The current iteration of my chicken keeping journey began on March 29 of this year (2019) when I pulled into Tractor Supply to get a wheelbarrow and they had there "Chick Days" in full swing. I took home six RIR chicks (female) and two bantams (straight run). I brooded these chicks in an old parakeet cage in my living room, much to the chagrin of my wife.
By April 27 I had finished building the coop that I also bought at Tractor Supply and moved them outside. That little birdcage was getting crowded!
At first I tried to let them free range in my yard everyday, but soon they were spending as much time in my neighbors backyard as they did in mine. So, until I can fence in my backyard, I bought a 8'x8' poultry pen and attached it to the coop.
On Thursday I will begin building my permanent coop/run. No, I don't expect that flimsy box store coop to last very long, but I will repaint it and keep it for a quarantine/grow out/time out coop to use as needed. I am impressed with the coop/run built by @adirondak5 so I will be building one based on his design with a few changes to make it better fit my needs. I'll have to hurry to get this new coop ready because I have placed an order with Meyer Hatchery and I'll have 15 more pullets pretty soon.
I ordered one of the Brinsea Ecoglow brooders and will brood these chicks in my garage in a large 110 gallon rubber stock tank. Hopefully that will make DW happy.
To be continued.....
By April 27 I had finished building the coop that I also bought at Tractor Supply and moved them outside. That little birdcage was getting crowded!
At first I tried to let them free range in my yard everyday, but soon they were spending as much time in my neighbors backyard as they did in mine. So, until I can fence in my backyard, I bought a 8'x8' poultry pen and attached it to the coop.
On Thursday I will begin building my permanent coop/run. No, I don't expect that flimsy box store coop to last very long, but I will repaint it and keep it for a quarantine/grow out/time out coop to use as needed. I am impressed with the coop/run built by @adirondak5 so I will be building one based on his design with a few changes to make it better fit my needs. I'll have to hurry to get this new coop ready because I have placed an order with Meyer Hatchery and I'll have 15 more pullets pretty soon.
I ordered one of the Brinsea Ecoglow brooders and will brood these chicks in my garage in a large 110 gallon rubber stock tank. Hopefully that will make DW happy.
To be continued.....