[craigpix2000]

Hi im hopefully going to be making my first chicken coop this weekend the main houseing is going to be 6x4ft with a conected run or of about 4x12ft im going to raise the housing of the floor (breeze blocks) but my main question is how high should the main housing be standard size of a shed or smaller???

Also how many chickens could i keep in that space (ive looked round loads of sites and they all state diffrent)

The main types of chickens ive been looking at are sussex and silkie chickens is there any other breeds that are freindly egg layers ive got a 3yr old son and want him to really get to connect with the chickens

sorry if its a long post but i really want to do whats write for the chickens 

[nicky d]

hiya, im not gonna comment on the chicken house as im definately not one for dimensions but im sure someone will come along and advise you definatley, as regards to wot breeds to get there are definatley alot out there that will be excellent layers especially the hybrids aswell as pure breds like the sussex you have mentioned a good all round bird and very pretty.  Regards to silkies ive no real experience with these birds, although very pretty and ive heard very friendly i think they are prone to going broody which is great if you want to plan on hatching some eggs but if its the real egg layers you want then i would concentrate on them.   Speaking from my own experience i have myself an Amber Star, very pretty girl and is a great layer, at the moment out of my 4 girlies she is the only one to be laying everyday especially in this cold weather.   Egg production does somewhat lessen in the colder months.  I also have a speckledy another great layer and my two pure breeds i have a cream legbar she lays blue eggs if you wanted something different and i find a very friendly girl, i also have a barnevelder, absoutley gorgeous girl to look at with her feathering, another great layer.   I think all birds have the potiential to be very friendly its down to you to put in the hours with them, getting them used to you and your little boy, hand feeding is a great way of doing this.   Have a look about, source a good breeder that has healthy birds.  Good luck   nicky

[Casey76]

Hi Craig, For the dimensions of your coop, each chicken will need 12ins of perching space, bantams (like silkies) will need a bittle less (about 9 ins).

For the run, each chicken will need a MINIMUM of 1sqm, preferably 2, and if they are in a permanent run, then a minimum of 3.  Chickens are terribly hard on grass, and within days it will all disappear! (I have 7 pullets - 4 bantams and 3 l/f) in 100sqm and ther is hardly a blade of grass to be seen!

Given that your max run space will be 4ft x 18ft, and you will need space of feeders, drinkers, a dust bath and perches, I would recommend a maximum of 5 hens, if you are getting 2 silkies, or 3 hens if you are getting all farge fowl.

With silkies,; you have to remember that they are bred to be great mums, therefore, they can be a bit spotty with the egg laying, and they are so often broody (though I understand them to be very friendly, not that I have any personal experience with silkies though!)

A hen house doesnùt have to be high.  In fact if it is too large then your hens may have problems keeping warm enough as thier body heat won't warm the air in the house.  Just be aware when you build it, that you need easy access to all corners for cleaning purposes, and if it is too great an area you will have issies with not being able to reach the far side!

Good luck and happy chickeneering

[craigpix2000]

thank you so much for the replys all taken on board i didnt even think about the height issue as in body heat keeping it warm hopefully it should begin the build this weekend 

[jinty1911]

I have Sussex x Silkies and while they are very very pretty and very very friendly (make that greedy) they are very broody, but am getting 1 egg every day off the only 1 out of 3 that isnt broody at the moment.  Wasnt expecting any at this time of the year.
Jinty

[8doubles]

Best to raise the coop on legs , if you have 50cm underneath it will give the hens a dry area to shelter in and it makes it easier on your back when cleaning out.
When you make the coop fix  the legs outside not inside to keep joints and corners to a minimum . Every crack , and corner is a potential home to red mite.

[themagicaltoad1]

Casey's right about silkies, they're great pets but terrible for going broody and spending all day on the nest. I get just 3 wks of eggs out of about every 3 months from my golden silkie! the rest of the time she's hiding in the coop or recovering from being broody.

[craigpix2000]

The main reason for wanting them is for a few eggs so maybe the silkies are going to be out the question i need suggestions then people please freindly/egg layers and an ideal begginer bird 

[8doubles]

Goldlines are good layers and very friendly and inexpensive to buy. Most of the hybrids developed for battery eggs are docile but do not lay for as long as the more expensive to buy pure breeds.

[joyfull]

blackrocks are a good bird, hardy, good layers and have been known to still lay the occasional egg at 8 years of age 

[Tigerwren]

Hi Craigpix2000, I have had mine for just over four weeks and I have loved every minute.  I was new to keeping chickens like you, but you soon get the hang of it and this forum is amazing for the learning curve!  I have four:  a white leghorn (pure breed)who is very tame now and has laid an egg every day since week two; two bluebells (hybrids) which are heavier and again, becoming very tame and easy to handle - they are also great layers and have lovely large eggs; and finally, we also have a cuckoo maran who is beautiful and started laying last week - she is shy but is beginning to eat from our hands etc and again, lovely dark eggs.  Whichever you go for, you will love them and find that they all have such different personalities.
Lots of luck  :happy:

[orchardlady]

Just two comments about house and run. Make the house as easy as possible to clean and to gain access to all sides as well as underneath for maintenance and rat run reduction. You will soon tire of cleaning out a difficult house and your husbandry will slip. Make the run as large as you possibly can, think big then think even bigger.

As for what breed all the breeds suggested here are excellent apart from perhaps the silkies from an egg laying perspective.

Go for a nice bog standard breed, black rock or any of the hybrid birds as they will give you a plentiful supply of beautiful eggs and are all fairly hardy and forgiving of inexperienced hen keepers. Also they are reasonably priced. If you find you fall in love with hen keeping (which of course you will) you can then add a couple of pure breeds for added interest and decor.

[TeaPots]

I'll second what O.Lady says look around for someone who loves and cares for their birds, then chose one that you love the look of  :happy: