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Good, at least I am not the only one to get the big spank.
Okay I've got something I want to talk about. I apologize in advance if it's been talked to death in a million other places on BYC, and believe me I've spent hours looking at pretty innovative coops in the picture section, read a couple of books, (and have more I'm still reading!) but spring isn't coming soon enough and you guys pain me every time you start talking about selling your extra hens, eggs, chicks. I have some apprehensions about DH and his buddy building my coop in the spring since their building efforts are kind of hit and miss and neither one knows anything about birthing no chickens or at least keeping them, and I'm not confident enough that I'll have everything in the right place when I fake my way through drawing some plans for them to follow.
So I've been looking on CL for coops. I'm wondering if I can get opinions and feedback. What do you guys think of these, besides the idea that none of you who are experienced and clever enough to build your own coops wouldn't pay these prices. I intend to keep up to 6 good sized hens. I want to be able to stand upright when I'm cleaning out the coop. I want enough room for the girls to be fat and happy. I intend to have my men build me a walk in pen that will be attached to the coop and dug in so everyone is safe when we aren't around. When we are outside, the girls can hang out to free range in the yard with us.
My thinking is if I acquired a pre-built coop and the guys built my pen I wouldn't have to wait until the end until who knows how long before I can bring some pretty girls home.
So here's a couple I've been looking at. Not a lot of selection on CL right now.
I like the Saltbox style on this ad, but it's pretty much out of my price range. Although I don't know how DH would end up spending on new materials if he tried to build it himself.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/links/ymsgr7/*http://my.yahoo.com/
And here's another:
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=hotmail
What do you think? Or should I just be a big girl, draw up my own plans and be patient? Or just for fun, what do you think of these pre-made offerings?
What price range would you want? maybe someone here can build you one for the price so you don't have to wait? I know a few of us are short on funds so it might be a option. maybe CR can come up with enough scraps etc to build a coop?
or DIY
You can just convert a shed or a large doghouse. The easiest one I've seen is a old dog kennel run with a top put on and a old doghouse in the middle. most doghouses have removable lids so a pair of hinges and you have a open door to grab eggs and just sweep or shove out clean. (to sweep put in linoleum for the floor I use the cheap 89cent squares for small spaces.)
If you want birds now but want to build in the spring I would just get a small temp house like a used rubbermaid storage thing?
Throw in a roost and a couple of milk crates for nesting and you have a instant house for immediate use until you get your design built.
heres a couple on Seattle craigslist that would be great for immediate use... depending on your funds.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/2142737240.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/2147591764.html
I really like this one since you could make the covered area a run.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/grd/2146765938.html
Might have to pay someone with a truck or trailer to get it but it would be worth it.
