Chicken Coops for Sale in Westport, New York
Chicken Coops for Sale in Westport, New York
Adventures in Country Living at Shalom Engedi Farm
We've been raising meat chickens for a few years now and each year we've learned a few things to add to our list of disasters and a few to add to our triumphs.
Let me explain how we started. A few years ago when we lived in the city we built the worlds most expensive chicken coop. You can read about it . In many ways it was fabulous - for 6 chickens. When you get a few more - like 50 meat birds - it won't do at all.
Every summer that we've had chickens at the farm they've been in different pens. We would solve one problem by making a change the next year only to create more problems we didn't anticipate. The first year we used the only pen we had available in the barn but it was a little small for the 60 chickens that lived in it. We figured they would be outside most of the time anyway and it WOULD BE FINE. Leaving the feed in their pen at all times was also a mistake as it caused them to grow too fast. We didn't get the chicks until September which meant they needed 8 weeks to grow to full size which also meant we were getting into wintery weather by the time they left. Oh dear - can you say chicken poop? They were the laziest chickens you ever saw. They hated going outside even though we chased them outside every day. They just sat and got fat and pooped. End of story. By the time they were ready for the butcher we were REALLY happy to get rid of them because the coop was impossible to keep clean. Without enough exercise and with too much food they got so big they had leg problems too so we lost a few birds in the process.
Fast forward to the next spring when we had the great idea to build them a huge pen. You can read about that . It was such a good idea except now we couldn't get them to gain weight because they got TOO MUCH exercise. They didn't have any leg problems though!. After a few extra weeks of feed before we brought them to the butcher we ended up with really yummy but rather scrawny birds. Sigh* I don't think we got close to breaking even when we sold them that year.
So - lets try that again!!! We recently purchased an old dog kennel through Kijiji - it's 5x15 feet and made of chain link with a good sturdy door. We know from our past coops that Overkilled Fort Knox is the way to go. There can be NO WAY for animals to get in or reach in.
We started by wiring the chain link fencing on far more securely than it was originally - we wanted to keep a dog (and others) OUT! We used two 4 foot pieces of hardware cloth on the ground and zip ties to connect them together - slightly overlapping the pieces. This provides a strong bottom so predator animals can't dig under the coop.
Then we wrapped the top edge of the kennel with 3 foot wide hardware cloth - attaching it with zip ties as well. The bottom section is a full sheet of lattice. It covers the hardware cloth on the top and is connected with zip ties again to the frame and the hardware cloth that makes up the floor. The roof is plywood sheets cut to fit so there is a 6 inch overhang ( 4 sheets cut to 6 feet each - the roof is 6 feet wide and 16 feet long) We cut an old tarp to size and stapled it on top. We were going to have the tarp overhang and peg it to the ground but it made the interior too dark. It took some creative cutting to fill in all the little spaces around the door to create a tight fit but with enough space that we could still open the door.
After adding shavings and a waterer we had to solve the problem of feeding 50 starving chickens at once without them killing each other in the process. They get pretty excited when they're hungry. We have multiple feeders but they never seemed enough. I solved the problem by purchasing a new 10 foot eaves trough with ends and screwed some 1 foot pieces of an old 2x4 across the bottom to act as feet - I used four pieces. When it's situated in the middle of the coop the chickens can access it from both sides and finally there is room for everyone to eat. The coop is bright and airy and doesn't smell bad at all...of course I am not really an expert on that subject! There is great air flow, plenty of space but not too much space and it's a safe place for them to spend the night. We also built the coop within sight of the kitchen window so I can keep an eye on them. In past years we let them free range as far as they wanted to - but sometimes they didn't come back. Our losses were just too great so this year they are kept in a large fenced area. They still have access to plants and bugs and sunshine but they don't disappear as someones lunch! So far this year we haven't lost any birds to predators. We also situated the coop in the shade of several large trees. Meatie birds are not that smart and sometimes when it's really hot they will lay in the sun and die of dehydration before they get up and get a drink. | The rake in the picture is my Chicken Encourager - I use it to gently encourage the chickens to leave the coop! |
The fencing we used is something we've also used to fence our vegetable garden. The material is a plastic mesh that comes in 50 foot rolls for less than $15.00. The posts are a little pricey but since they can be easily moved and re-used we thought it was worth it. You may be wondering why the fence is so short - it's only two feet tall. The fencing comes in three foot height as well but the due to a problem in the pricing for the fence posts it was more economical to buy the two foot fencing instead. We've found that our meat birds grow so fast that they don't fly very well. Occasionally one gets out but they never go far and the fence is more to contain them than to keep them safe from predators.
This coop is not going to be used in the winter - it's a little too airy for subzero temperatures but it could be modified in a pinch. Necessity is the Mother of Invention they say! If you can get a good deal on a kennel and shop around or use what you have already have you can make a similar coop and have the fencing like this for under $450.00. If all goes well it should pay for itself this summer and last for many years. The chickens seem to like their new digs and are growing well! Three tries and I think we got it right!! 
Chicken Coop Plans Free in Westport, New York
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Westport New York" 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 Westport New York chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Westport, New York With the substantial rise in chicken maintaining there has been a just as large rise in the variety of poultry stuff for sale. Poultry housing is a proceedings in factor. It's also a traditional instance of the good old bandwagon being jumped on as various prospective poultry housing specialists pitch a variety of cottage declaring to be the excellent remedy to your chicken housing demands. Usually the rate looks appealing, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks attractive, hell even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look appealing. Definitely they understand a top quality chicken house when they see one? There are several affordable and also nasty coops swamping the market. I understand this as I've checked a number of them in the area, as well as seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed pail appeared. The result was nothing but an expensive pile of fire wood and also a little group of bemused and also currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Enclosures in Westport, New York
More often than not these mass produced versions are created of quick grown hardwood - come the first decrease of rain they swell, leaving you either barricading a doorway that won't shut, or ripping the doorway furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The very first warm day implies the lumber dries and fractures, the felt roofing bubbles and also boils, and also come nightfall the hens choose not to enter. This is not due to their dissatisfaction at the decline of their when desirable building but since the hovel is now a haven for, and possibly crawling with, the fowl caretaker's bane, red mite. Add the fact that it said on the blurb that it would certainly suit four huge hens when that equipping density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also what are you left with? A couple of joints and also some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to 4 birds must cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this can rely on whether you elect for a cost-free standing house or one with a run connected. Presuming you are varying your birds in a large space and also the pop opening doorway allows enough for the breed you keep, after that the primary needs of housing come down to 3 points which will certainly define the number of birds your house will hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. The majority of breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they visit roost during the night, this perch ought to preferably be 5-8cm large with smoothed off edges so the foot sits conveniently on it. The perch should be above the nest box access as chickens will certainly likewise normally try to find the acme to perch. A perch lower than that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is incidentally when they create the most poo) bring about dirtied eggs the list below day. They shouldn't nonetheless be so high off the floor of the house that leg injuries might happen when the bird gets down in the morning. Chickens need about 20cm of perch each (in small types this is certainly less), plus if more than one perch is installed in your house they should be greater than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their neighbors but are not that crazy about roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Ideally your home should have a the very least one nest box for every single 3 birds and these need to be off the ground and in the darkest location of your home. Your home needs to have adequate ventilation: without it then condensation will certainly build up every night, even in the coldest of weather. Be aware, air flow deals with the principle of warm and comfortable air leaving through a high gap drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a collection of openings on other walls of your house and at the same level, this is exactly what's referred to as a draft. If you have a house with a run attached then the points above are still true, yet you ought to additionally think about the run size. The EU optimum legal equipping density for a complimentary range bird is (and let's encounter it, one of the motivations for maintaining some hens in your home is perhaps enhanced or better well-being) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m squared. Take a close take a look at several of the bargain homes - it could well be your house has the ideal perches, appropriate ventilation and also sufficient nest boxes for a sensible variety of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized item of ground to invest the day on? And so as the stating goes, "you obtain just what you pay for". You might assume you've got hold of a deal, but you and your flock could possibly rue the day you did. Purchase the ideal house and also it will last for a few years, otherwise longer provided the correct therapy. Eventually your chicken and also your poultry maintaining experience will certainly be much the much better for it.chicken diy
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