Who else had their chicks BEFORE they built their coop?

[wingsofglory]

My first time getting chickens: I bought a hundred chicks and 12 turkey poults when BF was on a trip. I put them in the bathtub, timed for him to help me make a coop when he got home the next day or next. He suddenly was going to be two weeks late.

Plan B. Needed some strategy here. So I made a circle of cardboard in the middle of his shop (sacred male ground). If I had done any other temporary solution, no coop would happen.

Filled it with 4 inches of hay and the chicks. Hung lights from the rafters above. Shop had a plexiglass roof so was a wonderful warm place during the day for the chicks in April here with spring melting the last of the snow.

He got home at around noon. Discovered the chicks in his shop. I had my coop by nightfall, chicks all settled in for the night all comfy. A lean-to for the turkeys. A door with hinges. A basic run. All done cheerfully, we worked on it together. He was a Pennsylvannia farm boy and knew how to work fast and make something from nothing that looked ok in the end.

(Why I got so many chicks and turkeys: everyone told me they died easily and I would lose half of them at least. I didn't know any better and believed them and got extras. How many extras are enough? I didn't know. Well, only 3 chicks and 1 poult died.)

 

[sueche]

I got mine and keep them in our bathtub. I converted a rabbit hutch to a coop with a run. Its only 2'x4' and I am only using it till I get the big one finished. my chicks are 5 weeks old now and they have plenty of space for now. I worked out some building flaws on that one so the next one will be perfect. lol, i have no building skills.

 

[chickenfarmer17]

i had 2 full grown roosters for 3 days before we built a coop for them (now housing my bantams)

 

[Luanne Hott]

Our chicks (8 FBCM) had to live in the horse trailer for 4 weeks while waiting for their mansion to be built. We put a cam in the trailer so we were able to watch them! We are going to put a cam in their mansion soon.

 

[GeneJordan]

We got our chickens and then started to build.... 6 weeks later they moved out!!!

 

[HeyItsDebV]

Yep, we have had our chicks for 9 days and no coop yet...now My hubby wants to put a sprinkle system and a new lawn first So much for the greenhouse and the coop...I guess I could move the chicks to his bathroom!

 

[Opa]

I live in Michigan and my oldest son lives in Missouri. When I mentioned that I was going to get chickens he kept pressuring me to order. When I finally told him that I was going to be able to build a coop until the snow was gone he said just order the chicks and I will pick them up at the hatchery, brood them, and bring them to you when you have the coop built. Sounded like a good plan. So I ordered the chicks I wanted plus 2 dozen for him and thought I was all set. Unfortunately the guy filling the order didn't read the order completely. Saw my name as customer and sent them to me. Imagine my surprize when the post office called me a 5 one morning. Chicks spent 2 days in living room, then 5 weeks in garage.

 

[schellie69]

I got starter pullets and put them in a pen that was quickly built along with using a dog house for a coop. We spent the next weekend building a correct pen and working on the coop. I knew I wanted chickens and found them and didn't want to lose out on getting them so I had to wing it.

 

[hamilton]

Funny this is I had my coop a week before I actually got my chicks.. they lived in a large wooden storage box for several weeks before they were put outside.....

 

[rocky41102]

I decided I might try chickens so talked to hubby who didn't say much. Then went to TSC and bought chicks and a lamp and stuff. Decided to use the old guinea pig cage as a brooder after talking to my sister. Went to TSC again and got more chicks. Decided cage was too small so evicted our dog from her inside dog cage (made her very happy as she can sleep on the couches while we're gone) and moved the chicks into it. Went to TSC and got some more chicks, bantams this time. Then panicked and realized the chicks are going outside in a few weeks and where are they going to live.......? So finally sat down with hubby to decide on what to use as a coop! We actually had a beat out plywood playhouse that we were going to spiff up some but then I found a good sized resin shed at Lowe's for a super price and I think we'll use that instead.

I've almost decided where to place the shed and what to add to the inside...