How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Still Getting Started :)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Still Getting Started :)

Laura, are those coops by Ware Mfr.? If so, I really don't consider them to be outside coops left in the elements. Can you post a photo? I have 2 'Chick n Hutch' units from Ware and have 1 split piece of wood and neither of them were drilled right to attach the ends to the fronts. Mine were bought to keep in the house but if they were outside I would consider them needing to be on a cement slab carport for protection from weather..

Since you are going to build, if you decide to keep the coop kits, maybe plan on using them under cover. If you build a large enough chicken house you could use them to brood chicks in, or for setting hens.

Georgia

For all your chicken's clothing needs, go to
www.chickensaddlesanddiapers.webs.com

--- On Sun, 9/26/10, Laura Quick <qdesigninc@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Laura Quick <qdesigninc@gmail.com>
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Still Getting Started :)
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2010, 4:52 PM

Hi Chickens101

Okay so the online pre-fab coops arrived yesterday and man, they are CRAPPY. So poorly constructed (of balsa) that they look like a 7th grader made them for a school project. Seriously, even if they were not broken, split, bowed and falling apart, the materials are so poor that a determined cat and certainly a raccoon could claw their way inside. I'm going to have to return them.

I was kind of going at this half-assed and with the half-hearted approval, but not backing, of my boyfriend.

After the coops arrived and before we looked at them, we got surprisingly serious about keeping chickens—as a team.

We scouted the best locations on the property, we looked into breeds, needs and how we could best provide for birds.

I was close to ordering chicks —breeds and numbers we had agreed on when we decided to take a look at the coops we'd purchased.

We immediately realized they would not do.

So, back in the house we spent the afternoon pouring over coop designs and we finally have a plan. We will need to build our own coop and run to fit the space we have chosen to use. Kev is an engineer and has excellent building skills I'm thrilled he's on board, as I was worried I was going to be going this alone.

So, we are back at the beginning, but together, and with a better plan. :) I'm sure there's still plenty of learning cuve ahead.

Laura

P.S. I have a couple of questions and will send them separately