House Size & Perch Height for Speckledies & Friends?

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djscorpio

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Hi there all.

I'm another newbie asking yet more questions which probably seem quite straight forward but I'm wondering if someone could me please? We're trying to complete most of the set-up before organising a pick-up date for our new 'family'. We have completed a roofed barked area of 2.8 x 3.6m and will be adding 2.8 x 2m of open roofed grass. I'm ideally hoping to have 5 hens: 2 blubelles, and either 2 speckledies and 1 sussex or vice versa. We were planing on a house that was 3ft or so square but I've read that the speckledies are heavy birds.

I'm a bit worried that they'll need more house space? and I'm wondering what sort of perch height everyone will want? Are any of these breeds likely to be bullies or be particularly vocal?

Any advice would be very welcome. Many thanks. Dawn.
 
Hi Dawn, and welcome to the Forum. Plenty of people on here make their own coops and there's lots of threads about it if you browse around. Sounds as if the 5 hens will have a nice run with plenty of space. How have you fenced the run?
Yes Speckledies can be quite large birds, and they would probably need around 10 inches of perch space each, which would be fine in a 3ft coop if you had a double row of perches. You need to make sure there's enough space behind the perches to accommodate their tails, or else you'll get lots of droppings splashed down the wall behind. I would think probably about 12 ins? Also, the two rows of perches need to be separated by about 18ins maybe, so the birds have room for the front end of one row of hens, and the tail end of the other row, on the other perch. (Im sitting here trying to visualise this, maybe other people can correct me if I've estimated wrongly?)
Provide nice wide perches, at least 2ins by 2ins square, with smoothed off edges so they are comfy for their feet. They don't need to be very high, just enough so they can perch off the ground and out of the floor litter. About 6-8 ins high? And removeable, for easy cleaning and possible redmite control.
Will the nestboxes be outside of the main body of the coop? How are you arranging for ventilation inside the coop? Is the coop going to be up on legs so the girls can hang out underneath? And how will you be able to access the coop for cleaning out the droppings?
There are lots of DIY experts on here, so if you can post some pics of what you are making, they will all pitch in with advice, and will correct me if I've got any of this wrong. We do like to discuss new coops!
As for temperament, there are individual differences in any breed, but its often suggested that Bluebells often tend to be less confident and harder to tame than some, beautiful though they are. I once had a really fierce Speckledy that I had to rehome in the end because she was so nasty t the younger girls, but I think she was an exception, certainly my friends Speckledy is a much kinder bird. A lot depends on how you handle them, like any animal of course.
 
Hi, welcome to the forum. Agree with all Marigolds comments. I made all my housing and run and have made various modifications over the 5 years I have been keeping dotte bantams. One was to put legs on the coop to lift it off the floor after a rat took up residence under the slabs the coop was sitting on. Would suggest putting woodchip on the run floor instead of bark which may contain spores and cause respiratory problems. A covered run helps keep the run dry, meaning less smell. Also food and water can be hung from roof which helps to keep the floor clean and clear for poo picking.
Also suggest some ladder perches in the run. These just lean against the side of the run and can be lifted out without the need to undo screws etc.
Hope this helps. :D
 
Thank you both.
The mesh we've used is about 2 x 1cm should be rat proof but don't think it will keep mice out (are they a hazard?),the roof will be clear to let plenty of sunlight through and the base in dry area is concrete. There will be a closeable doorway through to grass area as there is no underground rat protection. Anyway, here comes the maths, I'm thinking if I start the 1st perch 12in from the back of coop then the 2nd 18in forward of that, adding the 2in plus 2in of perch widths, the 2nd perch will be 2 3/4ft from back of coop. Will they need much space at the front to get a run and jump at their perches? We were having the nest boxes (3 of them) on the side of the coop with the entrance from within, but this was my dilemma before my original posting; if speckledies are too heavy to perch at 12in how will they crawl under and into their nest? I think it need to re-think! I'm just having a couple of doors on the front of coop like a wardrobe to clean, and thought I'd put a meshed panel at the top of each door, there wont be any rain or draft from run side. I read somewhere its a good idea to to put a perspex panel in back so they know when its sunrise? So, if Blubelles, can be nervy I definitely stick with two it might make them more confident and I might consider 2 sussex stars/rangers and 1 speckledy if the speckledies can have their bolshy moments or maybe 3 blue and 1 of each (I think I might be indecisive but I'm not certain lol)
Yes we have decided to raise the coop about 18in, we thought it would provide a nice shaded area to cool off in summer. We're hopeful that we won't get a rat attack we had one when kept a few quail years ago and the sight was gut wrenching but I've read that mint deters them, its probably a myth, but if it is true and it applies to mice as well I'll plant loads! We haven't put bark down yet so will try to source a low cost supplier of wood chips. I was a bit naive about the ladder perches so I went on google images, but yes I get it now lol.
Dawn
 
Hi Dawn, if you are only having 5 hens and space is a problem you could opt for two nest boxes instead of three. My lot tend to pile into one anyway. :D
 
All hens should be able to fly/jump/scrabble up to a perch 12" off the ground and I would expect mine to do at least 18"". I have never found Bluebelles to be anything other than laid back. All the types you mention are hybrids which have been bred for the home keepers market and there is as much variance between individuals as between types. As long as the birds you buy have grown up together and come from the same pen so they know one another and are compatible disease wise, you can just choose which type you fancy.
 
My bluebell type is chilled out beyond belief, all of mine are other than my crested blue egg layer, she is ridiculously skittish and loves flapping about everywhere.

I have one longperch across my hhouse, about 1.8m long, I've gota it 15" off tthe floor as that's about 12" once the bedding is down. All 5 of mine cram onto it at one end taking up barely 18" of it, silly girls...
 
Thanks for all the advice. The bluebelles really do sound lovely so its definitely two of them and I guess I'll just have a chat with the farm and see about choosing the other 3 on the day and I'm getting them at the same time from the same breeder so hopefully they'll settle nicely together. And yes I'm trying so hard to get this coop organised just right for them but they probably will huddle up in one tiny corner lol. But as a nervous new mum I might just put the main perches 15in or so high widthways so they walk under and can access their nests to the far left and put one 6in perch lengthways on the far right just so my heftier speckledy doesn't damage her feet or legs; I can always remove it later!
 
I think they'll all want the higher perches.

This is what I have

20121101_164301.jpg
 
Thanks for posting the picture. Its given me a sense of perspective. I cant believe your girls have all that space and they're all huddling at one end! My two perches should amount to 6ft too and whats the betting they'll do the same after all this! guess they'll all want to be the same height, I thought the lower perch (lengthways), out forward and behind of the sideways higher perches could be a step for anyone weighty. I've read in a couple of places that heavy birds can damage their feet and legs if their perches are more than a few inches off the ground, but I'm not sure if this applies to speckaldys'.
 
I believe they can get bumble foot if they have to jump down from a perch which is too high.
With regards to the perches. I made the mistake of fitting another perch at 90deg and the same height as the other one. Resulting in one perching across both and ending up with a messy rear end because the poo cannot drop onto the floor. Learnt my lesson after having to give the culprit a wash down! :D
 
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7269&hilit=Kennel="djscorpio"]Thanks for posting the picture. Its given me a sense of perspective. I cant believe your girls have all that space and they're all huddling at one end! My two perches should amount to 6ft too and whats the betting they'll do the same after all this! guess they'll all want to be the same height, I thought the lower perch (lengthways), out forward and behind of the sideways higher perches could be a step for anyone weighty. I've read in a couple of places that heavy birds can damage their feet and legs if their perches are more than a few inches off the ground, but I'm not sure if this applies to speckaldys'.
Click to expand...


Advantage of my setup is there is a large vent in the pop hole that end and none at the other end so can decide where's best for them each night. Speckledies aren't heavy birds really are they? Have a look on here or a Google search but they don't have to be so close to the floor as a few inches.

I have a build thread with alot of pics of mine in this section and karminski has a good one in the off topic section, if you got the time have a look through them both for idea from what we've done and alot of good solid advise off various members on here.
 
Mine

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7269&hilit=Kennel

tygrysek75

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4240

Karminskis'

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7404

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7632
 
Hi there Bantiekeeper & Bickerton, we're on an easter break at the moment and stumbled across a a farm open to the public and selling chickens. I saw all the breeds I'm after and was able see them being kept healthily but not mollycoddled and how they behave and how they huddle up tightly on perch together and step or jump easily onto perches; and yes the speckaldys' didn't look that much bigger than the others, so I'm hoping there'll be no probs with bumblefoot. I'll take the 90 degree bar out if it causes problems but I'm hoping no-one will perch on it and get pooped on, I'll have to explain to them its intended as low step to protect their little feet! I read through all the new setups its quite something to see all the considerations and efforts everyone puts in. I was interested to see that Marigold suggested that as your set up was secure you should keep the pophole open so they you hens are ventilated and can come out first thing, I'm considering that. It was very exciting to see the chickens coming home. I guess when we get home it'll just be a case of my husband finishing of the concrete for me (bless) and then just go for it making the coop and job done, I don't think we're going to go too far wrong!
 
I still leave it closed at night currently as i'm up long befor them in the morning. Will look into it when the warmer weather appears.

My setup is quite over engineered compared to what I coulda got away with but got alot of the materials for a good price.
 
My chooks are on the allotment and I treated myself to a automatic pop hole opener and timer. Reset it yesterday, so it now opens at 6.30am and shuts at 8.15pm which at the moment is about 45 minutes after sunset and allows time for them all to get in. The run is secure and means I can go down in the morning when I like. Lazy eh! :)
 
Hi Bickerton,
My allotment is quite close to some houses and I do not want residents complaining about noise so I have to compromise a bit. Sunrise at the moment is about 6.40am. I will move it to 6am later on but I do not think I can risk it any earlier really.
 
Hi Bantiekeeper.

Can I just ask, you say you don't want to upset your neighbours with noise by letting your chickens out too early is this because your hens make too mcuh noise or because you have a cockeral? I'm thinking of leaving the pophole open but dont want unnecessary noise levels.

And to all can I just say I'm very excited because I've just made an appointment to view my hens thursday and as an added bonus they over-ordered on woodchip so selling feed size bags at £2 which doesn't seem so bad at all. So no need for the spore-ridden bark :D
 
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