Chicken Coops for Sale in Ville Platte, Louisiana
Chicken Coops for Sale in Ville Platte, Louisiana
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 Coops For Sale in Ville Platte, Louisiana
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Ville Platte Louisiana" 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 Ville Platte Louisiana chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Ville Platte, Louisiana With the huge rise in poultry maintaining there has been a similarly huge surge in the range of chicken materiel for sale. Chicken real estate is a proceedings in factor. It's additionally a timeless example of the great old bandwagon being got on as numerous would-be poultry real estate specialists market a range of accommodation claiming to be the excellent solution to your chicken housing requirements. Frequently the rate looks eye-catching, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks appealing, heck even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look eye-catching. Definitely they recognize a professional chicken house when they see one? There are numerous cheap and awful coops flooding the marketplace. I understand this as I've examined a number of them in the area, as well as seen a ewe run directly with one when the feed bucket showed up. The outcome was nothing but an expensive pile of firewood and also a small group of bemused and now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Kit For 6 Chickens in Ville Platte, Louisiana
Usually these standardized versions are built of fast grown up timber - come the initial decline of rain they swell, leaving you either defending a door that won't shut, or ripping the door furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The first warm day means the wood dries out and also fractures, the really felt roof covering bubbles as well as boils, and come nightfall the chickens refuse to enter. This is not because of their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their once desirable apartment yet because the hovel is currently a place for, and also possibly abounding, the chicken caretaker's bane, red mite. Add the fact that it said on the blurb that it would fit four large hens when that stocking density was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and exactly what are you entrusted? A number of joints and some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds ought to cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this could depend upon whether you choose for a complimentary standing house or one with a run affixed. Thinking you are ranging your birds in a large room and also the pop opening doorway allows sufficient for the type you maintain, after that the main requirements of real estate come down to 3 factors which will specify the variety of birds your house will hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. The majority of types of chicken will perch when they go to roost at night, this perch must ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off sides so the foot sits easily on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box entry as chickens will likewise naturally look for the highest point to perch. A perch less than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is by the way when they create the most poo) leading to stained eggs the following day. They shouldn't however be so high off the flooring of the house that leg injuries might occur when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens require about 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is clearly less), plus if greater than one perch is installed in the house they must be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors yet are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Ideally the house must have a the very least one nest box for every 3 birds as well as these ought to be off the ground and in the darkest location of your home. The house should have sufficient air flow: without it then condensation will accumulate every night, also in the coldest of climate. Be aware, air flow works on the concept of warm air leaving with a high gap attracting cooler air in from a reduced void - it's not a collection of holes on other wall surfaces of your home and at the very same degree, this is just what's known as a draught. If you have a house with a run connected then the points above are still real, but you should also think about the run dimension. The EU optimum lawful stocking density for a totally free range bird is (and allow's encounter it, among the inspirations for keeping some hens in the house is possibly enhanced or much better well-being) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m settled. Take a close check out several of the bargain residences - it could well be the house has the best perches, correct air flow and also sufficient nest boxes for a sensible variety of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized piece of ground to spend the day on? Therefore as the stating goes, "you obtain exactly what you spend for". You might assume you've got a deal, yet you and your group could possibly rue the day you did. Acquisition the ideal house and it will last for a few years, if not longer provided the correct therapy. Ultimately your chicken as well as your chicken keeping encounter will certainly be considerably the better for it.coops build
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