Hello all

[hillcountrynell]

We have been raising chickens and ducks for about 6 years. I often look to this community for answers to questions. Y'all are so very clever and helpful! So I decided to join, since I don't have enough to do. (cough...)
We are currently having problems with eggs disappearing...found what we suspect is a nest of rat snake eggs last night. And those pesky hawks are still circling. So trying now to build a better home for our hens on a very tight budget. Were completely free-range and chooks slept in barn. Got to make them more secure somehow.
Thanks to all for the great ideas and insight!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So sorry about your disappearing eggs. Predators sure cause problems. You might want to stop by our Coop and Run Construction forum for some tips on building your coop and possibly help with keeping it as cheap in cost as possible....https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

I know some members have build coops out of pallets which are pretty cheap. Just requires a lot of physical labor of tearing them apart. You might also stop by our Coop pages for some ideas and some pallet coop suggestions....https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

Good luck and I hope you can secure things up soon!!

Welcome to our flock!

 

[N F C]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

We did what a lot of others have done and transformed an old shed on our property to a coop using almost all recycled materials. Check out free ads in your local paper, CraingsList or Homes for Humanity (if you have one close by) for cheap/free stuff. If there is anyone in your area with a dilapidated structure on their place, maybe they could use your help tearing it down in exchange for some of the building materials. The pallets are a great way of saving money as @TwoCrows mentioned. Some people have even used discarded playhouses.

Use your creativity and have fun with it...you can end up with a "custom" coop that no one else will have!

Sorry for your egg loss, at least you know why now.

It's nice to have you here!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to BYC. Do you have a shed you could repurpose as a coop?

 

[hillcountrynell]

No, unfortunately not.
Used to use a small playhouse when we had 6 hens, but now we have 39.
Going to go on a scavenging hunt around town.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[hillcountrynell]

Thank you!