What can i use as a "chick coop?"

[CHlCKEN]

i have everything set up, a section of the big chickens run, cut off for the littles, a feeder and waterer upgrade, plus grit and all the things they need. One thing i dont have is a "chick coop" or a shelter for them to roost in at night. I dont want them to outgrow it, however i want it to be something small and diy so i dont have to spend any money. another question is, when can i start letting them take dust baths? and what can i use? the littles are fully feathered so i assume they need to take care of those new feathers!

 

[black_cat]

Could you get a secondhand prefab coop to use for a chick coop? Do you have a broody coop that isn't in use right now?

 

[Bear1978]

A few questions to consider are- how many chickens will you have? What size will the breed grow to? What is the weather like where you’re at?

What you end up using as a coop will need to provide ar MINIMUM 4 sq ft per bird.

It will need adequate ventilation and be sturdy enough to provide good predator protection.

I converted an old playhouse into a coop. Here’s my set up. Good luck!!

 

[black_cat]

You also may be able to get one of those little plastic playhouses for cheap that you can convert into a chick coop. Check craigslist and letgo for 'chicken coop' and 'playhouse'

 

[CHlCKEN]

A few questions to consider are- how many chickens will you have? What size will the breed grow to? What is the weather like where you’re at?

What you end up using as a coop will need to provide ar MINIMUM 4 sq ft per bird.

It will need adequate ventilation and be sturdy enough to provide good predator protection.

I converted an old playhouse into a coop. Here’s my set up. Good luck!!View attachment 2244529View attachment 2244530View attachment 2244531View attachment 2244532View attachment 2244533View attachment 2244534View attachment 2244535View attachment 2244536

this is of course something i will only be using until they're about 12 weeks old. i need itto fit in the existing chicken run which is omelets largest size run i like your set up but im looking for only the shelter

 

[CHlCKEN]

You also may be able to get one of those little plastic playhouses for cheap that you can convert into a chick coop. Check craigslist and letgo for 'chicken coop' and 'playhouse'

great idea, i think i know a few people who have some. I got rid of my rooster (he was a barred rock) so i never had a broody coop, even though some hens went broody after he was gone.

 

[black_cat]

great idea, i think i know a few people who have some. I got rid of my rooster (he was a barred rock) so i never had a broody coop, even though some hens went broody after he was gone.
[/QUOTE/]
The omlet run is smaller than I was thinking your run is. Have the coop part outside of the omlet run, with access to part of the run. Conversions for those are easy-mostly just do hardware cloth on all the windows, and figure out where they can get into the run.

 

[The Happster]

You can let them dustbathe whenever.
My broody and chicks always dustbathe from day 2 onwards.

 

[Mamatomany123]

great idea, i think i know a few people who have some. I got rid of my rooster (he was a barred rock) so i never had a broody coop, even though some hens went broody after he was gone.

Omlet coops only hold around 2 birds. How many do you have in there? I just sectioned off part of my coop for the babies when I first added them. It helps with early integration. What are the sizes of your coop and run and how many chickens do you have in total?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Omlet coops only hold around 2 birds. How many do you have in there? I just sectioned off part of my coop for the babies when I first added them. It helps with early integration. What are the sizes of your coop and run and how many chickens do you have in total?

x2. I guess I'm confused on how big this set up is as well. If they're already feathered they're certainly old enough to move into the actual coop. If all you have is an omlet coop and run, and you have more than 2-3 existing adult chickens, then you might as well get another set up, because you simply don't have space for the chicks to integrate.

And my chicks dust bathe at a week or two. Whenever I first let them out of the brooder one of their first activities is always to find a patch of dirt to roll in.