Questions!

[whispurr]

I'm ready to buy a chicken coop from Tractor Supply. I had chickens about 25 years ago, I remember some but not a lot. I have some questions.

How do we get a rooster?

Can you let one hen hatch babies and eat the eggs from the others?

Can you keep meat chickens in with egg chickens, or is it best to get dual purpose chickens?

I know I need a feeder and water, I think egg shells? I know chicks get chick food, for how long?

I'll raise the chicks in the house, at what age is it ok to put them outside?

How many chickens/rooster could comfortably go in this: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-hill-country-coop-1277537

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks!

 

[cherrynberry]

I'm ready to buy a chicken coop from Tractor Supply. I had chickens about 25 years ago, I remember some but not a lot. I have some questions.


How many chickens/rooster could comfortably go in this: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-hill-country-coop-1277537

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks!

How do we get a rooster?
If you buy 10 females, you may get one accidental male. There are also lots of free males. Or you could buy straight run. There are lots of options.
Can you let one hen hatch babies and eat the eggs from the others?
Yeah
Can you keep meat chickens in with egg chickens, or is it best to get dual purpose chickens?
Meat chickens typically require a stricter diet to stay healthy, long term. Meat chickens are made for meat, not for longevity. Dual purpose birds are nice.
I know I need a feeder and water, I think egg shells? I know chicks get chick food, for how long?
I feed it for their whole lives. I feed an All-flock/flock raiser type feed and have OS in a SEPARATE feeder where it cannot get wet. This is suitable for males, females, chicks, layers, etc.
I'll raise the chicks in the house, at what age is it ok to put them outside?
5-6 weeks is when I do. Depends on your the temps though. I live in CA and it’s pretty warm currently, so I can move chicks out early.

 

[Brooks_]

How many chickens/rooster could comfortably go in this: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-hill-country-coop-1277537

3

 

[hysop]

Looking back I would be picky about a rooster I get. Find one that is friendly and has a nice crow and is beautiful to look at although those may not be free.

Letting a hen hatch out eggs is fine. She will first need to go broody. They don’t on command unfortunately definitely separate her when you get a broody or she may make the others stop laying. That's what happened to me this week

I tried the dual purpose thing, not my thing. Although I do have some dual purpose birds I would probably get strong egg layers to keep forever and just buy meat birds every year to eat. But keep them separate unless you're getting dual purpose.

 

[whispurr]

3

What about this one? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-extra-large-sentinel-chicken-coop-mfc-ls

 

[hysop]

From my experience the Tractor Supply coops don’t last forever. You're better off buying real wood and building a sturdy one.

The ones from TSC still need to be built so it's not like you'd be saving time building if you bought one.

But if it's easier for you to get one from there it is your choice. I just know I wish someone had told me not to buy one from TSC when I first owned chickens. I have since built another one. Or two

 

[cherrynberry]

What about this one? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-extra-large-sentinel-chicken-coop-mfc-ls

I recommend about 7 if they are allowed in the run all day. They list 14, but that’s not enough square feet, IMHO.

 

[hysop]

Will your chickens be free ranging? Or confined to a pen? That can also play a factor in how big your coop can be.

 

[Brooks_]

What about this one? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-extra-large-sentinel-chicken-coop-mfc-ls

Size is better, but has next to zero ventilation. Building, shed conversion, or hoop coop are better options.

 

[cherrynberry]

From my experience the Tractor Supply coops don’t last forever. You're better off buying real wood and building a sturdy one.

The ones from TSC still need to be built so it's not like you'd be saving time building if you bought one.

But if it's easier for you to get one from there it is your choice. I just know I wish someone had told me not to buy one from TSC when I first owned chickens. I have since built another one. Or two

Definitely. Their cheaply built and often can’t fit very many birds at all (comfortably). Coming from someone who had a prefab.