ALABAMA!!

[Tomtommom]

If I do meaties, I'd get them in a few weeks, so they're gone before the real heat hits (and I have a newborn baby on my boob hands). Not sure if I will. I'd only get 2-3 and toss 'em in with the flock. Most folks get 25-50 of them and put them in a tractor. Best way to describe them would be the people in Wall-E....

I may still get some random chickies at tractor supply. They were pretty good last year with the selling of pullets and them actually being pullets. Only ended up with one roo, and that was in a 'special' straightrun batch.

In a few months I will be complaining I have SOOOO many chickens and I need to sell some. I can see it now...

 

[groleau6]

My husband and I have been going back and forth about buying or building our coop. Well, we decided not to buy the coop online. We are going to be taking our time building our coop. but the plans are finished and the start date is set. I am so excited to get started, but it all feels slightly over my head. I am hoping by the time getting the birds my nerves will be settled and most of my questions are answered.

 

[Tomtommom]

Most of those coops they sell online are not big enough. I know VERY few folks that managed to stick with their pre-built coop.. most end up building something afterward because the coop in question was advertised to hold more chickens than it really did. The only prebuilts that work are storage sheds with a pop door

You can build something decent for far less!

Make sure to use hardware cloth for any wire areas... best deals I found were on Amazon. You can get 50 foot of the 48 inch wide 1/2x1/2inch hardware cloth for $80, with free shipping. They have 1/4x1/4inch too, but it's a higher gauge (which means it wont be as strong). We bought ours on Amazon and have been very pleased with it.

 

[DeannaA]

I bought a coop online. It is much smaller than what they said it was going to be. It's sturdy enough but only big enought for bantams. I use it when I am transitioning my younger ones outside. Very useful but not a permanent coop. It would be good for a chicken hospital.

 

[Tomtommom]

I bought a coop online. It is much smaller than what they said it was going to be. It's sturdy enough but only big enought for bantams. I use it when I am transitioning my younger ones outside. Very useful but not a permanent coop. It would be good for a chicken hospital.

That's pretty much the story for anyone who buys a coop online. For some reason those sellers think chickens don't need to breathe or move or something

 

[kingfrodo]

If I do meaties, I'd get them in a few weeks, so they're gone before the real heat hits (and I have a newborn baby on my boob hands). Not sure if I will. I'd only get 2-3 and toss 'em in with the flock. Most folks get 25-50 of them and put them in a tractor. Best way to describe them would be the people in Wall-E....

I may still get some random chickies at tractor supply. They were pretty good last year with the selling of pullets and them actually being pullets. Only ended up with one roo, and that was in a 'special' straightrun batch.

In a few months I will be complaining I have SOOOO many chickens and I need to sell some. I can see it now...

I almost spit my drink out! baby on my boob!

How true and how funny!!

 

[DeannaA]

That's pretty much the story for anyone who buys a coop online. For some reason those sellers think chickens don't need to breathe or move or something

I bought it on ebay. I got a decent deal. About $140 for a larger one. They are usaully 250-350 for the same one but the seller started the bidding low and it ended in the middle of the night. He starts the bidding at $200 now. But I got a good deal. I painted it before I put it together.

 

[Tomtommom]

For a broody/juvenile coop, that's a good price. It just sucks when you *think* you have a place for your first chickens and then they outgrow it by the time they're 10 weeks old.

My husband dearest managed to snatch a big shipping pallet/crate thing from work, when a new piece of equipment arrived... He should be able to make me a nice juvenile/broody coop.

 

[kingfrodo]

For a broody/juvenile coop, that's a good price. It just sucks when you *think* you have a place for your first chickens and then they outgrow it by the time they're 10 weeks old.

My husband dearest managed to snatch a big shipping pallet/crate thing from work, when a new piece of equipment arrived... He should be able to make me a nice juvenile/broody coop.

oh! pix please when he is done.

 

[kingfrodo]

I know there are other parts of the country, heck even the state that are far colder than we are but I am sick of this darn cold weather!!

I am ready for spring.