building a coop/barn

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:39 am

We have to have a permit for even temporary buildings over 108 sq ft! All smaller buildings have to be 3.5 metres apart. (no they're not but if my neighbour complains he won't know what hit him).

pipes · Post by **pipes** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 10:50 am

Hi. just got my internet re-installed.

Property is 175' wide (east - west) x 305' deep (north to south). With a small house on North side of paved road, backing onto Farm field. 3 small sheds to be torn down, due to raccoon damage and rot (in general, just poorly built). I'm zoned rural residential. Township office says NO CHICKENS. Well, they can kiss my .........! I have no usable (vehicle) garage at the moment, so I have the option of attached garage and moderate sized shop, or bigger shop - 35' deep x 60'ish wide (for my business) with garden/ mower bay and coop built in. If I go bigger shop it will be geo-thermal in floor heat. I have no problem with building permits and Blueprints, as I'm a licensed contractor and licensed plumber. So I can build and general contract it myself. I just cant put "coop" on the blueprints.

So the big questions. What size should the:

Breeder pens ( I'm thinking Scots Dumpies maybe).

Quarantine areas.

Feed area.

Once I have the measurements for the above, then I can figure out the floor plan for the additional storage (aka the coop) area. After it's inspected, then the walls go up and the runs get built. "Oops. I forgot to mention the coop? Oh well. Too late now".

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 11:06 am

Best way to decide on size of space needed is to determine number of Feathered Friends you plan to keep.
10x12 pen will keep 12 medium size birds comfortably, up to 20 if they have access to outside.
One thing to keep in mind is that chickens produce inordinate amount of dust and you wouldn't want them anywhere near any machinery.
Good luck with your project

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 11:35 am

Quarantine should be a separate building or even a movable coop called a chicken tractor. Lots of plans on internet. Raccoons and most predator activity happens at night so if they are locked up at night they're fine.
Even for ordinary use I am building "tractors" for summer use. Biggest health problems with chickens happens when they stand on the same land all the time. As "tractors" are sealed in no wild birds interact which avoids a lot of other potential problems.

Post by **WLLady** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 2:19 pm

If you use the number of birds to set your size make sure that you multiply by two....if you want 40 build for 80 lol
Always always build bigger than you think.

pipes · Post by **pipes** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 3:42 pm

Based on egg consumption, I would need 6-7 hens. I have my 3 boys every other week 12 eggs/wk., and I'm good with 6 eggs/wk. Which is about 48/mt. We don't eat that many eggs at the moment, but I hear free range is much better. This would allow some extra eggs for bribing friends and neighbors.

So I'm thinking 2 pens (10' x 10'), plus isle way (3'x'20'), plus future double decker breeder pens (3' x 6' - measurements from the internet) and storage area, gives me 16' x 20' or there abouts... It wont allow for quarantine, but sacrifices will be made.

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 4:19 pm

that sounds like a pretty good and sensible plan man. make sure you can get a wheelbarrow in and then out once its filled or just have a door on each end, could even be Dutch doors and leave the top open during the hot summer days for better air flow.

a quarantine pen needs to be well away from your other birds. I've used dog crates in my sunroom, my garage and extra pens well at away from the other birds. I dont usually bring in any new birds but I have this year. when I do they come from very reputable people and no matter what I always treat them with ivermectin and quarantine them for a month. they get cared for last so that if they are sick, (even if they appear 100% healthy they could be immune while your birds arnt) I dont bring the cooties to my original flock. also doing this brings some cooties from my flock to the new birds giving them a chance to build an immunity to whatever my birds may have. another way to do that is to place one of your birds in with the new one halfway through the quarantine process. if both birds are still alive at the end of the the process your good to go.

I cant wait to see what you build man!

on another note is there a bylaw that restricts pet chickens on rural properties where you live? OR is it that since your not designated agricultural so you cant farm chickens? if there is no bylaws inplace that restrict you from keeping chickens/poultry as pets then they really can go "honk on bo bo!"

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:42 pm

Keep in mind that "cooties" is a technical term from folks that live close to Sarnia.

But the technique is good as I know folks with more delicate and exotic birds that do that in reverse.