Have you heard people say that chickens are the “gateway livestock”? I think it’s probably true. It’s been an adventure getting chickens, and it’s also been an adventure finding the right coop. For them and for us.
How I Got Chickens
In my usual way, I thought about having chickens for a long, long time. I’m a researcher and by nature I think about things a long time before I take any action. That’s just me.
My hubby on the other hand is a quick-start. He dives in the moment he gets the idea.
Thus in the middle of March 2020 he came home from Tractor Supply with four day-old chicks in a box.
Baby chicks are quite possibly one of the cutest things ever. And so small and fluffy.
We were VERY excited! Our chickens have been a joy. It’s been two years and we’ve learned a great deal. There’s so much I want to share about chicken keeping.
The Chicken Coop
Getting an animal that you know nothing about is a challenge. We have had to learn what to feed them, how to keep them safe, what they like, what they don’t like, how to hold them, just to name a few things.
The biggest learning curve item of all was … THE CHICKEN COOP.
What I want new chicken owners to know first and foremost:
- The coop will be your biggest expense
- Little baby chicks are really affordable and so is their initial gear (indoor brooder + feeder + waterer + bedding)
- When it’s time to move chicks outside you need a coop. And it’s going to cost you.
- Don’t fall for the trap of buying a cheap coop. Because it likely won’t keep your chickens safe or comfortable. In winter they could freeze, in summer they could bake.
- You CAN get a coop affordably. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You just need to know what’s important to have in your new coop.
- You CAN build a coop yourself. We did that first. I recommend getting the small booklet of coop plans from Storey Publishing and building one of those coops.
- Or, you can get a coop from Omlet. It was 2 years before we discovered Omlet and their coops. Now that we have one I feel it’s the very best solution for us – as backyard keepers of a small flock of chickens. A small flock meaning up to 4 medium birds, or 6 bantams.