I really want a hen house.......

[misschickenlittle]

from Missouri!

 

[Naughty]

You Have hit the JACKPOT for great and useful information for newbies with this website - I have learned so much here from this group of people

but BEWARE!!!

THEY ARE ENABLERS!!!! At least they are the reason I started out wanting only 3-4 hens and now have 15!

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Quote:
me an enabler

i donot think so

 

[Oobhakeb]

Lol...i Started Out Wanting 2-3 And That Went To 8 Then To 9 And Now I Think An Even 10

 

[oldchickenlady]

Read every thing here about coops/runs, feed, raising chicks, feeders, waterers, etc. etc. I suggest enlarging your coop from 6x8 to at least 8x8 (less cutting!), and you will want more chickens! Trust me on that...type 'chicken math' into the BYC search box. Any subject you have questions about you can type into the search box and it will pull up past discussions (ex. nest boxes, treats, feed, etc. etc.). DO NOT USE CHICKEN WIRE! You can use 1x2 welded wire or hardware cloth, or 1x2 welded wire with a piece of hardware cloth around the bottom (this is for your run), to prevent coons from reaching through the wire to entice your chickens. Look at all coops on the coop page to get an idea of what you want. There are some really great ideas ranging from extremely elaborate and gorgeous and costly...to extremely imaginative, economical recycling supplies, and everything in between! Runs are the same...some small for 2 or 3 hens to huge! Also check out the predators page in the index to get a good idea of what does not work for coops and runs. I really love my run as it is totally enclosed and I don't have to worry about hawks or anything getting in unless I leave the gate open (except maybe a bear). It is a pvc hoop run and is a lot cheaper than a run with wood framing. So...do your homework before you get your chicks! Then go to the lumber store and price the wire/lumber and see what you can afford...again, before you get your chicks! Once you figure out what type of coop/run you can afford and how big you can afford to build, then you can decide on how many chickens you can have. BTW...you didn't have any Silver Laced Wyandottes in your list of breeds...since you are in Kentucky you have to check out Foley's Waterfowl and see his birds...I am betting you will want to add at least one of those to your list (no, I'm not enabling...I just saying...

). Oh, don't forget to check out the Habitat for Humanity Home store if you have one or lumber salvage places...they are great places to look for building supplies! I found 2 windows for my coop at a salvage place for $10 each.

 

[heather112588]

i'm new to raising chickens as well but have already learned many things:

1) buying from a local breeder is 5x cheaper than any hatchery or website. The only exception i would make to buy from a hatchery or website is if i wanted a specific breed.
2) craigslist is an absolutly amazing tool for everything
3) You can build a coop for much cheaper than everywhere trys to sell them for (as long as you want to put in the labor behind it).
4) don't listen to most people about bad breeds or roos(even though you said you werent getting one)...yes, certain breeds are known to be more aggressive but raised correctly i've never had a problem with a breed or rooster yet. I got day old chicks and picked them up everyday...yes everyday, and 5 months later i can still call and scoop them in my arms on command.
5) speaking of breeds, pick ones that work with your climate... for example, rhode island reds and barred rocks can stand both heat, extreme cold and are good egg layers.
6) Chickens will eat anything!!! Fruit, table scraps, etc...
7) Buy and set live traps because chickens will draw other preditors...this is not a maybe thing.
8) as such, i reccommend hard wire cloth because raccoons can chew though chicken wire.
9) brace yourself...my chcikens figured out how to use a cat door. Anything that they can get into, they will.
10) If you have the space let them free range, it will help your yard and you (less coop cleaning).
11) make sure you check out any local laws first concerning livestock/fowl...some areas have limits on amount of birds per acre or in proximety to your residence.
12) enjoy the experience. These clowns each have different personalities and will make you smile

 

[Oobhakeb]

Quote:
GREAT INFO! chicken lady, i really do want the wyandottes! they are gorgeous but the hatchery im getting from doesnt have them. i will check out Foleys thanks for the refferal!!!

 

[Peipooch]

Glad to have you! This site is a wealth of info and I've learned a lot from everyone else's experiences (what works and doesn't)! Dive in!

 

[Cleebee]

We made our own coop with scrap wood a friend found in her crawlspace. It was seriously the most random bunch of boards and such. Old shelving, plywood cut up in a strange shape, siding from a shed, tow-by-fours.... I just stared at it for a while and came up with a plan for a small house. I also saw larger possibilities on Craigslist. Search "chicken coop" - it brings up the fancy schmancy expensive stuff, but there is also random offers like these old shipping crates that you could cut a window in and add a roost and voila. I know two people who bought houses with coops that they don't use. I guess some people also get wood shavings on craigslist and free-cycle. Worth a try!

 

[TigerLilly]