Chicken Coops for Sale in Aztec, New Mexico
Chicken Coops for Sale in Aztec, New Mexico
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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Baby Chicks in Aztec, New Mexico
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Aztec New Mexico" 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 Aztec New Mexico chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Aztec, New Mexico With the massive increase in chicken keeping there has been a just as big increase in the array of poultry materiel for sale. Chicken real estate is a situation in factor. It's also a traditional instance of the good old bandwagon being got on as various would-be poultry real estate specialists peddle an array of cottage declaring to be the excellent remedy to your chicken housing needs. Commonly the price looks appealing, the house looks desirable, hell even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look eye-catching. Certainly they understand a quality chicken house when they see one? There are many cheap as well as unpleasant coops swamping the marketplace. I recognize this as I've tested a number of them in the area, as well as seen a ewe run directly through one when the feed container appeared. The result was just an expensive pile of fire wood as well as a tiny flock of bemused as well as currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Pictures in Aztec, New Mexico
More often than not these mass produced versions are created of fast grown up timber - come the first decrease of rainfall they swell, leaving you either blockading a doorway that will not close, or tearing the doorway furniture off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The initial warm day suggests the timber dries out and also splits, the really felt roof bubbles and boils, and come nightfall the hens choose not to go in. This is not due to their frustration at the decrease of their as soon as attractive property yet because the hovel is currently a haven for, and also possibly abounding, the poultry keeper's bane, red mite. Add that it said on the blurb that it would certainly suit 4 huge hens when that stocking thickness was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also just what are you entrusted? A number of hinges as well as some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds need to cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this could rely on whether you elect for a free standing house or one with a run affixed. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a large space and the pop opening door is big sufficient for the type you maintain, then the major requirements of housing come down to 3 factors which will certainly define the number of birds the house will hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation. The majority of breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they visit roost during the night, this perch needs to preferably be 5-8cm broad with smoothed off edges so the foot sits pleasantly on it. The perch must be more than the nest box access as chickens will certainly additionally naturally search for the highest point 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) leading to soiled eggs the list below day. They shouldn't however be so high off the flooring of the house that leg injuries can happen when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens need concerning 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is obviously less), plus if more than one perch is set up in your home they must be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors however are not that crazy about roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your 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 also in the darkest location of your house. Your house must have adequate ventilation: without it then condensation will certainly build up every evening, also in the coldest of climate. Realize, air flow deals with the principle of warm and comfortable air leaving with a high void drawing cooler air in from a reduced space - it's not a set of openings on other walls of your house and also at the exact same degree, this is just what's called a draught. If you have a house with a run connected after that the factors above are still true, however you must also take into consideration the run dimension. The EU optimum legal equipping thickness for a cost-free array bird is (and let's face it, among the inspirations for maintaining some hens at home is possibly boosted or much better well-being) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's optimal one bird each 4m settled. Take a close take a look at some of the bargain residences - it could well be your home has the right perches, appropriate ventilation and ample nest boxes for an affordable variety 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 saying goes, "you obtain just what you pay for". You could believe you've got hold of a bargain, but you and your flock could rue the day you did. Purchase the appropriate house and also it will last for a couple of decades, if not longer provided the appropriate treatment. Ultimately your chicken as well as your poultry keeping experience will certainly be a lot the far better for it.diy plans
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