5Sons Coop
Songster
If you are going to "give chickens a try" and have the space. Build a small building (8'x8' is my fav size) and plan to use it for a garden shed or something, if chickens do not workout. Also keep everything "petting zoo" clean, just in case you need to use that building for a storage shed. Soon you will have an overall euphoric addiction that can be shared but not explained to, of all things, a chicken....a low on the food chain...sometimes smelly....worm eating chicken. You will love everyone and have dreams of free range commercial expansion.......oh I am drifting off topic and digress. "Petting Zoo" clean is a big one. I set my coop in a low point thinking litter will build up and fill it in. I built on skids so I could move or raise it. While pretitor proofing and a garden slowly sliding into the coop over numerous years has caused issues. You crack that deep litter open layer by layer and it is enough to gag a maggot! Leave it alone and all is good expect when it rains a lot. So here I am selling eggs and just getting into hatching, people stopping by to pick up eggs...soon chicks, birds, hatching eggs and some know nothing of keeping birds or deep litter. They do know what a typical very well kept clean animal pen looks like.
2. Do not over research. Problem solving is my favorite part and if you are ever panicked, toldly lost research your answer here on BYC, very quickly you will find your answer. If you require interaction with the rest of the world, are bored or need a warm hug post a question and hang on to your pitch fork because it will come layer by layer by layer
$300.00
The 4 fit "perfect" but thinking the Orpingtons will probably be "crowded" so canceled the 1 AM & 1 Orp ... Living in Hawaii don't need to worry too much about insulation but get a lot of rain & heat, hence my open Run/Coop. They roost above the dog house (nest box) & they free range in my fenced yard in the afternoons when I'm home. Told him may need to "add on"...
