Coop is delayed but chickens keep growing!

[KarynVA]

Our plan was to have the chicken coop ready to move them into last weekend; but other household repairs and diversions have delayed completion of our coop. Meanwhile, the chickens are too big/ mature to not be living in a coop! Am I alone in this? Or have others had to move their chickens into the coop at the advanced age of over 12 weeks old? I decided to start a poll.

 

[My2butterflies]

I’ve never kept any poultry in the house passed 4wks.
Anyway you can set something up in a garage? Maybe find a cheap used chain link dog kennel for a temp set up?

 

[neo71665]

Mine were right on the border of being 6 weeks because I was working on their run. Had a buddy giving my a large roll of chain link, but I had to wait for him to take it down. My run is 2 10x10 chain link dog kennels bolted together to make a 20x10. The extra chainlink makes was put on the roof to totally enclose everything. I woulda made it 30x10 but 2 panels were damaged by a tree limb, got them free also.

 

[KarynVA]

Yep, I've got them situated just fine. It's just hard to establish a routine and get them used to coop life with .... well ... withOUT a coop! We're having some trouble getting the supplies needed for the last stage of coop construction, on top of everything else that has delayed things.

 

[aart]

Am I alone in this?

Not in the least..many/most are unaware about the new idiom.
Which came first the chicken or the egg, answer is....The Coop!!

 

[CatsandCrops]

We only kept ours in until 5.5 weeks due to weather; we had below freezing temps so we wanted to ensure they were feathered out before moving them outside for good. I was annoyed with them in the basement after week 4 and they were outgrowing their space we had set up for them. I would make sure to take them out for running around time

 

[Frankiegirl]

I was in a similar situation to you. Don’t be too hard on yourself...you’re doing the best you can.

I ended up creating a outdoor run with 4x4 panels that I hinged together with a top for my girls to be safe outside. I literally carried them into my garage every night...definitely was not an ideal situation, but until I had a secure coop, I created a space for them to be outdoors during the day.

Good luck!

 

[RoseHawke]

Mine were/are Covid chicks. Although to be fair hatching chicks was kind of on my "bucket" list anyway. When there were no eggs to be had at the store I thought "Now's the time!" Never mind that I didn't have a coop or anywhere to put them at that point. They spent their first 3-4 weeks in a bin brooder set-up in the house, then the next 3 weeks in a cage in my shop. Then I 'bout killed myself building a coop and run because they had to be out of my shop soonest (flies, despite my OCD cleaning.) It happens.

 

[Frankiegirl]

You lived my life!! There are really really good people here to help. I did the same exact thing! I wanted to have chicks for years, but brooding them was impossible until Covid hit. I had a brooder in my dining room and am building a house so my permanent coop will not be ready until fall. I ordered one and got scammed....hence chicks in the garage. I was very popular w the kids in the neighborhood.

I have a temporary prefab coop now for my 5 girls that frankly is a bit snug, but suitable for the time being. The guilt kills me every day!!!

 

[Folly's place]

Mine go to their separate coop section somewhere between eighteen and twenty-one days of age, with their heat source. Before that, they are in our attached garage. All that dust in the house? Been there, done that. Never again!
Mary