Hi, I'm Susan and I'm new today. I don't have a flock yet, but I'm planning on one! Looking forward to fresh eggs which I eat a lot of already and the sounds of soft clucking in residential yard in SE NC. I have absolutely zero carpentry skills, yet I'm going to convert 1/2 the shed into a coop and build a run. I can fix dryers and dishwashers and computers but carpentry has never been a super power, or any power at all really, but it's only a chicken coop, how bad can it go??? Figure I'll pick up a carpentry 101 book and back into the process. I'm planning on some repurposedd items like an old vanity for the coop on the bottom to store stuff and support the nesting/roosting area. We also have free range options when I'm home to supervise everyone. If anyone one wants to give me a basic EASY recipe for the run I'm all ears. What I thought was wire mesh and making the frames the same size as the mesh and multiples so I can just connect them together without cutting wire mesh. (so I might end up with 3X3ft sections as mesh is 3' wide) As you can see, I have plenty of room to come off the 10' side of the shed. I am building for 6 chickens tho I only really need 3 for personal consumption. I'm also kinda of excited to put solar power in the shed, (now we are in my geek playground!) for heat/light/fan. It doesn't get all that cold here in NC but does on drop to teens a few days a year. I also have a cat and and a Belgian Malinois (herding dog). I figure if I can get them to sleep together I can add chickens to the mix without any problems. Looking forward to being part of the club. If you want advice on chickens I'm a bit short today but if it's computers, let me know.
Greetings from Kansas, Susan, and ! Pleased you joined our community! You and I can be partners in the Zero Carpentry Skills Club! Actually, I'm not totally useless - but there is a gap...a large gap - in what I can do and how I want it to look! A great place to accelerate your poultry learning curve is the Learning Center and its many great articles: here's that link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center I did a BYC search for the terms 'run ideas' and found a few old threads for you to explore. https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=run+ideas Make sure you spend the money and invest in hardware cloth - it will keep predators out, whereas as chicken wire money keeps chickens in but a raccoon or coyote with determination and an attitude will get through cw. And if you want to chat with fellow NC poultry folks, find your state thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread Ask in the various forums if you have additional questions. Good luck to you and thanks for joining BYC!!
Hello, and welcome to BYC! I am quite glad you joined us, please make yourself at home, I think you are going to like it here! ~Cuz
G’Day from down under Susan Welcome! As you have already received links to some great starting points, I will just wish you all the best. I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock when they arrive or pics of the coop build, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out
Hi Susan, it's nice to have you here! One tip I can give you is to make your run tall enough for you to stand up in...that will make cleaning a whole lot easier for you. Make yourself at home here and always feel free to ask questions!
