea (that I started with) for baby goats or a cow. I really want a dairy cow but have a lot to learn first.
Meanwhile, the husband wants to get more chickens (hens) and I'm not happy with messing up their already established pecking order.
Anyone added month old chickens to an already established henhouse? I had read that this was not a good idea.
Latest Activity
Cara Randall replied to Tamara Suber's discussion Hello Friends! Looking for advice on getting funding to start a sheep and goat farm!!!
© 2013 Created by Dusty Bottoms.
