Help new to this, clueless and getting frustrated!

Date sort Score sort
sled483

sled483

Songster
7 Years
Jun 5, 2013
101
34
136
Norfolk Massachusetts
I am thinking of raising chickens. Here are a few things I think I have figured out; I want eggs only, no rooster no meat. I only want 3-4 hens. I want a coop kit. Here is where I am running into a problem. Finding a coop kit big enough for 4 full size hens, that doesn't cost $800-$1000 and has a good review. I also want the coop to be somewhat mobile with a run. I can't free range, I live on a busy street and own dogs that have access to a fenced in yard all day. So the run needs to be quite big, or I need a small run with the coop and a separate mobile run for them during the day. I'm looking at a price of around $500. Is this possible? Every time I did find a kit and read the review it says its not big enough, or it's poorly made. I really don't want to build my own, not crazy about cutting all those pieces.
Second question cleaning out the coop, what do I do with the used pine shavings? Can I just dump them in the woods? Do I need to buy a composter? If I just dump them in the open will it smell? I have neighbors. I don't want to upset anyone. I have a lot of woods around me not open land. Any thoughts would be really really helpful.
 
Greetings from Kansas, sled483, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Pleased you joined us! Sounds like you have a dilemma on your hands. I don't know much about the prices of coop kits....I do know I don't like the quality of the ones I've seen (but I'm sure some good ones exist). I would be most concerned about a larger run and a small coop rather than vice versa. The mobility may be an issue. Sounds like you might benefit from a mobile chicken tractor - one that you can drag or roll to new areas of the yard and "marry it" to a mobile coop. For coops I'd check out the BYC Coops and Run Maintenance forum - post there - I'm sure someone with a kit they like will chime in. Keep in mind the size for coops is recommended to be 4 sq. ft. per bird...that's really a small coop but can be with an adequate sized run. The recommended run size is 10 sq. ft. per bird.
In terms of the used shavings, they make great mulch for trees or gardens and won't be smelly if you don't let them ferment. Good "deep litter method" in the BYC search bar - good reading. Good luck to you - sorry I wasn't much help.
 
Greetings from Kansas, sled483, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Pleased you joined us! Sounds like you have a dilemma on your hands. I don't know much about the prices of coop kits....I do know I don't like the quality of the ones I've seen (but I'm sure some good ones exist). I would be most concerned about a larger run and a small coop rather than vice versa. The mobility may be an issue. Sounds like you might benefit from a mobile chicken tractor - one that you can drag or roll to new areas of the yard and "marry it" to a mobile coop. For coops I'd check out the BYC Coops and Run Maintenance forum - post there - I'm sure someone with a kit they like will chime in. Keep in mind the size for coops is recommended to be 4 sq. ft. per bird...that's really a small coop but can be with an adequate sized run. The recommended run size is 10 sq. ft. per bird.
In terms of the used shavings, they make great mulch for trees or gardens and won't be smelly if you don't let them ferment. Good "deep litter method" in the BYC search bar - good reading. Good luck to you - sorry I wasn't much help.

Here's the link to the Coop and Run forum:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance
 
Hi,

I also am new here, But I was faced with a very similar situation, and decided to get a coop kit from http://snaplockchickencoops.com/ . The small one will hold 4 hens just fine and is $450. I went with one of the larger ones but I believe it is a very good solution as maintenance is my big thing, all you have to do is pull the pan out to clean. if necessary clorox water in a spray bottle and a water hose the entire thing is clean and bacteria free. The chickens cannot damage it like they can peck at the wood in a traditional coop, so for me this seems to be a perfect solution.
 
welcome-byc.gif
head for "where am I, where are you," to find your state thread and post on it. People from your locale should be able to give better advice on what the coop must have to hold up to your climate. Have you checked your local Craig's list. often people are selling/giving away coops with chickens included.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom