Chicken Coops for Sale in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Chicken Coops for Sale in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
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.
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Chicken Coop Yard Ideas in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Prestonsburg Kentucky" 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 Prestonsburg Kentucky chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Prestonsburg, Kentucky With the substantial increase in poultry maintaining there has actually been an equally large rise in the array of fowl materiel for sale. Fowl housing is a case in point. It's additionally a traditional example of the excellent old bandwagon being jumped on as numerous prospective fowl housing professionals market a variety of lodging declaring to be the optimal option to your chicken real estate demands. Typically the rate looks attractive, your house looks eye-catching, heck also the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look desirable. Definitely they understand a professional chicken house when they see one? There are many inexpensive and also nasty coops flooding the market. I understand this as I've tested a number of them in the field, as well as seen a ewe run straight with one when the feed pail appeared. The outcome was nothing but a pricey heap of firewood as well as a tiny group of bemused and currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop For 10 Chickens in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Typically these mass produced designs are created of fast grown up wood - come the initial drop of rainfall they swell, leaving you either fortifying a door that won't close, or tearing the door furnishings off in a vain effort to release the squawking residents. The first warm and comfortable day suggests the timber dries out as well as splits, the really felt roof covering bubbles and boils, as well as come nightfall the chickens choose not to enter. This is not due to their disappointment at the decrease of their as soon as appealing apartment yet since the hovel is currently a sanctuary for, and also possibly abounding, the poultry keeper's bane, red mite. Add on that it claimed on the blurb that it would certainly suit four huge hens when that stocking thickness was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also just what are you left with? A few hinges and also some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds should cost you around ₤ 300 though this could depend upon whether you elect for a free standing house or one with a run attached. Assuming you are varying your birds in a large space and the pop opening doorway allows sufficient for the breed you keep, after that the primary demands of housing come down to 3 points which will certainly specify the number of birds your home will hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. The majority of types of chicken will perch when they visit roost in the evening, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm broad with smoothed off edges so the foot sits pleasantly on it. The perch needs to be higher than the nest box access as chickens will certainly likewise naturally seek the highest point to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is incidentally when they create one of the most poo) leading to soiled eggs the list below day. They should not nevertheless be so high off the floor of your home that leg injuries might happen when the bird gets down in the early morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in tiny breeds this is clearly much less), plus if more than one perch is installed in your house they need to be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbors but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your home ought to have a least one nest box for every three birds and also these ought to be off the ground as well as in the darkest area of your home. Your house should have sufficient air flow: without it after that condensation will certainly accumulate every night, even in the coldest of weather condition. Be aware, air flow works on the concept of warm air leaving via a high gap drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a set of openings on opposite walls of your home and at the same level, this is just what's called a draught. If you have a house with a run attached then the factors above are still real, however you must also consider the run dimension. The EU maximum lawful stocking thickness for a complimentary range bird is (and also allow's encounter it, one of the inspirations for maintaining some hens in your home is perhaps improved or better well-being) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's optimal one bird each 4m made even. Take a close consider a few of the bargain houses - it could well be your house has the appropriate perches, right air flow and enough nest boxes for a practical variety of birds, but will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized piece of ground to invest the day on? Therefore as the claiming goes, "you obtain just what you spend for". You may assume you've grabbed a deal, but you as well as your group might rue the day you did. Purchase the best house and also it will last for a couple of years, otherwise longer offered the appropriate therapy. Ultimately your poultry and also your poultry maintaining encounter will certainly be much the better for it.chicken chickens
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