How to Build a Chicken Coop

Ha! That title is laughable because I know as much about building a chicken coop as a chicken.

The hubby however, made quick work of a home for our little chickies.  

The coop is over there on the left, attached to the side of the shed.

The best part? It was made of all scrap wood and leftover paint and hardware. 

The only thing that actually needed to be purchased was the chicken wire. 

...and the chickens. ...and the feed. ...and the bedding...but you get the idea.

While I don't truly know how to build a chicken coop, we did learn a few basics while researching homes for our chickens, so here are the basics:

1. They need a place to roost.

2. They need a place to get food and water at a reasonable rate.

3. They need to be protected from foxes, and hawks and our resident groundhog and cat.

4. They need a cute house.


After learning about their home, we learned a bit about the chickens themselves.

1. Their feed is expensive, but grown chickens eat almost everything, so we won't have to buy a ton of feed.

2. Pullets are hens that have been "sexed". If you don't buy pullets, you are getting the luck of the draw and could end up with all roosters. Can you imagine the noise at 5 AM with SIX roosters?!?

3. The chicks can only get sexed on day 1. After that, it is a crapshoot. (That doesn't really affect us...just thought that was interesting...)

4. Chickens will eat stink bugs - YES!

Do you want to see the babies? These are their 2 days old photos....aren't they beautiful? I've already forgotten the actual breed that these babes are, but we bought orangeish chicks that will eventually lay brown eggs and the yellow chicks that will lay white.

One was named Georgie and another was named Emma. 

I don't remember which one, so I guess they aren't really named yet.  

The babies (the human ones)  decided they would like to name one "Ducky". 

A few weeks later, they are already this big:

I know it is a bit weird to think of chickens as pets, but sometimes you just need new babies around the house, and do NOT want to be pregnant again. When your husband says no to a puppy, then baby chicks are the very best next thing! Funnily enough, the employee at Tractor Supply didn't realize the depth of my connection to my new "babies" and just jumped in the pen and started grabbing random chicks. I gently let him know that I had to pick out my individual chicks based on personality and distinguishing marks. (No, I didn't really say anything, but that is what I was thinking when I asked "Can I have that one please?) 

Oh my, I'm starting to sound a bit crazy about these silly chickens...

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