coop considerations

[mrlacewing]

Hi y'all,

I'm planning to pick up a few Orpington chicks this weekend. I'm completley new to chicken keeping, but have been reading and researching a lot and am very excited.

I do have a brooder and food and I think I am prepared with all that I'll need for a few weeks, but I'm undecided about the coop. We are on a tight budget right now and need to keep the cost as low as possible. I've found a few on Craigslist that are tractors and under two hundred dollars. My other option is to make one out of a shed that we already have.

I suppose the upside for getting one off of Craigslist is that it would be less work, and I could have more time to fix up the shed if I need to. The shed is more complicated: The advantage, I think, is that it has a good foundation and may be more predator proof. However, I'm not handy and neither is my dear husband. The shed is a bit banged up and needs to be reinforced in places. Also, the floor is gravel. I'm thinking that gravel wouldn't be good for chicken feet but I could shovel some to the sides for extra protection from predators.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice and words of wisdom,
Dana

 

[Jakoda]

I don't know where your located but I have a seen a number of really great deals on chicken coops/bunny coops you can convert on CL..If money is tight, I know someone who got all his wood for free again off CL and at the town dump

 

[SSTupperware]

People claim there not handy, but grab a saw and don't be afraid to get to work...