As most of you have figured out, I’m on a mission to lower our bills as well as accomplish the things I want to do by spending little or no money and the Chicken Coop Build was one of those things. I’ve wanted chickens for years but hubby says NO and he never tells me no. He had a bad experience with them when he was young and wants nothing to do with the nasty creatures (his words not mine). The story goes his Dad and a friend had the brilliant idea to raise chickens in the basement of the house. Lets just say it didn’t go well and the smell was enough to turn him off of ever raising chickens. When Grama Red and Aunt Sherri said they wanted some chickens too, we cooked up the idea of carving out a 12X12 space in the corner of the hay barn at their place for chickens.
Wanting to spend no money hubby helped me get all the wood off our supply racks onto the trailer to be taken to Gram Red’s. All the wood is leftover from previous projects, our house build, or jobs we’ve performed. With hubbies help a chicken coop started to take form. We put the floor in the first day and the walls will be next. He had to go out of town for work so we will get back to the coop when he returns. While we wait my Aunt and I decided to go to the local livestock exchange, where they sell chickens, and see what it was all about.
We were hoping to get some 6 month old laying hens that would be egg producers for this summer but it didn’t go as planned. When we walked in the chicken were in crates marked “Chickens” with no other information. I was hoping they would be tagged with what breed they were and how old they were but no such luck. So we decided that’s not the way to go, we’ll just have to buy them as chicks and wait a while longer for eggs.
We plan on raising 50 meat chickens and some egg layers. If we decide it’s not for us we’ve spent nothing but our time in constructing the coop. I can’t wait to come back and show you our fluffy chicks and a completed coop so stay tuned for part 2.
I am so looking forward to this series of building the chicken coop….and maybe your hubby will change his mind after seeing this all come together…looks great.
Thanks Shirley but I don’t think theres a chance of that. LOL
I can understand your husband’s position. It’s been less than one week having 12 peeps in the house and if we don’t clean the foot locker they are in at least twice/day the smell is too much for me.
Enjoy your pictures of the progress!
Windi, lol so maybe I shouldn’t badger him so much I would hate the smell too.
Nice you didn’t have to start from ‘scratch’ with the chicken coop. Best of luck with this new venture.
Thank you Linda I’m looking forward to the whole process.
My husband said the same thing when I asked about getting chickens. His family raised them when he was a child. I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. Good luck.
Becky, lol are hubbies think alike. I think it will be fine as long as he doesn’t have to deal with them.
I am just giddy for you Dawn. And having put about 5 years into it now, I have learned a lot, and would highly suggest you raise them from chicks! I have chosen my flock for both diversity in egg color and chicken appearance. It has been a fun ride, and we absolutely love the delicious eggs!! Good luck!!
XO Kris
Kris, I know how much you love your chickens and I always love reading about them. I may have to give you a call if I need chicken help 🙂
Oh Dawn how fun. You will love this I know. It will be fun to raise the baby chicks to laying hens.
Kris
Kris, I can’t wait I hope it’s all I wanted it to be. LOL
Y’all are fast!
Kim, we have to get it done before the chic order arrives 🙂
Oh Dawn this is soooooo exciting! Welcome to the wild and crazy world of raising chickens!
Thanks Amy, I sure hope it goes well 🙂