Official BYC Poll: Which Challenges Did You Face in Getting Backyard Chickens?

[3KillerBs]

I do have huge "kennel like" enclosure for them where I have no issues with attacks of any nature... just hate to keep them "cooped up" in there.

The nice thing about the electric netting is that it both offers a LOT of space for the price and that it's mobile.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Definitely the coop. In a short period of time, I've learned a lifetime of knowledge about lumber, lumber substitutes, hinges, hardware cloth -- I think I need to repeat again, hardware cloth (ouch) -- and shortcuts. I've also purchased no fewer than three more power tools and countless hand tools. So to anyone who says you get "free eggs," HAH!

A very close second is the need for dispatch and good technique. If you raise quail, you must learn to cull. It's part of the package.

But I have to close by saying that raising quail changed my life. I've lost 10 pounds because it has changed my view on food -- I now know for certain I am not meant to be a vegetarian, but I also know that I am also not solely a carnivore. Thanks to the best compost ever, I eat much healthier with a bigger balance of fruits and vegetables.

My cat eats better too. I'll save that for a whole 'nother story.

 

[BDutch]

When I looked to buy chickens, I already had a coop. I bought the coop for 2 older dwarf rabbits we had , with the idea to buy bantam chickens if they would die one day.

• Picking out the best breed for me

First problem was find a breed that would fit in this small coop. But luckily I could easily buy some Dutch 6 week old chicks at 5 km distance.

• Arranging a secure run

The second problem was the small attached run. When the chickstarted to grow the attached run was obviously too small. I bought wire frame panels to enlarge the coop. And moved the coop and run around the lawn so the could live on clean grass. But nevertheless they damaged the grass and we decided to build a more secure and much larger run after a couple of months.

P.S.

The Dutch with the coop in 2014.

After 9 years I still have this same prefab run with quit a lot of improvements (new roof, epdm against leaking, an extension with a automatic pop door to the run, more and more spacious roosts in the extension, preservation with a fungi paint that blackened the wood.

My bantam RIR chickens in the extension.

 

[Bella Dominique]

My husband was the one who wanted chickens so I left him to it. He built a nice 4x4 coup with close-able window and a few holes for ventilation. The coop wasn’t very tall on one side and air flow above roosts was a problem. Also had a secure 6x8 walk-in run. We got Australorps,Barred Rocks, and Wyandottes , all breeds that were listed for beginners. We ended up with 7 chicks which fit fine in the coop when they were pullets but a tight fit once full grown and the pecking order became apparent . We had to build a bigger coop with better ventilation and doubled the size of secure run for when we’re gone most of day. If I had gotten involved at the beginning we probably would have saved ourselves about $1000. in building materials, but as I told my husband, “the first coop is usually practice”.

 

[Chick Wrangler]

We went big with the coop, renovating the old hay/feed barn. Skyrocketed lumber prices and several injuries slowed us down. But we are happy with the result

Beautiful coop!!!!

 

[Chick Wrangler]

I got chickens for eggs and pets that some of them have survived moving to a whole different house. The main problem is limiting myself to a smaller number of chickens. I currently have 63.

"Yes, I really do need all these chickens!" mug

https://www.amazon.com/really-chick...cphy=9029940&hvtargid=pla-1059239375905&psc=1

 

[BleuSaphir]

For now it the conflict of family member being against the idea keeping urban chickens. (Mom and brother are just against it of their own separate opinions)

In the future it would be finding a home in the San Fernando Valley (more further west end of the valley) that would allow chickens (most homes I like are in HOA designated neighborhoods). It a big challenge in the future.

 

[Thunder344]

"Yes, I really do need all these chickens!" mug

https://www.amazon.com/really-chick...cphy=9029940&hvtargid=pla-1059239375905&psc=1

I'm going to show this to a family member and say it's a good Christmas present for someone.

 

[Regina Larsen]

Beautiful coop!!!!

THANK YOU!!! Labor of love!

 

[blackacres]

I’d been telling my husband I wanted chickens for years. We moved to a location in April 2020 where I could finally have them. I continued to tell husband I wanted chickens and he continued ignoring my wishes. A friend had several 4-6 week chicks that needed a home so i decided I’d “force” his hand and I went and picked up 9 of them and brought them home. Brought them home and put them in a tote brooder in the garage. Husband came home and saw the chicks, looked at me and shook his head. Then the search for a coop was on. That is a whole other story! He built a small run I could put them in during the day while we searched. Then they grew and I moved them into a playpen. We ended up finding an old metal shed. We spruced it up and wrapped the outside to make it “prettier,” and husband built an amazing 900sqft run. Four of the nine chicks turned out to be roos so I rehomed three of them. Then I spent an exhausting amount of time searching for pullets that were the same age as the flock I already had (for easier integration.) Added three BCMs and six RIRs. Within a short time I came to realize the silkies were not going to thrive in the same area as the full sized birds so we separated a small area of the coop and run that keeps them apart now. Also added a roof over part of the run and enclosed an area for feed and supply storage. And then I decided to add Seramas to my silkies. And somehow I ended up with 23 chickens in the span of just a few months and am already drawing up plans for an additional coop and run to build in the Spring. Wow. That was long-winded. If you’re still reading, now you know my chicken addiction is a struggle and how I forced my way into getting what I wanted! Haha