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

[Jenbirdee]

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!

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I just love her. she should be in the byc calendar, have you entered yet?

 

[countryladyNH]

I just love her. she should be in the byc calendar, have you entered yet?

I don't think so...I remember some--- only chickens were wanted. Have not seen calendar one one for goose!

 

[SituationalLefty]

Before you beat yourself up too much, be aware that many of us beginners have made the same mistake and bought one of the "dollhouse coops." (Unlike you, I couldn't return mine and had to eat the cost.). The rest of the advice here is great. Making a home for chickens can be time- and work- and money-intensive, but if you decide it's for you, go for it!

 

[bethnlee]

I believe you need at least 5 square feet per chicken inside the coop, and 10 squat feet per chicken in the run. More is better. Nothing will keep bears out that really want in, but good coop security with hardware cloth in/on the ground and up the sides are, in my area with lots of predator, a must, as well as a cover for your run. I’m with the majority of the folks, I believe you got taken and should send it back and try hard to get that $600…you can make a great coop for that (almost). And…chicken math is a real thing so make your coop and run bigger than you think you need, if you can. New baby chicks are really hard to resist

 

[countryladyNH]

I just love her. she should be in the byc calendar, have you entered yet?

We are a lot alike. We started with Orpington girl baby chicks 7 years ago. We have 1 adult female duck (our other had passed unexpectedly) and 2 new female baby ducklings as of the post office last week, and pet Pilgrim goose Mayflower. We still have some Orpingtons but now added other breeds---9 hens---3 are new babies we just got!

 

[The Confused Chicken]

Update: Looking at a permanent coop to upgrade to in a week or so. The one I've found has a 6' x 3.5' run and a 2' x 3.5' coop, so it should be big enough. It's also a prefab coop, but it seems a little better built/sturdier. I will need to install a predator apron and a 2x4 roosting bar, but then it'll be habitable for chickens. I haven't gotten the coop yet, but I will pretty soon.

The chickens look alright for now, but they definitely seem cramped. I've been letting them out into a makeshift wire pen when I can watch them, which seems to be keeping the whole thing afloat. It's also a tractor, so at least they get fresh grass daily. I may have given the impression that the coop wasn't very secure, but it's fairly sturdy. Based on scat I've found, a pretty big dog has been about, but it wasn't able to get in.

I'll send the chickens/supplies/rental coop back as planned in the fall, and get 3 - 4 bantams/silkies for the new coop in the spring. Thanks so much for the help everyone!

 

[rosemarythyme]

The one I've found has a 6' x 3.5' run and a 2' x 3.5' coop, so it should be big enough. It's also a prefab coop, but it seems a little better built/sturdier. I will need to install a predator apron and a 2x4 roosting bar, but then it'll be habitable for chickens. I haven't gotten the coop yet, but I will pretty soon.

I'll send the chickens/supplies/rental coop back as planned in the fall, and get 3 - 4 bantams/silkies for the new coop in the spring. Thanks so much for the help everyone!

Do you have a link to the prefab you're considering? Is this intended to be a tractor or fixed in place? As a fixed coop and run that's not big enough for bantams either and you've already confirmed you cannot free range. Even for bantams at a minimum you're looking at 2 sq ft per bird in coop, and still 10 in the run - depending on the breed, they may need the same amount of space as standard birds (many bantams are more active).

 

[fuzzi]

Update: Looking at a permanent coop to upgrade to in a week or so. The one I've found has a 6' x 3.5' run and a 2' x 3.5' coop, so it should be big enough. It's also a prefab coop, but it seems a little better built/sturdier. I will need to install a predator apron and a 2x4 roosting bar, but then it'll be habitable for chickens. I haven't gotten the coop yet, but I will pretty soon.

The chickens look alright for now, but they definitely seem cramped. I've been letting them out into a makeshift wire pen when I can watch them, which seems to be keeping the whole thing afloat. It's also a tractor, so at least they get fresh grass daily. I may have given the impression that the coop wasn't very secure, but it's fairly sturdy. Based on scat I've found, a pretty big dog has been about, but it wasn't able to get in.

I'll send the chickens/supplies/rental coop back as planned in the fall, and get 3 - 4 bantams/silkies for the new coop in the spring. Thanks so much for the help everyone!

You came to the right place for good information.

I second the hoop coop suggestion. I'm not skilled or handy, but I built my own. Check out this link if you're interested in seeing my build:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-26819925

If you'd prefer a wooden coop @gtaus has a thread on pallet projects, and there are plenty of threads by people who used pallets and/or scrap wood to save money building a coop.

Be sure to use 1/2" hardware cloth (HWC) around the run, including an apron to prevent digging by predators. Chicken wire does NOT stop predators.

And above all, have fun. I have Speckled Sussex and Dominique bantam chicks, and love my Chick TV!

 

[The Confused Chicken]

Do you have a link to the prefab you're considering? Is this intended to be a tractor or fixed in place? As a fixed coop and run that's not big enough for bantams either and you've already confirmed you cannot free range. Even for bantams at a minimum you're looking at 2 sq ft per bird in coop, and still 10 in the run - depending on the breed, they may need the same amount of space as standard birds (many bantams are more active).

This is the one. I can confirm it's better built than most other prefab coops. Compared to the other ones at TSC, it looks much stronger. It says that it has 15mm walls, which should be ok from what I can understand. It also has a good clean-out tray and more ventilation than the current one. It would be a fixed coop. I'm aware of the few 'predator proofing' modifications I'll need to make.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/petmate-superior-construction-chicken-coop-70401d

Are you sure it wouldn't be ok for three bantams? I'd probably go with a silkie, a barred rock bantam, and an easter egger bantam. I thought that bantams were good with 2' in the coop and 5-7' in the run? I could probably find a bigger coop, but it'd be a few weeks longer of them in the current coop if I did that. Thanks!

 

[The Confused Chicken]

@rosemarythyme What do you think of the Eglu cube? If the one from TSC wouldn't work, that might be the one I switch over to. People seem to have luck with as many as 4 standard chickens in it despite the small space, probably because they have the 9' or 12' runs. Thanks!