FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[Gingersnap722]

Hello from Panama City, FL!
I'm planning my first flock next spring. In the meantime, I spend hours on this site reading and studying. I especially like to read the What Breed/Gender? thread. I try to guess the breed/gender before reading the comments and then check if I'm right. I'm hoping it makes great practice for next year.
One thing I'm considering for a coop that I'd like opinions on. When we purchased our property, there are a pair of permanent dog kennels. They are about 4x4 each, roofed, floored with 2x6 lumber, fenced with chain link, about 2 ft off the ground, have people gates, and have their own dog house inside. Am I crazy to want to convert these to a chicken coop?

No, you're not. We had a barn with four horse stalls. We turned 3 into chicken coops and we put a table, sink and cabinets in the other!

maddiespoppa gave you great advice.

 

[MOZFarm]

No, you're not.  We had a barn with four horse stalls.  We turned 3 into chicken coops and we put a table, sink and cabinets in the other!

maddiespoppa gave you great advice.

Thanks for the encouragement every one. Since the kennels are at the very back of our acerage, my husband is concerned that they may just be too far away for safety. He has me examining other, closer, locations on which to build a coop and wants me to think of other ways to repurpose the kennels or reuse their lumber and fencing to the coop.

It's all so exciting! We must be thrifty on the coop cost so I can purchase the spring chicks, feeder, waterer , feed, make a brooder and other start-up costs. I feel like I'm saving up my "egg money". LOL
One of my chicken experienced friends offered to help us build a chicken tractor if we wish, another offered to brood my chicks if I wasn't going to be able to do so myself, and another offered me some Easter Egger pullets come spring.

They all say I've caught the chicken obsession. Yup!

 

[cmom]

Quote:

It is easy to become addicted. Around 45 years ago I got my first chicken around 50 White Leghorns. I didn't have them for too long as I was divorcing and we decided to go our different ways. The chicken had to go. I had since remarried (42 years ago) and several years ago we bought a farm and DH decided he wanted some chickens so we bought 6 RIR pullets from the local feed store. About a year later we got a couple dozen more (one turned out to be a cockerel that was supposed to be a pullet). A few more years passed and I decided I wanted to try my hand at hatching and borrowed a friends Styrofoam incubator. My friend also gave me some eggs to hatch. I really enjoyed it. After hatching in my friends Styrofoam incubator I went out and bought one with a turner. I was hooked. Since I have bought more Styrofoam incubators. Another few years went by and I bought a cabinet incubator. I have had up to around 400 birds. I incubate in my cabinet incubator and hatch in my Styrofoam incubators. Now we have 10 coops with nice big pens for each coop. We also have electrical wire outside the fences for predators. Some of the pens have netting over them as we did have an owl killing birds. Most of the predators we have had dig under the fences. When they touch the electric wire they usually don't come back to test it out again. I now have breeds of birds for showing at Poultry Shows. It is a obsession and addiction.
Good luck and have fun...

 

[VegaJones]

I have a black bantam cochin hen yr old and 2 chicks...one millie and one frizzle for sale or trade $40 fo all 3 in bartow fl

 

[chickchic9]

Hi y'all ! Silver Springs - edge of the wilderness .

Happy first flock of 9 chickens - 3 Aussies and 6 RIR - all a bit mixed ...

 

[VegaJones]

Now all i got available is this yr old silver laced wyandotte rooster

 

[Jtfoster]

Jeff from Lakeland, FL

 

[anthony2014]

Does anyone sell barred Plymouth Rock,rhode island reds,golden laced Wyandotte are any other breeds.

 

[cmom]

Does anyone sell barred Plymouth Rock,rhode island reds,golden laced Wyandotte are any other breeds.

What area are you in?

 

[MamaGallina3]

I'm in Melbourne, I'd love a barred rock too!