From Mableton Ga

I did things backwards. Went with friends to get them a goat. Farmer offered me a deal on six chickens. He want his space back. He had a cross between a Long Island red and white. Six months old. His deal six chickens a bag of feed and a dozen eggs for a hundred dollars. So I bought them. Luckily my friend put them up at his place. Because now I had to build a coop. (Hence backward comment) chickens before coop ! Then got busy built a 10 by 10 concrete pad (nothing is digging in to my chickens) then used 2 by 6 to frame walls. (Salvaged from house knocked down) added chicken wire then wife got involved. Ran out bought screen so Mosquitos couldn't get chickens . Built in woods, lots of mosquitos. Then added hardware cloth to first three feet around coop. Used salvaged metal for roof. Then a friend gave me his coop 8 by 4. He Kept chickens in it (in garage) put that inside for temporary hen house. Brought chickens home. That night friend came over to see coop, drank a few cold beers when his dog kept rushing and growling at the creek bed. Got her under control and all of a sudden a pack of coyotes started howling. Coyotes had never been this close to property before. So got out the flood lights and shotgun. Kept my ladies safe for the night. And now I installed a electric fence around the coop. Next project I built a chicken tractor (all salvaged materials). So I could put them in during day and work garden. It's four feet wide to fit in between rows. Also this gets them away while I now build their henhouse. Going to be an 8 by 8 attached to the coop. Built on four concrete pillars three feet off ground.
With what bells and whistles installed (yet to be determined) so one trip with friend has now turned into a Hobby. Lol that took up a lot of my time and now I have to spend the next few days mowing and weedwacking to catch up. Plus the other honey do projects that always keep adding up. It's call life!!!!! Wife had to go out of town for business. So henhouse project gets started In the morning. One chicken has started to lay eggs. So I feel some justification for all this work. Plus it's kind of cool just to take a moment and watch the ladies, being chickens. So that my story and I'm sticking to it!
And so the journey begins!!!!!!!

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Well, that's one way of getting into poultry, lol. Glad you are enjoying them and congrats on being able to use the materials on hand for housing. The electric wiring was a good idea, chickens are a tasty dinner to a lot of predators. In case you haven't already seen it, there's an excellent section of predators and how to safeguard your chickens in the Learning Center:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-predators-pests-how-to-protect-treat-your-flock

Thank you for an interesting intro and pictures. Good luck with your flock.

Nice to have you here!

All I can say is WOW! You are an energetic dude - must still be a kid. Well done on everything - especially great tractor! Welcome to BYC. You'll fit right in.

Lol feel young. Born in 1957 good year for cars and me!!

Thank you for your kind words and information

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

I love what you've done - you must be a" jack of all trades". Go to the head of your class. I outrank you by 10 years but, I didn't have your energy way back then.

Hope you will update and show us pictures when you finish your coop. If you document your building projects, you can add them to the Coops section so others can benefit from your creativity.

So glad you joined the Backyard chickens flock

Welcome from Macon, Georgia!

So glad you have joined us and congrats on getting your own flock.

Thanks for sharing your story and the building projects, very impressive

Started to build my hen house after stealing all your great ideas from you all. Thank you for all the information.
It's going to be 8 x 8 and over three feet off ground. (Coyotes) yes it has radiant heat going in. Why because a friend gave me a spool of Pex. Said he got it at an auction and didn't know what it was used for. But figured I would find a use for it. Right he was. I'm going to use a Rv water heater and 12 volt pump with a solar panel for system. Why because I had these parts brand new sitting in my shop waiting for the right project. Chickens!!!!!

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!