things to remember:
--in the coop think 2 square feet per chicken, and 4 square feet per chicken in the run.
--to make sure your chickens are happy, have the run be 4x bigger than the coop (if they won't have freedom to roam the backyard everyday)
--make sure it is all predator proof http://www.mypetchicken.com/ebook.aspx?Chapter=5
--chickens are big water drinkers and 70% of what they consume in a day is water. so what i did was have an outdoor bowl of water outside and an indoor water feeder inside the coop-this also helps with overcrowding around the feeders in the coop.
--make sure the chickens have plenty of ground space in the coop to fly down from their perch.
--perches in the run are also appreciated so the girls can still feel safe if scared. and a chair, small ladder, perch, stool, stump, etc, is a good escape for a chicken to take a break from the others. especially when introducing new chickens.
--possible ground coverings in the run are: mulch of any kind, mowed grass, fluffy thick dirt, hay, leaves, etc. but NEVER cement, bricks, wood, or wire floors! this will cause foot/toenail problems and keep the chicken from using its natural instincts to scratch on the ground, and the poop will not dry which causes more flies.
--if your run does not have a top covering on it, you should at least put shiny or colorful rope/strings/wires crisscrossing over the run to deter flying predators.
--sign up on the free online magazine http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/ to learn more about chickens through te experiences of others just like you!
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