Chicken Coops for Sale in Valdosta, Georgia
Chicken Coops for Sale in Valdosta, Georgia
DIY Pallet Chicken Coop
I like chickens.
A lot.
Maybe because when I was small, I remember walking out to my mother’s chicken house, and gathering eggs…I’m not sure why I like them so much, but every spring I look at the signs that say: “Chicks here!” and want them so badly. We recently got a Murdoch’s Farm & Ranch store in our town. I love Farm & Ranch stores, by the way. Anyways, so when they started advertising ‘Chick Days’, I stopped in a few times to let the kids look at the chicks. At least that was my excuse! It was actually a good excuse for ME to get my chick fix. I have tried 3 times to keep chickens here, and they always get eaten – either by fox, coon, or skunk. I had told myself firmly that it was a waste of time, money and energy to try again. But on the third trip to Murdoch’s, I caved. I got 3 Red Star, 3 Buff’s, and 3 Wyandottes. I like variety. I also was trying to get cold-hardy birds, since they will be living in a drafty coop most of the year. If they survive.
I knew the set-up I had been using was not going to work, so I set out to build me a coop. Now, as you know, I am not a carpenter. I do, however, believe anyone can do anything if they want to bad enough. I think more ‘skill’, and ‘talent’ is in our hard work, than in natural ability. I think anyone can be a musician, great cook, cowboy, writer, or, yes, even a carpenter, with enough learning, perseverance, and hard work. I know certain people can naturally do certain things alot easier than others. But usually its more experience or desire than actual talent.
Case in point: My Cowboy never wanted to be a carpenter. Never enjoyed it. But he is an excellent carpenter. He can build anything, without a plan. And it lasts, believe me. Why is he so good? Because he started when young, and worked with his dad, who taught him all he needed to know, little by little, hard day of work after hard day of work.
Me? Why, I had a dad who despised carpentry, never built anything he didn’t have to, and therefore most of my family is slightly lacking in carpenter skills. (except for a few brothers who actually enjoy it, and learned later. ) So I had no examples, and certainly no help building things. But I have built my first freestanding, semi-solid, totally un-square, sorta-kinda-cute, and totally functional structure! It held my chickies for the first time last night, and despite the multitude of cracks, they (the chicks) are still all there this morning! I hope the critters don’t find a way in – cause I have certainly tried to make it critter-proof, if not weather proof. It does keep out the rain, thankfully, as it rained last night. Here is how to build a coop on the cheap frugal, with minimal zero expertise…
I dug about 24 of these 1×4’s out of the ranch dump. They are from a fallen windbreak, I think. They are 8 ft. each. I had to jerk out about 4-6 old nails out of each one.
Then I got 3 old pallets that were sturdy, and nailed the boards over the cracks. Instant studs! Yay!
I cut out a section of the one pallet for a nest-box entrance, and made a nest box out of scraps I found in the barn.
I missed taking pics of whole sections of the process, but anyways, here it is – the nest box isn’t finished yet, and it need some paint. The roof is longer in the back to help protect the nest box from rain/snow. (that sounds good, anyways…the real reason was because i didn’t want to cut metal, and this piece was basically the right size.)
The front. I did have to frame this, since I just couldn’t wrap my brain around how to cut/fasten a door in a pallet. It was pretty easy, tho. Took me two tries to get the angle right on the door cross-support. Just being honest here.
The inside. here you can see the pallets. I used some corner braces to fasten it to the floor. I couldn’t think of any other way. Didn’t have long enough screws to screw through the oak stringers. Check out my skylight! I wasn’t sure how to build a window, so I found this piece of clear roofing, and it works great as a skylight. Some days I will have to leave them in the coop all day, and I wanted them to get light.
Frank painted it last night. Well, some of it. See the nest box out the back? It missed getting painted, but I will finish it soon. I am quite pleased with my little coop. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but functional, and not totally sloppy-looking. And I didn’t have any help from the master carpenter, aka: My Cowboy. The cord is for the heat lamp, in case you wondered. Its still pretty cold here at night. (30º – 40º)
I was so worried last night, I kept waking and wondering if the fox/coons had found a way in to the coop…I went out this morning and there they all were – hale and hearty. I got that Tom Hanks/Castaway moment of “I can build! I have made a chicken coop!” Ha ha!
I had several things I wanted in my coop. 1. Easy access to the nest box from the outside. Check. 2. Natural light source, so I wouldn’t have to run a light. Check. I have to have a heat lamp, but don’t want to have to run a light when they are grown. 3. Door big enough for an adult to get in, if necessary. Check. 4. Somewhat rustic/cute. Check. 5. Critter-proof. Check. I am satisfied.
You might also enjoy these:
Thanks for sharing!
Like this:
Baby Chick Varieties in Valdosta, Georgia
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Valdosta Georgia" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Valdosta Georgia chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Valdosta, Georgia With the huge boost in chicken maintaining there has been a just as huge surge in the range of chicken paraphernalia for sale. Poultry housing is a case in point. It's also a traditional instance of the good old bandwagon being jumped on as different potential poultry housing professionals peddle a range of cottage asserting to be the optimal remedy to your chicken housing needs. Frequently the price looks appealing, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks desirable, heck even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look desirable. Surely they know a high quality chicken house when they see one? There are several inexpensive and awful coops swamping the market. I understand this as I've examined a variety of them in the area, and seen a ewe run directly through one when the feed container appeared. The outcome was nothing but a pricey stack of firewood as well as a tiny group of bemused and also currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Plans Pdf in Valdosta, Georgia
Typically these standardized designs are built of rapid grown hardwood - come the very first decline of rain they swell, leaving you either blockading a door that will not shut, or tearing the doorway furniture off in a vain effort to launch the squawking occupants. The initial warm day suggests the wood dries and splits, the felt roof bubbles as well as boils, as well as come nightfall the hens choose not to go in. This is not as a result of their dissatisfaction at the decline of their when attractive apartment yet considering that the hovel is now a place for, as well as most likely crawling with, the poultry keeper's nemesis, red mite. Add the fact that it claimed on the blurb that it would certainly suit 4 huge hens when that stocking density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, as well as what are you entrusted? A number of joints as well as some kindling. A decent coop for thee to four birds need to cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this can rely on whether you elect for a totally free standing house or one with a run attached. Thinking you are varying your birds in a huge space and also the pop opening door is big sufficient for the type you maintain, after that the major demands of real estate boil down to 3 factors which will certainly define the number of birds the house will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes and also air flow. A lot of types of chicken will perch when they visit roost at night, this perch must preferably be 5-8cm vast with smoothed off sides so the foot rests comfortably on it. The perch should be more than the nest box access as chickens will certainly additionally naturally search for the acme to perch. A perch less than that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is incidentally when they generate the most poo) bring about soiled eggs the following day. They shouldn't nevertheless be so high off the flooring of your house that leg injuries could happen when the bird gets down in the early morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in tiny breeds this is certainly less), plus if more than one perch is mounted in your home they should be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbors however are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your home needs to have a the very least one nest box for every three birds and also these must be off the ground as well as in the darkest area of the house. The house must have appropriate air flow: without it then condensation will certainly accumulate every night, even in the chilliest of climate. Know, air flow works with the concept of cozy air leaving with a high space drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a collection of openings on opposite walls of your house and also at the same degree, this is exactly what's called a draught. If you have a house with a run attached then the points above are still real, yet you ought to likewise consider the run dimension. The EU optimum lawful stocking thickness for a cost-free variety bird is (and allow's face it, among the motivations for maintaining some hens in your home is possibly boosted or better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m settled. Take a close look at several of the deal houses - it could well be the house has the appropriate perches, correct ventilation and also sufficient nest boxes for an affordable number of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized piece of ground to spend the day on? And so as the claiming goes, "you obtain what you pay for". You might believe you've got a bargain, yet you and also your flock could possibly rue the day you did. Acquisition the best house as well as it will last for a few years, if not longer provided the correct treatment. Eventually your fowl and also your fowl keeping experience will be much the better for it.plans plans
More Posts
Chicken Coops for Sale in Cataula, Georgia
Chicken Coops for Sale in Brunswick, Georgia
Chicken Coops for Sale in Stockbridge, Georgia
Chicken Coops for Sale in Milner, Georgia
Chicken Coops for Sale in Royston, Georgia