Hello everyone! I've gotten myself into a predicament...

[Krugerrand]

I'd put some serious thinking into where you want to go on your chicken journey. If you intend to take the plunge, consider starting with a secure run. You'll want one of those either way and they cost less than the coop. Get that tiny coop into a secure run. Use @21hens-incharge link to look up hoop structures. They can make great runs that are secure and quick and easy to build. Given that these are probably fairly young chickens and you aren't tied to them through winter, you should then be good until you can get yourself a real coop built/shed converted or whatever.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

I think "rent the chicken dot com" should be listed in the coop section as something to avoid. As Krugerrand said, lay out all you can on a very secure run and get by with what you can until you add a coop. Chooks are resilient little things and they need safety from predators more than five star accommodations. If you are in Vermont, I would guess that the cold is becoming less of an issue right now.

 

[triciayoung]

I think weasels are only a problem if you imprison your chickens in a cage on the ground. My chickens all sleep around 20 feet up in trees, and whenever a predator attacks them they just scream loudly and fly somewhere else. It's rare for anything to climb trees after them though, maybe 1 predator attack every 3 months with 0 fatalities or serious injuries

No bird should live in a cage

I would not consider my 17x8 foot coop a cage. The coop is itself 2 feet up and their roosting bars add another 4-feet. Then they have a 20x40 foot run that is covered and hardware clothed including skirting, and then they have 40x60 foot back yard that is completely netted for aerial predators.

 

[countryladyNH]

I think having a tiny coop is going to squelch the fun out of chicken keeping, even for a trial run.

I completely agree. Frankly, the people who made a 'business' out of this and with this equipment seem sketchy to me. I think they may have seen dollar signs but had little care for the hens or the customers. My advice to this original poster is that if I were them, I personally would return everything to the rent a chicken pronto and get or make myself a better coop---We don't have a lot of money and there are a lot of ingenious things you can do to build one, including salvaged pallets. (Sometimes people give them away. They may need some work, but be much better than what you have). I would then go online to a reputable company like My Pet Chicken or Chickens For Backyards and buy 3 little chicks. (Both companies allow you to purchase a minimum of only 3). Start from scratch on your own. You will learn much more by doing and grow to love your funny, entertaining hens. I don't think you will be sorry for making the commitment. What you are dealing with right now is more stressful than if you got your own coop and chickens.

 

[countryladyNH]

I hadn't even thought of that... Good point. I can't fit in the coop to do maintenance and interact with the chickens. I do have the open-topped wire run, so it isn't quite that bad, but I imagine that it'll be tough to clean out.



Thanks, I was afraid of that. It was somewhat expensive (around 600$) but it also included about 100lbs of chicken feed and a few other things, so I think that I got an okay deal. What sort of predators would be able to get inside the main coop? The hen house seems pretty durable to me. I do live in VT, so I guess bears could be an issue...

We live in NH. Personally I don't think you got a 'great deal' at all. These folks are sketchy and I agree with all here who urge you to send everything back, recoup some of your money if possible, and make the commitment to start with your own coop and a few chicks...

 

[countryladyNH]

I'd suggest you return it tomorrow.

I can't believe these nutters charged you close to 600 for this. Also...Two bags of chicken feed shouldnt run you more than about $40.

BRAVO!!!!! We second your advice!

 

[countryladyNH]

WOW well this is a lesson learned don’t rent chickens everyone because this is what you got so sorry you have to go through this. Thanks for sharing though you may have saved a lot of people from the same problem.

LOVE your avatar! We have an opera loving Pilgrim goose named Mayflower. That IS her photo on my ID! She comes to the door and waits for me to put the computer by the screen door and play Youtubes' '10 Must Know Opera Songs' for her while she sits by the door for an hour! She takes walkies on a leash and harness and has fashionable 'goose boots'.

 

[Jenbirdee]

LOVE your avatar! We have an opera loving Pilgrim goose named Mayflower. That IS her photo on my ID! She comes to the door and waits for me to put the computer by the screen door and play Youtubes' '10 Must Know Opera Songs' for her while she sits by the door for an hour! She takes walkies on a leash and harness and has fashionable 'goose boots'.

Wow she’s even wearing the headphones lol She is special! What a sweetheart. I love my 2 pilgrims dearly, we have a daily toy time together, and I sing to them precious pets they are . you should post more pictures of her! I’d love to see her in the boots!!

 

[Hillerlee]

I live in Northern Westchester, NY - plenty of bear, fox, bobcats and mountain lions.....then there are the flying predators. You'll need to either invest in a coop that is big enough, comfortable nesting boxes and fully enclosed with a roof that isn't as exposed to birds flying over (disease) or return everything, I think. Electric fencing would only help on the ground.
I have 5 chicks from birth.....they're part of the family, but a ton of work - cleaning poop off the ground, inside the coop, oyster shells and grit and healthy food (look into the food they sent to you) - treats, greens, yogurt for bacteria issues, etc.
You may LOVE them and they'll become so important to you, but if you really can't invest in the security, maybe no?

 

[countryladyNH]

Wow she’s even wearing the headphones lol She is special! What a sweetheart. I love my 2 pilgrims dearly, we have a daily toy time together, and I sing to them precious pets they are . you should post more pictures of her! I’d love to see her in the boots!!

LOL, hubby made those old school style faux headphones for a photo! He used 2 black plastic bottle caps, some leftover wire, black electrical tape, and an old pink sponge that he cut up! I think it's pretty hilarious! Here are a few photos of Mayflower. She has 3 pairs of boots---leopard, hot pink, and red! I completely understand your love for your Pilgrims! They are so sweet. When we take her on walkies in her neckerchiefs and boots she stops traffic and gets photographed hundreds of times! Love her so much!