I'm getting a chicken coop! Need some advice.

[teach1rusl]

I'm PMing you...

 

[georgiagail]

How we handled our dog kennel/run...

Poultry wire run along the bottom and attached to the bottom of the kennel frame; 36" hardware cloth wrapped around the sides and held in place with zip ties; a roof of 3/4" PVC pipe run every three feet with hardware cloth attached to this with zip ties.

Gail

 

[MamiPollo]

Gail, that looks nice. Thank you for sharing.

What if I let the pullets share this house that is supposed to be delivered Friday afternoon? And then divide them up when they get bigger and put two of them in a separate house? They could share the run during the day. Would this work?

The two araucanas seem to kind of keep to themselves a bit anyway, and the three australorps are laid back and satisfied to be led by the Columbia Rock.

Maybe I could enclose the tractor I have and make it a house for two of them.

Would this work? Would they be satisfied with being neighbors instead of housemates?

 

[teach1rusl]

Typically, once chickens have gotten use to a particular shelter, they will continue to use that shelter, even if you try to switch them out (if they have access to it). You could always give the little coop a try, and then rehome a few birds if you see signs of trouble this winter (feather picking and such). Maybe you will be lucky and just have an extra harmonious, mild mannered flock. Some people have flocks like that. Just be very diligent for signs of trouble, because I've read of cannabilism issues here on the site (almost always in winter or other times of confinement).

ETA - If you can manage at least a partial covering on your run, that will help quite a bit, as it will encourage your birds to go outside a lot more (most chickens don't like snow.)

 

[MamiPollo]

I missed this before, I think. I did not see the shipping crates.

Can you explain how this would work? I think if I put two of them together I would have approx. a 4x4 interior space, but no way to get in it? I don't think I am visualizing this.

I could afford a small shed on sale now, but thought if I did that I might rather use my old aluminum shed for the birds and use the new one for my garden storage.

I am confusing myself I think, probably complicating things because I am feeling a bit panicked.


Quote:

 

[MamiPollo]

Hey! How about this? http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/2366903648.html

Next question: How do you move a shed?

 

[brandislee]

That looks like a great shed.

Moving a shed- easy if you know someone with a skid steer and a big enough trailer. Otherwise I have no idea. Since that's a ridiculous (and by that I mean ridiculously low) price for a shed that size, it may be worthwhile to rent a skid steer if you don't know someone who has one. Or if you know 6 or 8 strong people you may be able to screw on handles and lift it onto a trailer. I should stop talking now, I've never actually done this before...

But the real reason I'm posting is to encourage you to get moving! I was like you before- anxious and overwhelmed about whether or not I could do any of the stuff involved in building a chicken setup. I don't know anything about construction either, and am not terribly strong. I didn't build a coop on my own or anything, but I did fix up a shed including adding ventilation, a pop door, and a brooder (on a shelf in the coop), and I completely built the run by myself, including 4x4 landscaping timbers sunk 3.5 feet into the ground. I would say stop worrying about your physical limitations (mostly). Tools and things exist in almost all cases to help weaklings like us I used a walk behind skid steer with a post hole digger on the front to dig the post holes (hard to get used to steering it, but otherwise easy peasey) that I rented for a half day.

However I do understand the financial limitations- between renting the post hole digger, the fence posts, and the fencing and other supplies the run alone (about 30x30) cost about $400. That's a lot. But I was kind of obsessive about it being super strong and lasting a long time, and about being able to walk into it without crouching.

So far as money, do what you can afford and what feels right to you, but stop worrying about it and start doing it- I know from experience that "doing" will make you feel so much better!

 

[teach1rusl]

If you wanted it to look cute (regarding the shipping crates), you could join them with the siding. You'd have to cut and hinge the access door and the pop door and any window/ventilation openings would need to be covered with wire.
I did see that shed when I looked through CL earlier. But moving a shed is a pain unless you have connections to someone with a flatbed truck - but maybe you do???
I personally don't like metal sheds for animals, but some people do use them. You'd need to make sure there was plenty of ventilation, because metal buildings tend to get HOT in the summers, and in the winter they tend to sweat. So if you go the metal shed route, then I'd advise insulating (even if it's just those thin foam sheets) at least the ceiling. Cut window openings vent. openings, and use sheet metal screws to cover the openings with hardware cloth... At least you'd have a people door already in it. Cut out the pop door (you may want to frame the pop door with wood in case of sharp edges), add roosts and nest boxes (both of which might need some framing for support)...

 

[MamiPollo]

I hear ya. I need to do something. But what? That's the question. I can't start until I figure out what I am doing.

I can't do anything tomorrow. I am the PSSO president at my daughter's school. Tomorrow is our annual volunteer appreciation dinner. I will be there all day and then my daughter sings in a concert in the evening.

The CL coop is due to be delivered Friday afternoon. The dog house I ordered from Amazon to make a coop out of has been shipped & Amazon has instructed me to refuse delivery if I do not want it.

I can't take a shower, because there is a box of chicken poop in my bathtub.

Lawdy! Lawdy!

Two in the morning is usually the time things slow down long enough for me to think about my options and make a decision.

 

[latebloomer]

Quote:
you're doing fine. my chicks are still inside and i'm trying to build my coop as fast as i can.

i hope the weather holds over the weekend, if so, they just may be outside!