Listing supplies needed for start-up with layer chickens

[hmmcc123]

Oh! And thanks for the compliment!

 

[hmmcc123]

I posted more photos on my BYC page!

 

[toochicky]

Wow! Very cool, with all the different areas they can go into. Thanks for showing your coop!

Do you use two nesting boxes for all 10? Or do you have more than 2 in your coop?

 

[hmmcc123]

Quote:
You bet! We have the two nesting boxes you see, plus, that grey cat box top gets used and we also have a nest they use outside the coop and run. We also have our Buff Orpingtons lay eggs on the floor in the corner by the big double doors! lol But I do hear that 1 nest box is good for up to 4 hens. So two would be good for 6-7 hens.

 

[TrystInn]

I'd recommend a med kit, I'm sure folks can add what they think you'll need. I also keep an infrared lamp and red light bulbs, a full quarantine hutch, cat carrier, towels, colored bands (if you have all one breed, its good to keep individual bands so you can track things).

In mine, I have: poultry penicillin, syringes, Blue Kote, enzymes, scissors, feeding syringes, gloves, Sevin powder, Tea Tree Oil, apple cider vinegar, etc.

 

[hmmcc123]

Just wanted to pass on that if you do decide to build your own coop, your greatest expense will be the hardware wire for the run. Home Depot sells a 4'x 25' roll for $64.00. When our coop and run are complete, we will have used 3-4 rolls. Also, fastener and hardware (hinges, etc.) add up quick!

 

[toochicky]

Thanks TrystInn! I will add those to my list, I like your med kit and I have a lot of those things already which makes it very convenient (excluding poultry meds).

hmmcc123, I am sooo tempted to try and build it myself. I just need to research it more. I keep seeing all these cool custom things that people do with the coops!

 

[mstricer]

We built a simple 8 x 8 coop, it's not the nicest, but my birds aren't complaining and they seem to like it. It's not pretty either, but it has a cool pop door that my BF made for it. They need shelter that is going to be dry, ventilated, have some windows, a man door. Nice roosts. I would suggest, if you have cherry trees, take some of the limbs and make roosts out of them. My birds love them. They stay clean too. I just put sand in my coop, we were having water issues and add some and since we did we have had too big rains and the bedding is still dry. I also made a small 4x 6 coop myself (girls can do anything if they put their mind to it. Both of those are insulated. I have two other coops that are 4 x 6 that are above ground, that the Amish made me and they are constructed nicely, I had most of the frame wood and they only charged me 300 dollars for both. If you look around you can get the materials and tools cheap. We have been buying tools at auctions and we check our local Habitat for Humanity stores for inexpensive wood and such. Good Luck.
Michele