Chicken Coops for Sale in Charleston, South Carolina
Chicken Coops for Sale in Charleston, South Carolina
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 Hut in Charleston, South Carolina
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Charleston South Carolina" 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 Charleston South Carolina chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Charleston, South Carolina With the massive boost in chicken maintaining there has actually been a just as big surge in the variety of fowl materiel for sale. Fowl housing is an instance in factor. It's also a timeless instance of the great old bandwagon being jumped on as various would-be fowl real estate experts market a range of lodging declaring to be the optimal solution to your chicken real estate requirements. Usually the cost looks desirable, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks appealing, hell even the clean-cut household standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Surely they know a professional chicken house when they see one? There are numerous inexpensive and also horrible coops flooding the market. I recognize this as I've checked a variety of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed container appeared. The result was only a costly pile of firewood and a little group of bemused and currently homeless bantams.
Baby Chicks For Sale in Charleston, South Carolina
Usually these mass produced models are constructed of fast grown wood - come the first decrease of rainfall they swell, leaving you either barricading a doorway that will not shut, or tearing the door furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking occupants. The very first warm and comfortable day means the lumber dries out and fractures, the really felt roofing system bubbles and also boils, and also come nightfall the hens refuse to go in. This is not due to their frustration at the decrease of their once appealing property however because the hovel is currently a place for, and also possibly abounding, the poultry keeper's bane, red mite. Add that it claimed on the blurb that it would certainly match 4 large 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 joints as well as some kindling. A decent coop for thee to 4 birds need to cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this can depend on whether you choose for a complimentary standing house or one with a run connected. Thinking you are varying your birds in a large space as well as the pop opening door is big enough for the breed you maintain, after that the major demands of real estate come down to 3 factors which will define the number of birds the house will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. A lot of types of chicken will perch when they go to roost during the night, this perch ought to preferably be 5-8cm large with smoothed off sides so the foot sits conveniently on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box access as chickens will certainly likewise naturally search for the highest point to perch. A perch lower than that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is incidentally when they create one of the most poo) leading to stained eggs the list below day. They should not nevertheless be so high off the floor of the house that leg injuries could take place when the bird comes down in the morning. Chickens require concerning 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is undoubtedly much less), plus if more than one perch is installed in your home they must be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird ahead. Ideally your house must have a the very least one nest box for each three birds and these should be off the ground as well as in the darkest location of the house. Your house should have appropriate ventilation: without it after that condensation will certainly develop every evening, also in the chilliest of weather condition. Know, air flow works on the principle of warm and comfortable air leaving via a high gap drawing cooler air in from a lower void - it's not a set of holes on contrary walls of your house as well as at the very same level, this is exactly what's known as a draft. If you have a house with a run affixed after that the points above are still true, however you need to additionally think about the run size. The EU optimum lawful stocking density for a complimentary variety bird is (as well as allow's face it, among the motivations for keeping some chickens at home is possibly boosted or better welfare) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m settled. Take a close check out several of the deal houses - it could well be your home has the right perches, proper air flow and sufficient nest boxes for a reasonable number of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized item of ground to spend the day on? Therefore as the claiming goes, "you obtain just what you spend for". You might assume you've grabbed a deal, yet you and your flock could rue the day you did. Acquisition the best house and also it will certainly last for a couple of years, if not longer offered the correct therapy. Ultimately your fowl and your fowl keeping experience will certainly be considerably the far better for it.chicken diy
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