- Jul 31, 2012
- 1
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Hi everyone,
My wife and I fairly new to chickens. We bought (our first) four Brahma's almost five months ago and the planning began. We live in paradise in Farmington, NY. I wanted to build my own chicken coop but my wife, knowing full well about my total lack of wood working knowledge, insisted that we buy one already made. What a disaster that turned out to be. The firm that we purchased the coop from took three times longer to deliver it than they promised. Then, after they left, we noticed that they had not finished it, that is, water proofed it or even put the necessary hardware to keep predators out. Who ever built this coop had no woodworking ability. To make matters worse, I signed what I was told was a delivery slip, without my glasses on. It was actually an acceptance of as is merchandise. Oh well, water under the bridge. I finished and waterproofed it and our chickens moved in a few days later. The breeder we purchased from is local and he sold us four pullets. We now have three hens and a rooster. They have not began laying eggs yet. (and yes, even I know the rooster will not lay eggs!) We have been reading mass quantities of literature and sometime within the next week I am going to erect a six foot high 'chicken wire' run for them. I also plan to dig down about 18 inches and put in metal mesh to keep predators out. I visited this site before we bought our chicks and I think I read every single experience of those of you that made your own coops and runs. Besides our chickens we have two cats, a Golden Retriever and an old 'junkyard' dog, that we adopted from a local shelter. I love to garden. I probably farm about two acres growing several varieties of vegetables and many different kinds of fruit. I work full time days and I am getting up there in age. I will be 66 in four years and hope to retire around then.
Thanks for reading and for sharing your wisdom with us.
My wife and I fairly new to chickens. We bought (our first) four Brahma's almost five months ago and the planning began. We live in paradise in Farmington, NY. I wanted to build my own chicken coop but my wife, knowing full well about my total lack of wood working knowledge, insisted that we buy one already made. What a disaster that turned out to be. The firm that we purchased the coop from took three times longer to deliver it than they promised. Then, after they left, we noticed that they had not finished it, that is, water proofed it or even put the necessary hardware to keep predators out. Who ever built this coop had no woodworking ability. To make matters worse, I signed what I was told was a delivery slip, without my glasses on. It was actually an acceptance of as is merchandise. Oh well, water under the bridge. I finished and waterproofed it and our chickens moved in a few days later. The breeder we purchased from is local and he sold us four pullets. We now have three hens and a rooster. They have not began laying eggs yet. (and yes, even I know the rooster will not lay eggs!) We have been reading mass quantities of literature and sometime within the next week I am going to erect a six foot high 'chicken wire' run for them. I also plan to dig down about 18 inches and put in metal mesh to keep predators out. I visited this site before we bought our chicks and I think I read every single experience of those of you that made your own coops and runs. Besides our chickens we have two cats, a Golden Retriever and an old 'junkyard' dog, that we adopted from a local shelter. I love to garden. I probably farm about two acres growing several varieties of vegetables and many different kinds of fruit. I work full time days and I am getting up there in age. I will be 66 in four years and hope to retire around then.
Thanks for reading and for sharing your wisdom with us.
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
