Curious with many questions

Pics
Date sort Score sort
My opinon,
The-place you are looking to put it in, if the weeds are non toxic only mow enough space for whatever coop you pick so you can level it, the chickens will take care of the rest. ANY coop you like is a good starting point as long as you are resigned to modifying, adding, and changing. Very few of us started with "the perfect" coop.
I bought a rabbit hutch to start with, my hens still use it as a nesting area. we added a run, added a small coop at the other end of the run for the broody hen, and then we let them free range my yard.
Then to protect them at night we raised the run and ,added a chicken ladder for them to sleep on. Change is inevitable.
Things I've determined about prebuilt coops. Not strong enough for bad weather in the open, hard spots to clean, areas the chickens can stubbornly get into that require crawling into spaces I don't want to crawl in (but predators can corner them there)
Depending on how handy/creative you are... My advise is to at least look at designs for build your own.
Best of luck, just like having kids, chickens are an adventure... Enjoy!!!
 
nicollee said:
My opinon,
The-place you are looking to put it in, if the weeds are non toxic only mow enough space for whatever coop you pick so you can level it, the chickens will take care of the rest. ANY coop you like is a good starting point as long as you are resigned to modifying, adding, and changing. Very few of us started with "the perfect" coop.
I bought a rabbit hutch to start with, my hens still use it as a nesting area. we added a run, added a small coop at the other end of the run for the broody hen, and then we let them free range my yard.
Then to protect them at night we raised the run and ,added a chicken ladder for them to sleep on. Change is inevitable.
Things I've determined about prebuilt coops. Not strong enough for bad weather in the open, hard spots to clean, areas the chickens can stubbornly get into that require crawling into spaces I don't want to crawl in (but predators can corner them there)
Depending on how handy/creative you are... My advise is to at least look at designs for build your own.
Best of luck, just like having kids, chickens are an adventure... Enjoy!!!
Click to expand...
True. We did not expect that half our hatchlings would be boys. Live and learn. So we added a boy’s run/coop. Point is any coop that looks perfect at first you will discover things you hate. So I suggest use whatever you pick but immediately start the blueprints on your upgrade coop/run. More space, elevated or walkin, small coop for sleep or nesting or big coop. Sand or deep litter. And the inevitable chicken math. Yes you will get more. We both work 40 hrs a wk so sand was not an option because of daily scooping. But they are so relaxing to watch. It is my therapy lol!! You will notice different personalities in your flock and will have a favorite. On nights I can’t sleep I sit outside and listen to their sleep talking. Enjoy
 
I spent some time looking at coops and designs on here (which are plentiful and beautiful by the way) but the more I read the more attractive (and reasonably priced) the premade coop at our local Agway is looking. I just went over there to get a cloeser look inside and at the general durability and quality of it and I gotta say the $500 price tag is looking more worth it every minute. Of the plans I looked at the materials alone were minimum $300, plus skill with tools. I have some tool skills, but my guess it would take me several days and some cursing (ok a LOT of cursing if I ask my BF for help) to build. Stupidly I didn’t take photos, but it is well made with a real roof and plexiglass fold up windows, and off the ground about 18” on 4x4’s. It is 3 x 4 feet with a pitched roof. Did I mention I’m in New Hampshire so our weather goes from 95 degrees to -10, sometimes in the same week, lol. Also the same Agway is taking orders for 16 week Red Sex Link Pullets. Order by August 15, pick up the 25. Any advice on if this is a good starter hen? Also, the form doesn’t ask if you want rooster or hens, is it assumed they are all hens? I don’t want roosters. So long story short, I have two questions (right now) 1. Is a well built $500 3 x 4 foot coop worth it in your opinions and 2. Thoughts on Red Sex Link pullets. Thank you in advance, this site has so much information, yay for productive interneting!
 
Clairenh said:
I spent some time looking at coops and designs on here (which are plentiful and beautiful by the way) but the more I read the more attractive (and reasonably priced) ...!
Click to expand...
What was the asking price on the craigslist coop?
Is the premade at Agway bigger?
Some of us said it would be good as a starter coop, but you will want to expand. Getting a used coop to get started, (I advise)put the $500 aside for later when you know that your new feathered friends are worth it. All of us on here would believe it so, but since there are used coops available, not everyone (OMG) is actually a chicken person .
Also, getting an inexpensive starter will give you an idea of what features actually work for you....
As to what kind of chickens are best, each area is different, try to find some local friends who can advise you what chickens do well in your diverse area.
Welcome to the great chicken adventure.
 
The first Craigslist one is $300, though they can be bought online for $245. I mentioned this to the seller and asked if he'd take $200 and he said no. Reading reviews of that coop, it seemed it was not the best construction - thin wood, etc. If we have to spend time and money reinforcing and insulating it, the price isn't worth it. Though I plan to put is in a protected area (from wind), we still get feet of snow in the winter, bitter cold and other crazy weather. I went back and took pictures of the Agway one, and my BF was with me. He agreed that making one like it is not efficient. He also is on board with getting chickens, so we are going to get this coop. My BF is an avid gardener and cook, so part of my desire for chickens is for composting. Next question - how should I orient it? It will be in a large rectangular area surrounded on two sides by garages, and one by a fence. The open side is South facing, and gets lots of sun. Should the nesting boxes/window side face the South to let in the most light, and heat for the boxes?
IMG_6765.JPG IMG_6761.JPG IMG_6762.JPG IMG_6763.JPG
 
Here is a Google Earth view of our yard. Though the yard looks like mostly cement and a
fullsizeoutput_43d8.jpeg
pool, there is a lot of plants, bushes and flowers, then raised gardens against the house. I read about how chickens get water logged and drown, so they definitely would not be let out to roam the whole yard unless we are hanging out back there to keep an eye on them. The spot where I want to put the coop had big weed trees we cut back, and we added a solid vinyl fence between as indicated in the picture. We are thinking of basically adding chicken wire with a door from the back of our garage to our neighbor's carriage house, and over the top of the whole area with the coop in the center.
 
Pullet means a female chicken less than one year old. So yes, all hens. And red sex links are always female anyways, thats the sex link part! Roosters are white. They are docile birds that will lay nicely for you. Since you want to order them at 16 weeks old, buy layer feed for them. And I like that last coop, good starter coop. Enjoy your birds!
 
tripletfeb said:
Pullet means a female chicken less than one year old. So yes, all hens. And red sex links are always female anyways, thats the sex link part! Roosters are white. They are docile birds that will lay nicely for you. Since you want to order them at 16 weeks old, buy layer feed for them. And I like that last coop, good starter coop. Enjoy your birds!
Click to expand...
Thank you! As you can see, I am a total newbie, hence had no idea what pullet meant. I honestly had a hard time getting past the sex part of the name. As far as feed, the good part of living in a large city in New Hampshire is that the Agway is 8 minutes away, and sells everything for rabbits to horses, and the people there know all about every sort of farm animal.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom