Is it too late in the season?

[Little Fuzzy]

I had an electrician come out and give me an estimate for 75 ft. electrical to my coop and he gave me a heart attack. I went to Home Depot and got an expensive outdoor extension cord for $100.00.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

I built a similar shed style coop like in your picture but with a four foot overhead extension and I wish it was bigger. Believe me you need that extension. There will be times when you will run out there to do something and as you go into to the coop the rain will be dripping on you and you will ask yourself why didn't I build the overhang! Also you will have barrel of feed and stuff that you will need to protect from weather. Also read up on broody cages because eventually you will need one and your small coop will not be able to accommodate even a small cage. My coop is 8x6 and barely has room for the broody cage. Some breeds of chickens go broody more than others, so the cage may be used often. Also be aware of what us at BYC call Chicken Math!! (Once you get four you'll want more!)

 

[Little Fuzzy]

Yea, I thought I wanted a pet chicken that would sit on my shoulder until she pecked my eye. Be careful what you ask for right?

 

[Dave from Maine]

I have good luck getting my layer chicks in early fall and raising them through the winter. I developed this method to save on feed. After one winter providing supplemental light to get eggs through the winter I decided it wasn't worth it. Most of the eggs froze before I could gather them and I'm too much of a tightwad to heat the coop. When I started chicks in the spring they would just be mature enough to start laying when the days get too short for egg production. When they start laying the next spring I've fed them for about a year before getting any significant number of eggs.
If I start chicks in late September they reach the point of lay as the spring days are getting longer. This way I only feed them for 6 months before getting full production.