Pixelsaurus
Songster
- Apr 24, 2020
- 43
- 55
- 109
Hi everyone,
During this strange time of shelter-in-place, I had a crazy idea to convert our old playhouse into a chicken coop. On the day our state implemented the shelter-in-place order (March 30th) we stopped by the local Tractor Supply and bought 6 pullets, feed, waterer and feeder. We had not started on the coop yet, but watched a couple YouTube videos and set up the chicks in a larger rubbermaid tub.
We have six chicks that are now 4.5 weeks old. As for what kind of hens we have, I don't know. I just told the store clerk that I wanted chickens for eggs and they packaged up 6 pullets. But if anyone can guess - here is a photo of one of the girls.
I am excited about having backyard chickens mostly because I love eggs - I eat them practically every day. I enjoy the challenge of learning how to raise chickens and designing a cool coop and chicken run.
I enjoy Making and have been doing a lot of projects around the house from home improvement to art projects. I hope to use this project as an excuse to design some Arduino controlled things - like the coop door.
My husband and I are recently (somewhat recently) empty-nested. We spend several weeks off and on last year driving across the country in a teardrop trailer. We like to camp and travel, but at the end of the day, I am a bit more of a homebody than my husband. We have a little pup (almost 2 years old) named Zoe.
We created a large cardboard structure in our sunroom. Using a heat lamp and a remote thermometer to track the temp. Also put in a wire rack shelf extender with a seed mat on top as a make-shift brooder. We also cut a hole in the box with a piece of plexiglass so Zoe can watch the girls grow up. We plan to have the hens free-range occasionally (when we are home), so open to suggestions on how to train the pup to be "good" around the hens.
I have been relying heavily on the internet for guidance on everything from basic needs of raising chicks to building the chicken coop. But still run into questions - like what paint is safe to use for a coop floor? what hazards should I be concerned about regarding building materials? Etc. A number of my searches brought me to Backyard Chickens, so I am excited to join this group to share my progress and learn from others.
Cheers!
Ginger, Chris, and Zoe
During this strange time of shelter-in-place, I had a crazy idea to convert our old playhouse into a chicken coop. On the day our state implemented the shelter-in-place order (March 30th) we stopped by the local Tractor Supply and bought 6 pullets, feed, waterer and feeder. We had not started on the coop yet, but watched a couple YouTube videos and set up the chicks in a larger rubbermaid tub.
We have six chicks that are now 4.5 weeks old. As for what kind of hens we have, I don't know. I just told the store clerk that I wanted chickens for eggs and they packaged up 6 pullets. But if anyone can guess - here is a photo of one of the girls.
I am excited about having backyard chickens mostly because I love eggs - I eat them practically every day. I enjoy the challenge of learning how to raise chickens and designing a cool coop and chicken run.
I enjoy Making and have been doing a lot of projects around the house from home improvement to art projects. I hope to use this project as an excuse to design some Arduino controlled things - like the coop door.
My husband and I are recently (somewhat recently) empty-nested. We spend several weeks off and on last year driving across the country in a teardrop trailer. We like to camp and travel, but at the end of the day, I am a bit more of a homebody than my husband. We have a little pup (almost 2 years old) named Zoe.
We created a large cardboard structure in our sunroom. Using a heat lamp and a remote thermometer to track the temp. Also put in a wire rack shelf extender with a seed mat on top as a make-shift brooder. We also cut a hole in the box with a piece of plexiglass so Zoe can watch the girls grow up. We plan to have the hens free-range occasionally (when we are home), so open to suggestions on how to train the pup to be "good" around the hens.
I have been relying heavily on the internet for guidance on everything from basic needs of raising chicks to building the chicken coop. But still run into questions - like what paint is safe to use for a coop floor? what hazards should I be concerned about regarding building materials? Etc. A number of my searches brought me to Backyard Chickens, so I am excited to join this group to share my progress and learn from others.
Cheers!
Ginger, Chris, and Zoe
