Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: Building a Door

This afternoon Michael and I worked on the coop a little. Michael put in a door that I could open to let the chicks out into the run or shut to keep them in the coop and keep others out.

He use the board he had cut out to make an opening  for the door.

Here u can see it held open.

To hold the door in place he used very stiff fencing wire that we already had. He twisted it around a nail.

and bent the end up to make a hook that I could attach to a hole in the lock. It works pretty good.

For the hinge he used an old piece of belt line that we had laying around. This works, but not as well as I would like. I think the belt line was just a litte too old. Its pretty stiff. We will use it though, because it was free.

The latch we already had as well so that was free too. We really need to change out the board for another because there is a small gap at the bottom where it was cut unevenly and there is a small gap. I'm sure we have one the right size around here.. somewhere. This will do for now.

Total cost for the door.. $0.00.

Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: Building the Run Part Two

Michael and I worked outside on the run all day long. We both have a nice sunburn to show for it. I totally forgot about sunblock until it was too late. Man it was a scorcher out there today. Well over 90 degrees and no shade to be found.

I figured out quickly that Michael and are not carpenters. We had a horrible time with the chicken wire. I mean horrible. It was so lumpy. No matter how hard we tried we could not get that stuff straight. Oh well. The sides and top of the run are now ready for the chickens, but we need to work some more on the bottom. We may have to use some boards, blocks, or even some logs around the bottom. The wire touches the ground, but the chickens could scratch out or something could dig in the way we have it now.

Any suggestions?

Oh and this pic really doesn't do the lumps justice. It seems to disguise them. As long as the chickens are safe, I guess I am OK with ugly.

Next we cut a hole in the side of the building and put a board going out into the run so the chickens will have easy access during the day. We plan to fix a door of some sort to close at night.  See Sophie sniffing around the outside? She couldn't figure out why she couldn't get in.

As the sun started to go down, Michael and I were covered in blood, sweat and tears. Look at the back of his shirt when he was getting the chickens fresh water.

My fingers tips were blood red from attaching the top of the fence to the sides with fencing wire.

The boys got caught trying to make a "booby trap" out of the extra wood.

Dalton decided that it was hard work making a "booby trap" and he needed a drink.

After I tell him that he really shouldn't drink straight out of the jug, this is the face I got. He proceeded to whine and say "You never let me make booby traps or drink from jugs. I never get to do anything."  Shame on me. I am such a mean Mommy.

He didn't have to whine long. Peaches came to the rescue.

Overall, it was a productive day. Even if the run is ugly, Michael and I have sunburns, and my youngest son thinks I am a mean Mom.

Michael purchased the poles at Lowes for $4.09 each. We bought 6 but only used 5. We will return the unused one the next time we are down that way. The chicken wire was $29.99 for a 48in x 50ft roll at Tractor Supply. We based the size of the run on the amount of extra money we had to spend on building supplies. It ended up being 4 ft by 13 ft. We also purchased a bag of chicken feed for $13 something, but quickly found out that you can get  it for $8 a local vendor. Michael used wire and nails we already had, and borrowed my Dad's saw for to cut the board and hole in the coop.

Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: Chicken Coop Progress

Michael and I picked up a couple bags of pine shavings at Tractor Supply for $4.49 per bag. One bag was plenty enough. We just stuck the other bag in our storage building until we need it. I read somewhere that it is best to use white wood shavings and not hard woods. I think pine is a white wood. Right? I also read somewhere that cedar is toxic to chickens. We avoided it just in case. I put some chips in the nesting boxes and will add some hay on top tomorrow.

Look like enough in the floor?

Michael found a board we had here around the house. He used an ax to make knicks all around the board where he wanted it to break, then just stomped it. It snapped and was the right size. We just put in there under the nesting boxes to give the chicks a boost so they can get in there. Does it look about the right height?

Then the piece of wood that was left from thre break he nailed in the other corner for them to roost on. I hope they will like it. If not, we will cut a limb and use.

Tomorrow we will figure out how to add a window and screen. Also we will need a door out into a run. We will work on that and the run tomorrow as well.

Wish us luck!

The board we used was FREE. The wood chips were $4.49 + tax. Total OOP so far $4.49 + tax.

A Temporary Home for the Chicks



Michael and I set up the chicks a temporary home in my brothers goat taxi. We put the tarp over it to give the chicks some shade. I then pulled it over the end that has the door and strapped it down. I didn't want the kids to get any wild ideas and let them out.

The feeder is working out great so far.

They feasted.

Checking out the new home.

They seem to like it.

I don't think they are so sure about Sophie and I don't think she was so sure about them. They just gave each other the eye.

Tomorrow we will *TRY* to finish up the permanent home.

Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: Chicken Coop

A few months back I decided that I really wanted a few chickens. My husband, Michael, wasn't sold on the idea. He however agreed to help me get things set up as long as I care for the chickens. He thinks he will want nothing to do with them, but I believe he will change his mind once we get them.

If we were going to set out on this adventure, we wanted to do it as cheaply as possible, but still do it in a way that the chickens would be safe, warm, happy, and productive. After brainstorming for a while I came up with the idea to use our old garbage bin for a coop. The sanitation department now requires us to take our trash to the end of the drive, so the bin has been unused for a while. Michael agreed that we could make it work and save a bundle at the same time by not having to buy any materials to build a coop.

Here is the bin we decided to use.

Do you think this will be satisfactory? We still need to get the feed and water in there as well as a roost and nesting boxes. Also, we will need to get some chicken wire for a fence.