Low Spouse Impact Chickens

[w8tn4fresheggs]

Regarding the Henspa and contacting them. I would suggest that you call the 800# from thier website and talk directly to the wife of the business owner if you have questions. Sometimes the man will answer the phone too.

I have a site that I look at constantly for updates for coops. This guy is in the UK, but he has his items shipped to the United States, I believe to Georgia for people in the United States to be able to order from him. I bought a rabbit run from him and I am completly satisfied. I used it as a brooder.

Here is his website.

http://stores.ebay.com/ALBANY-PETS-...POULTRY-COOPS-RUNS_W0QQfsubZ11562656QQfrsrcZ1

Just another option. I haven't ordered the coop, since I have my Henspa. Hopefully I keep it all in check and don't keep getting more chicks. The fever is bad on this site, so I have to stop myself.


I know many people can't fathom the cost. For me it wasn't an option. My husband wanted nothing to do with chickens and setting up a coop etc.

I wish I was handy and could build something, but in order for me to have my chicks and get started on this wonderful adventure I had to buy prebuilt. If all else I can sell it to someone down the line or take it apart and store it. So in the end it shouldn't be a waste of money. Everyone who sees it in person just can't get over the fact that it has everything to take care of the chickens needs and that I can actually move it.

 

[rwcmick]

Thanks for the info. I will try the 800 number. Kinda frustrating that they won't answer email, though.

Albany Pets is interesting. I had bid on the Poultry Ark Chicken House & Run, but the auction ended w/o meeting the reserve. My bid was calculated to be $500 "all in" but it looks like the same thing is also available via buy it now on a different auction and the "out the coop" pricing is just under $700. Darn exchange rates. I never though I'd long for the $1.60 pound, but now I sure do! I should've bought some .80 cent Euro's too. Oh well.

I might have a "free day" tomorrow to work on this project and there might be some lucrative overtime jobs coming up at work so I should be able to stuff the budget's coffers. Undoubtedly this is going to cost me many "movie nights" where the wife gets to leave for a few hours and probably a few spa days as well. Same deal I had with the sailboat project. I really got soaked on that deal. Anyone want to buy an outboard ?

 

[hensnchix]

Oh lordy, I cracked up when I read your initial post! I also have a spouse who is not happy with the pet situation at our house (although my kids and are having an awful lot of fun, what with bunnies, chicks, and a giant dog running around)! Note to self: Next time, check to see if boyfriend is actually comfortable around animals before accepting proposal.

Just one thought: I also have almost no building skills, but I ended up trading services with a good friend who is a carpenter. She's helping me build the coop in exchange for help with her resume, cover letters, and babysitting--plus a lifetime supply of free eggs. (Please little hens, please, please be good layers.) Do you have a friend you could do that with?

In the end, I think I'll spend about $500.00 on my coop, which will be 4x8 and sort of cute--with a colored metal roof, a door painted by the children, and flower boxes along the bottom. I could have bought something ready-made for that much (well, not the henspa!), but this is bigger and it has some homey touches to it. Plus I learned a bunch of skills doing it--enough so that I think I can make my own little "hen house" to fit inside. And while it's taking a long time (someone with real skills could probably do this project in half the time I spent), it's been good time with the kids.

Just my two cents...I definitely see the appeal of buying a ready-made coop, but I think you could get more for your money if you figure out a way to build yourself.


Susan

 

[rwcmick]

I visited HMB Feed and Fuel today and looked at the Chick-n-Barn. I wasn't very happy with what I saw. The pop hole doors were difficult to opena and the tracks that they slide along were already cracking. Overall, just looking at it didn't give me a lot of confidence in the product. HMB did have have some Ameraucanas chicks in stock from Belt Hatchery. Cute buggers but not the breed I'm looking for.

As for trading services. The folks I hang around with don't have woodworking experience except for one fellow who doesn't have any tools and didn't seem to have much interest in building a coop.

I heard back from one British company and they said that it was too expensive to send their coop to the USA. So I'm still looking!

 

[cookinmom]

Speaking from a girl POV here, and seeing as how your wife is also a girl, I wouldn't worry too much about her not liking your chickens, especially if you're starting with babies. They are cute and fluffy, and rare is the woman who dislikes a critter that is small, cute and fluffy.
My experience so far has been that people who don't really care for chickens either 1 - were chased, pecked or otherwise scared by poultry of some kind as a child, or 2 - they've never been around chickens so they've not had a chance to see how interesting they are.
I think it's great that you are putting so much effort into making it a pleasant experience for her. That's nice!

 

[hensnchix]

Rwcmic, I'm entirely sympathetic with the difficulty of finding/building a coop. I put off getting chicks for more than a year while trying to figure out how to set up a coop.

And I still scan the web trying to see if I can find a better deal than what I'm building at home.

Let us know what you find!

Susan

 

[3peeps]

I haven't read all the posts here, but I am in a similar position...my husband agreed last spring and is desiring a clean/not smelly yard.

Have you checked out the book "Keep Chickens" by Barbara Kilarski? Very good intro for backyard coops. We are using pine shavings, by the way, and have no smell. I clean out the poops frequently. Also, I plan to cover my run so the rain does not soak in and make it smelly. And I am using deep shavings in the run, also.

 

[jkm]

I'm working on a blog page to get all chicken pre-made chicken coops that are for sale in or ship to the USA on one page. I'm going to add prices as categories so that folks can search for "under $xxx" price range.


thnak you soo much, I wish I had found that page before I built my disaster, I love the one from england thats on ebay, look under rabbit hutches, I would have bought that in a flash. its so practical and big.
I went to the portland tour of coops, and learned a lot, the best thing I have done is give plenty of run room, but my coop is all wrong. my mom says the best thing I have done is provided a great garden with lots of clover, mulch, trees and bird feeders.

I have your page bookmarked, and may replace my unit in a year or so.... thanks again for a great thread.


oh my sister lives with me and is pet tolerant of my shelties and cats. after four months she thinks the chcikens are great garden art!

which came first, the chicken or the wine?
cheers

 

[rwcmick]

Well I called Henspa today and spoke with I believe the owner. Seemed like a nice fellow. He said that they did have a fire and had lost all of their tools, stock, etc but that they had fully recovered. I’m feeling better about the company and may opt to go with them.

It would seem that perhaps I could use the Henhaven. I was planning with an idea of starting with 2-4 hens and then adding a few more if things worked out. I thought that if I bought the Henspa I could a) add more hens and b) be able to leave the hens for a few days w/ plenty of food and water. However, the owner said that the Henhaven would have enough food and water for 4 hens for 4 or 5 days and I’d never leave them unattended for more than that. As for adding more hens later, I guess I could cross that bridge when I get there.

 

[w8tn4fresheggs]

Glad that you were able to get a hold of Egganic. Good Luck with what ever you choose. Chickens are FUN!