Happy hen lover
Free Ranging
Tom and Betty, Congratulations! You'll be fine and good for you to do your studies 1st. My coop is raised and it's sometimes a pain to crawl In but it stretched our run size by doing that. I can crawl into on a carpet better than I can bend down at this stage. Make your run very predator proof cause you WILL fall in love with these hens. Better to prepare for the worst( since you already have a curious coon) than to fix it after death of flock.
Take your time those babies will not need to go outside till fully feathered in the chill of spring nights. I raised by chicks in our coop but had the newest ones in a tote and they can fly high at a very young age.! I had some roosting on waterer at 1 week?!
Have you checked Craig list and market places for used sheds etc? Or some have converted those plastic playhouses.
One thing I learned is chickens can withstand a lot of cold. They are wearing down jackets so they're much tougher in cold than you would think. They don't do wet and cold .
Take your time those babies will not need to go outside till fully feathered in the chill of spring nights. I raised by chicks in our coop but had the newest ones in a tote and they can fly high at a very young age.! I had some roosting on waterer at 1 week?!
Have you checked Craig list and market places for used sheds etc? Or some have converted those plastic playhouses.
One thing I learned is chickens can withstand a lot of cold. They are wearing down jackets so they're much tougher in cold than you would think. They don't do wet and cold .