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Barnyard Buddies:  Chicken Coop  |
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pinkpearlgirl
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Virginia
4 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 27 2010 : 06:45:46 AM
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My husband and I are new to farming. We just moved onto our farm in November and we are attempting our first organic garden consisting of 12 raised beds. Our next adventure is going to be building a chicken coop. Anyone have ideas or resources of where we can find a chicken coop plan for 4-6 chickens?
Kelli
goingkelligreen.blogspot.com |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2010 : 07:33:39 AM
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well hi there, welcome to MJ. i love my hens. we have enough to sell to pay for the feed for our own eggs. mother earth news magazine has plans on line.i have seen them made out of many things. i have seen swing sets turned into goat shelters and other items turned into coops. read up on what they need before you start to build it.we are moving so no more playroom and overnight bed for the gkids. we are going to use a nice bunk bed frame and turn it into a small shelter for two pet 4 h goats. papa can build anything. i wanted it to look cute. he can make anything. so thats our project now. recycle reuse.they need a draft free dry place to hang out on wet days. nest boxes need to be private. i use gravel from our pile for grit. you can but it but its rocks. they know what size to pick up. 16 percent protein to lay an egg. when days are short they could use added hours of light to keep laying. their regular cycle is spring eggs. i am sure some other farm girls will chime in.they on average through a year 2 eggs every 3 dats. some are better layers. i found if you sell eggs. my customers prefer brown not white eggs. just a thought or two sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2010 : 10:32:09 AM
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Kelli,
Backyardchickens.com has many, many photos of coops. There are also several books dedicated to solely chicken coops. I am currently reading one put out by Storey publishing, and it is ok.
In your situation, I would highly recommend a 'chicken tractor'. They are sooooo nice to have for a small amount of hens. We used an A-frame design (you can Google "Chicken ark"). Right now my bunnies are in it, but it is so convenient! You cover the whole thing with 1/4" wire to keep out the predators, and I even added a hook for a heat lamp. There are some pics on my blog, which is listed in my siggy. You can type in Chicken tractor, and it should pull up some pics. I moved mine around with our 4 wheeler, though if it had better wheels, I wouldn't have had to do that.
I will try to post more pics to my blog. Also, we were able to create it out of about 90% recycled materials, too! :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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happydaze
True Blue Farmgirl
136 Posts
lorraine
atlanta
ni
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2010 : 5:26:38 PM
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| We use slab wood,(really cheap) poles cut from our woods(free) and chicken wire ..anything can be a coop, hubby made a cute one from and old night stand.... |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 08:09:27 AM
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It doesnt have to be pretty just functionable. I would use what you can get cheap or free!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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CascadeFootHillsFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
133 Posts
Stephanie
Granite Falls
Wa.
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 11:28:26 AM
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www.thecitychicken.com for tons of chicken tractor pictures, no plans, just ideas. Enjoy!
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chicken Coop |
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Chicken Coop
