New to raising Chickens

[sumi]

It's true you won't need the coop for a few weeks yet. The chicks will need heat for at least 5-6 weeks, maybe longer if it's really cold where you are, so by all means, get some! If you have a brooder ready for them they can stay in there. I'd suggest you post in the Coop and Run section for some quick coop build tips if you are worried, but it shouldn't take to long to construct, unless you are building a really fancy one.

 

[stefan333]

I have a bunch of baby chicks in two brooders right now, and me and hubby are in the process of building two more hoop coops to fit them. The weather's been nasty here, so we haven't gotten to it, but our hoop coops only take about 2-3 days to build if we're going slow. You could get it built in 1 day if you wanted. Buy the chicks! It'll be a while til they're outside.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[chickie farmer]

That would depend on how much you want to put into it. Mine took a few weeks. It's a 4 1/2 foot by 8 ft. with 1door (insulated) and a screen door with 1/2" netting over the plexiglas windows on the north side (for winter sunlight) and a pop door on the north side. I used a dog pen 12' square then around the bottom I used a 1/2 in. mesh . 1' underground for predators and 2 foot above ground. (3ft. total height). Then chicken wire over the top for hawks and animals that like to climb. then your nests and roost. I built the coop inside the pen on treated 4x4s off the ground 1 foot. This gives you an idea of how long it will take you. It took me about 3 weeks to build. I'm retired so I had time to build it. You should have time to build a coop with fencing. But you should get started on building it for those rainy, windy days before cold weather starts coming in. Then decide if you want electricity in it for a heater for their water. or else carry water out 2-3 times daily for them. You can get ideas from the internet on how you want your coop built. good luck. They grow fast.