Chook Me!

How to build a small and cheap chicken coop? Building a coop should be cheaper to buy a ready made one. I think if there's a guide or instruction, building a coop will be easier. Can u teach me?

Do you know of free plans to build a small chicken coop? 10-15 chickens I wanted one that will keep the critters and neighbor kids out and still look nice in the back yard. I know a box will do . . . I just wanted it to look nicer with a door and roof.

how to build a small chicken coop?

I want to build a small chicken coop for my backyard. It will house 2 hens and a rooster what should I build?

How do I build a Backyard Chicken Coop? Anyone know how to build a small chicken coop? We are getting some chickens soon so I need to figure out something quick!

Chicken coop for winter in Central MD? I am interested in building a small chicken coop for 2-4 hens in the Baltimore,MD area. I have never done it before but am starting to read up on it. Would I need any artificial heating for them? Thanks, and any other advice/tip are greatly appreciated.

i would like plans to build a small chicken coop? to keep 3 batam size chickens in

does anybody know how to build a chicken tractor or chicken coop? any good websites? i am wanting to build a chicken tractor or small coop for our broilers but dont exactly have a real good idea. where do i start? we used to always have our chickens in our barn and now our barn is gone. any good websites?

Where can I get instructions for a small inexpensive chicken coop? I have been very interested in buying 1-2 chickens recently and was originally looking in to buying an Eglu (from Omlet) but due to their quite high price have been forced to think of any other possible ideas. Has anyone built their own or has found a chicken coop that will fit either one or at max two chickens. My garden is not large so it would need to be reasonably small.

Where(website) can I learn some carpentry skills to help me build a chicken coop? Hello, there! We have some pet chickens in our backyard and we're very very happy with them. But I thought that I should build something for our feathered friends. But I tried to build a small coop for more chickens, but I kinda find it difficult - I can't even drive a nail into wood! I suck at carpentry, so I thought of learning some carpentry tips. Do you know a website where I can learn some carpentry so I can be prepared to build chicken things like a big feeder and a small coop? Thanks in advance!

Ideas for cheap and creative chicken coop building materials? I am building a chicken coop for 3-6 bantams (about a quarter the size of regular chickens). I'm hoping to spend less than $200 on it, and trying to brainstorm creative materials that would be cheap. I have been scouring Craigslist hoping to find materials, such as small sheds, used coops or rabbit hutches, wood, etc, but no one seems to be selling for cheap, or they get snatched up too fast. Can you help me come up with ideas for some non-traditional building materials that might work? It needs to be predator proof. I get raccoons/coyotes/dogs/cats/hawks in the yard. The minimum size for the enclosed area is 6 square feet, so I was thinking of finding a large tupperware style container, but I want it to be as large as possible. The outdoor area needs to be fully enclosed. The important thing is that the chickens will be happy and healthy. If I can't afford a cage that meets their needs, then I won't get chickens. Thanks in advance for your ideas and advice. I'm also not sure how to adjust plans for bantams, since they are about 1/4 the weight of regular chickens (about half as tall and wide). Also, I want to get some silkies, which can jump at most 8", and have trouble with most perches. People have been telling me to use aviary wire. Is there something better?

help with my chicken coop door? i am building chicken coop in my barn, it went well except for the door. i didnt relize that the 4x4 that holds up the barn was twisted, thats what i need to attach the door to. so after careful measuring the door will not fit because of the twisted 4x4, any suggestions on what i can do.i am not a carpeter, but i have build small cages before. help!

Can I have pet bunnies in my chicken coop? We are building a chicken coop. My children want some pet bunnies, which the set up for the bunnies would be very similar to the coop. With a few very small adjustments I know I could physically make it work, but I am wondering if Chicken can live harmoniously with rabbits. Thanks!!

Chicken Coops with Linoleum Floor? I am planning to build a small chicken coop (4 X8') and the plans call for a plywood floor which I was thinking of covering with linoleum in the hopes that it may make it easier to clean, disinfect or powerwash. Does anyone have any better ideas or reasons this would be a bad idea?

What is the best chicken wire? I'm building a small 3'x6' coop for 2 chickens. I live in a suburban area and the most common predator is the neighbors cat. Is there something out there that's durable but easy to cut and work with? And this is also my first time building a chicken coop, so if you have any advice, please tell me. ^_^ REWORDING QUESTION: What is the best TYPE of chicken wire?

How to build a chicken coop?! I NEED HELP!!!! Blue Prints? Please!!!? Hello there, I own 6 hens and 2 roosters. My parents said I need to start building them chicken coop. There still babies about 5 days old. But i want the chicken coop to me ready for them, when the time comes. So if you could please help? I need it to be cat, dog and fox proof. Small and about 4 feet off the ground. Thank you so so much! (:

Looking for chicken coop designs/images and want to know what birds can and can't be together? I'm wanting to build an enclosed coop that is off the ground and fenced in. The coop will probably be placed in an area with a large 8' chain link fence on 2 of the sides and a building on another. I'm mainly trying to figure out how to make a roof and the coop. I'm also wanting to know if all these birds can live in the same area: chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, pheasants, and maybe turkeys. I'd like to make a coop with seperate sections for each bird species. How big of a coop should I have for a small number 3-4 of each type of bird? I do like some of the coop pictures I looked at with the nesting area stuck out some in the back with a roof that lifts up to get to the nests. I'd like to find more pictures of the insides of coops especially for ducks. I assume they would have to be made different. I'm currently living with my bf and his parents on their farm. I have plenty of supplies and aggreed to build the coop myself if his father would buy the birds. Thanks for the replies. My bf's dad has had chickens and turkeys before but were free to roam the whole farm. We have to many cats around and everyone doesn't want the turkeys runnin loose since they got attacked by them. The guinea fowl and pheasants my bf's dad was thinking about them. I mainly prefer chickens and definitely ducks/geese. With the chain link fencing if I put a different type of wire (smaller holes) and dug down 1-2 feet and had a couple feet above the ground would that help avoid predators digging in and also reaching the birds? There are a few other farms around that raise different types of birds for pets that I can ask some information about the birds. As far as babies we will be removing them to an incubator. I was thinking about 5 nest boxes for chickens/ducks each. Probably have 2 females and 1 male each. I'll probably make the coop so I can add extra nests if needed. I'll tell my bf's dad about the other fowl so we can wait or build a seperate coop later on.

Why are chicken coops high off the ground? I was looking in the "farm & yard" section of craigslist and saw a very cute chicken coop for sale. It was built high off the ground and had a narrow little stairway leading up to a small doorway for the chickens to enter. The inside of the chicken coop had what looked like a "shelf" in it or maybe a rectangular box. So why is the chicken coop built so high off the ground that it necessitates that stairway just to enter it? And what is that shelf or box inside the chicken coop?

How much should laborers be payed to build a chicken coop? My husband and his friend are building a chicken coop for my husband's boss. The materials were all provided, and the concrete already laid. Even the tools have been provided. All they have to do is the actual construction, there is even an already existing chicken coop for them to copy. What I need to know, is how much should they be paid for the job? Its a fairly extensive structure, 44ft by 16ft, with two windows, a shingled, slanted roof, a door, aluminum siding, and a small insulated room off to the side. They are working an average of 10 hours a day, and we've estimated it will likely take appx 10 days to complete. What is this job worth?

What size Chicken coop should i get? i would really like to build my own chicken coop and house about 10 chickens, but i want to keep my horizons open and maybe in a couple years have 20 chickens, who knows! What size coop should i get? All the chicken coops I've seen for sale are so small and aren't walk-in, but are very detailed, do any of you know a website that either has larger chicken coops for sale, or even a website with larger chicken coop plans, I don't know what to do?...

Where can I find free chicken tractor designs? I am looking for coop designs, to build a small, urban garden chicken tractor, that is roughly 2 metres in lenght. Are there any sites that include detailed instructions that are free, to build good quality chicken tractors? Also, do you think that a rabbit could live happily in the same cage as 2 silkie bantams? Ahem.. a question mark is not an answer!! Neither is idk!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE! yeesh.

Help! My dog has become OBSESSED with our chickens. How can I stop this madness? We recently built a small chicken coop on our ranch. For the first couple of months, my Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) pretty much ignored them. Although she would run over there and try to herd them whenever I walked ouside - she's a working dog after all - the rest of the time she left them alone. Now - all of a sudden - she has become obsessed with them. She now spends most of the day by the coop, walking round and round the coop, following one specific chicken. It's becoming a problem, as she hardly responds to anything else without some serous intervention on my part. What can I do to stop - or at least minimize - this behavior?

can you house rabbits in an old chicken coop? i want to start raising rabbits but have not built a hutch, i used to have chickens so i have an empty coop....is it possible to raise rabbits in this p.s. the bottom is wood with small spaces between each piece

If I build a small pond in my yard, can I buy ducks for it? Where do you get ducks?? I absolutely adore ducks and want them as pets. If I build a small pond in my yard can I buy ducks? Where the heck do you get them? Will they stay there or will they fly away?? Do I need to provide like a little chicken coop (duck coop) for them??? I don't know how to handle birds..

What size do you think for my chicken coop, for chickens to lay eggs & everything? Okay, I want to build my own chicken coop, I can't find any I like. I want to have a run as well, still don't know what Im going to make that out of.... Anyway, Ive had 12'x12' in mind, until I read that it would be very hard to transport..I need something I can move, we might move in a couple years, and I would want to take it with me...so do you think I should go smaller? I have 6 chicks now, and I want to store their food in their. Please share ideas. I just wanted a bigger area, so they will be happy, I'm already thinking about getting more as well, so I might expand my chicken tribe...I have NO idea how I'm going to build this, its like a shed....has to be made of pressure treated wood, has to have a frame...so if you have any websites that have good plans & detailed items needed list, that'd be great!

chicken coop question. Please answer! 10 points to best answer? I have bought chicken coop plans already but they are very small and I think i am going to sell them on ebay. But what do you think of this chicken coop? I like it because you can walk into it and clean it easily. I just dont like the color but if i make this coop i will paint it a different color! anyways do you like this coop? can you give me some pros and cons? Also on average how much do you think it ill cost to build it? there is a link on there to email the person who created it but it says page not found. How many nesting boxes are in it? thanks! http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Coop/Coop.htm

chicken coop question!! please answer! 10 points to best answer!? I have bought chicken coop plans already but they are very small and I think i am going to sell them on ebay. But what do you think of this chicken coop? I like it because you can walk into it and clean it easily. I just dont like the color but if i make this coop i will paint it a different color! anyways do you like this coop? can you give me some pros and cons? Also on average how much do you think it ill cost to build it? there is a link on there to email the person who created it but it says page not found. How many nesting boxes are in it? thanks! http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Coop/Coop.htm p.s. they will be free range throughout the day

I have Six ducks how can i keep them in the winter.? I have 6 pekin ducks and was kind of trying to keep them instead of killing them. At least i would like to keep 4 of them. How ever i was told that they wont make it. I am a little worried about the fact that the water would freeze on them and they would not get to play in the water for at least 3 months. how do you keep ducks without having water for them to swim in? the building i have is a small chicken coop in a dog pen that I put my chickens and ducks in at night. they dont use the coop though. only the chickens do! is there anyway to keep ducks without water in the winter? My ducks cant fly so they would not make it south. I have 6 pekin ducks and was kind of trying to keep them instead of killing them. At least i would like to keep 4 of them. How ever i was told that they wont make it. I am a little worried about the fact that the water would freeze on them and they would not get to play in the water for at least 3 months. how do you keep ducks without having water for them to swim in? the building i have is a small chicken coop in a dog pen that I put my chickens and ducks in at night. they dont use the coop though. only the chickens do! is there anyway to keep ducks without water in the winter?

I need Help Keeping Chicken Run Dry!? I have some friends across the street who just got a chicken coop with something like 12 chickens? They have a run, its fenced off, and "was" on green grass. It its plenty of room for 12 chickens. Its about the same sq as a normal bedroom. Their run is now extremely muddy, impossible to walk in due to how muddy it is, even in the summer. It reeks as well, very bad. However, they poor buckets of rotten cabbage, bannanas, etc on it everyday for their chickens, but the problem is, its gone that day, not like it has composted or anything? My other friend has one as well, with like 30 chickens, and a smaller run. But theirs does not stink, their coop isn't that smelly either, surprisingly, and the chickens are even clean? Does anyone have any tips for keeping a "clean" run? I jsut dont want it to be a mud bath, with a smell that reaches to the house. And any suggestions on how to keep the coop itself smelling decent? Any cool tricks for building the coop? I have a playhouse im convertin into a coop, so if you have suggestions like, where to put the roost so the poo goes somewhere else, or tips for cleaning the coop, etc. Anything would help!! Thanks

Building a bird aviary question(s)? I am going to be building a small to medium sized aviary soon I know where im putting it I have designed it on google sketch up if anyone wants to see then email me. At the moment it is going to have a chicken coop in it too. I want to keep indian ringnecks (a pair to breed) obviously chickens (4 hens) and maybe some cockatiels (I may breed them as well). First of all will all those birds be able to live together? and if I have any breeding could the attack each other or if I have ringnecks and cockatiels breed could that cause trouble? I have had a baby cockatiel in my room for 2 weeks now I got him 1 week out of the nest he has a big cage and he has settled in well and is pretty tame. I wanted a ringneck to start with thats why I got a big cage so next year (going to buy a breeding pair of ringnecks from the pet shop) If I had some baby ringnecks from the breeding pair would it be ok to move my cockatiel in with another cockatiel for him to be friends with or mate with someday? If he bonded to the other cockatiel he would still be tame enough to handle right? Ok now building questions. I was just going to dig up the grass so the ground is dirt then use cheep straw to lay on the bottom so it is easy to clean and so we can compost it. I live in Dunedin in New Zealand we have had mice in our compost bins before and also a few in house from time to time during the year but not so much lately. Do I need to keep watch for holes or should I put the netting or something under it so they cant get in? Or will the chickens scare them away? IM pretty sure the design is good just got a few changes to make on is to make the chicken bit stick out the back so there is more room. I have a good covered bit for the birds but is it a good idea to make a bit of a wall so they can go back into it to sleep? I will be also adding on a nest box for the ringnecks and if I do breed cockatiels too then I will just buy one for them. I also need to know what to put in the aviary for the birds. I will go get some long and right sized pine perches for the birds do I need to do anything to them first if they are in a aviary? Im not sure what else to put I would add some toys and things to play with but what else? For water I was just going to have a big bowl on top of the chicken bit (its raised off the ground) and one of the ground for the chickens and change it everyday. Thats all for now if someone could email with help that would be nice :)

Can I put 2 silkie chickens with the goats in their pen? I have a cage for them right now because we just got them a month ago. We were going to build them a chicken coop but I was just wondering if maybe they could just go in the same pen with the goats. Today, I brought out the smaller chicken (female) and set her down on the ground. She wasn't afraid of the goats at all but the nigies seemed a little iffy about it. One made the hair on her back stand straight up. They seemed a little jumpy but they ran away as soon as the chicken flapped its wings. I don't want to put either of the animals in an uncomfortable situation and the goats do have horns....what do you think would happen?

I'm building a computer game.? this game is a farming rural lifestyle simulation. Gameplay Features Introduction An online computer game that allows gamers to experience life on a secluded island. The player will start out as a 21 year old man who is new to the island and who's goal is to restore the rural culture back into the island because the mayor and many other former residents left do to lack of rural culture. You will own a small farm with a barn, chicken coop, and reptile barn. during your journey to restore rural culture you have the choice of getting married, making friends, and having kids. there will be 2 vacant farm plots, the one u do not choose will eventually be home to another online gamer who shares the same guidelines and goals as you. The second online member will be able to chat with you, breed their animals with yours,and become your friend or, they can become your enemy, by stealing the girl you're trying to impress or just by challenging you to who can catch the most fish, you decide. Raising Animals One of the major parts of the game is raising animals. There are a variety of animals. Cows, horses, chickens, ducks, and turtles. Cows of course give you milk, you can ride horses, ducks, chickens and turtles provide eggs and you can also ride adult turtles. Cows and horses live in the barn, chickens and ducks live in the chicken coop and the turtles live in the reptile barn. Feeding Animals Obviously all your animals will need to be fed on a daily bases. Cows and Horses eat hay that can be purchased at the local market. Ducks and chickens are fed grain that also can be purchased at the local market. Turtles are a little tricky and can get expensive but are worth it. You can either buy fish at the local market to feed them, or you can catch fish to feed them which is less expensive but time consuming.

baby chick coop? hi i got a chick off someone and he/she has been in my backyard for about 2 weeks so far. I was wondering, is it necessary to give it a coop, it seems to like to hide in the bushes, and at night it hides on the top of the same one every time. we have food and water next to it. I was thinking about building a coop but it has to be small. I've searched for plans to build one but they are all so big, usually for more than one chicken, I just want one for one chicken. also, does it NEED to have a run because our backyard is fenced in, and i think it's going to be running around the yard a lot anyway, I don't plan on locking the chick in the coop ever. thanks oh and I know it should have a friend but i don't think i could get another one unless the chick grows up to be a hen and has another and I think my parents only want one in their backyard >.>

Products Liabiltity: Warranties and Strict Liability in Tort. Applying the Uniform Commercial Code.? Vlases, a coal miner who had always raised small flocks of chickens, spent two years building a new two-story chicken coop large enough to house 4,000 chickens. After its completion, he purchased 2,200 one-day-old chicks from Montgomery Ward for the purpose of producing eggs for sale. He had selected them from Ward's catalogue, which stated that these chicks, hybrid Leghorns, were noted for their excellent egg production. Vlases had equipped the coop with brand-new machinery and had taken further hygiene precautions for the chicks' health. Almost one month later, Vlases noticed that their feathers were beginning to fall off. A veterinarian's examination revealed signs of drug intoxication and hemorrhagic disease in a few of the chicks. Eight months later, it was determined that the chicks were suffering from visceral and ocular leukosis, or bird cancer, which reduced their egg-bearing capacity to zero. Avian leukosis may be transmitted either genetically or by unsanitary conditions. Subsequently, the disease infected the entire flock. Vlases then brought suit against Montgomery Ward for its breach of the implied warranties of merchantability and of fitness for a particular purpose. Ward claimed that there was no way to detect the disease in the one-day chicks, nor was there medication available to prevent this disease from occuring, Is Montgomery Ward liable under a warranty and/or strict liability cause of action? Explain.

what are the best breed of chickens to eat and will mature fast? i want to raise about 25 or so chicks. what is the best breed for eating and will mature fast. can i keep them in my barn- (getting really old) i have had steers and horses in there so its not the cleanest? if not what should i do? i also live on a farm and have two dogs. what breed is the hardiest and has the least problems? some say cornish but they get leg problems and can get lame- other say buff orpingtons but they mature later. i dont want to build a big coop; just something fairly small that can hold 25 chicks safely and sturdily, some people say "chicken tractors". do you move them around every day and leave them in there for like their whole life? what about a transportation coop- is that too small? what can i do?

Considering veganism? i have been a vegetarian for over a year and a half, and i'm considering veganism. i recently watched Peta's "meat your meat" video, and realized that laying hens are often kept in very poor conditions, and that the milk industry supports the veal industry, because the male calves are sold for veal. i live in Canada though, so we don't have factory farms, and the video might be outdated because standards for laying hens have been change(for the better) over the past few years. does anyone know of any milk companies that don't support the veal industry? vegans/ vegetarians, should i cut out eggs and milk completely? if i eat free-range eggs instead, does that follow my ethics(i don't want to cause any animals pain or discomfort in any way, and i definitely don't want them to die). what about if i get my own chickens to ensure that they would be treated properly(we have an unused barn, with a chicken coop built right in it)? should i cut out foods that probably only contain a very small amount of eggs or milk? or should i just cut out my largest sources, like eggs, milk, yogurt, butter, ect? what should i do when eating out? how about when im at friends houses? btw i'm 13, turning 14 next month, and when i told my parents wanted to become vegan last fall, they thought i had an eating disorder(i assure you, i don't) and they took me to get checked out by a specialist, this time when i brought it up, my mom was more understanding, but my dad is still being really bitchy about it. what do you guys think i should do? what are your reasons for being vegan, being vegetarian, or eating meat?

The Real Tenants From Hell!? Gorgeous George & his Four grown Sons. 1.) George, owned and operated a small engine repair shop from my rental home and used the hall tub as a parts cleaning vat. 2.) His son Frank, build a chicken coop in the garage where he housed upward of 35 chickens & two roosters. 3.) Two of his sons Steve & Nick were both arrested for running a pawn shop out of the master bedroom. My property was on the 6:00 PM & 11:00 PM news and on the front page of two local news papers. 4.) Georges ex-wife shot out three living room windows, adding another arrest to the property, and another visit from television and reporting crews. 5.) Someone pulled out five windows and bricked over them with out my permission, but no one knows who actually did it? 6.) Georges youngest son Wayne was arrested for having a stolen cow tied to a tree in the back yard and was charged with cattle rusteling. Took nine monthes to get this Family evicted!

How to take care of a baby chick? SO yesterday night i won a baby chick in a jamaica and and it super cute it really small like it fits in my hand perfectly and its so cute. Okay my first question is The chick is not yellow is brown is it gonna stay brown or will it turn yellow? The other question is where should i put it right now its in a box which is pretty big for they little chick it can run around in it and it have its food and water once it grows older where gonna build a chicken coop in our back yard but what else should i do right know to make sure its comfortable?

Why is my chicken following me? So I got two chicks from my advanced biology class a couple months ago. Last night something got into my coop I had built for them. I don't know how but the wire door was completely bend outward.. (it was like chicken fencing so it is bendable.) The female chickens feathers were everywhere... And I found the rooster running in circles around the backyard this morning clucking/screeching like it was in pain. He's all alone now when he had a friend by his side since he was little.. I actually cried quite a bit. (I know pathetic.. but I have a soft spot and feelings for all living things) After this happened I spent a majority of the afternoon giving my rooster (half rooster, not completely grown yet), his name is Otis, a feast of all kinds of treats. I've been holding him, petting him, feeding him from my hand, and talking to him. Usually he is always scared shitless of me and sprints away from me if I try to get near him. It was the hen that allowed me to hold her.. Now she's gone. I did this all in one day never really holding him before hand cause he'd never let me, now he is LITERALLY following me. I walked around the backyard. He'd follow close behind. I left my sliding door open, and walked into my house. And he followed me into the house and is sitting right next to my computer chair this very moment sleeping. It's very comforting to know he trusts me now. But I have to keep him outside at night. And he's going to be all alone. I tried to put him in his chicken area and ran inside. Checked the back door and sure enough there he was waiting outside the sliding door. Does he think I'm a chicken? What's going on here? Can anyone explain this? I thought chickens had small brains. From what just happened today, I think I was wrong. Or I have a freak of nature chicken. These are my PET chickens. I love them as I would any pet. Never was I intending to eat them. Thanksgiving is turkey day. Not chicken day :P

Could I keep chickens and goats in a barn together? I plan on getting 3 goats and several chickens, and I wanted to know if I could build a small-ish barn in my backyard, and keep the goats on one side with their bedding, water, food, and whatnot, and then a wall separating with the other side going to chickens. Would that work out or do chickens need their own real coop? Couldn't they just stay in a barn? Thanks

Quick chicken question? I have been sick for the past week and my mother has been taking care of my chickens for me. okay here is some info on the first off. 1. They are silkies (male and female) black and white 2. They are in a small cage right now because we haven't had them long and are in the process of building a bigger coop. 3. They have hay in the cage to keep them warm 4. The temperatures are normally around 45 or lower lately. I'm in NY Today my mom told me my chickens weren't well. I went out to check on them and the females rear end was all wet and seemed to have blood on it. Is that something normal for a chicken??? I have never heard of that before and I don't know if i should be worried. Any suggestions of what this is or how I can help her?? what antibiotics can i give them? and can i get them somewhere without going to the vet?

Sad, but what can I do.? Since my husband passed I've kept in contact with his mom that lives 20 miles from me. The problem is, though I really love this kind lady and would love to spend more time with her as well as be there for her in her last days. Her liver is failing. Her living conditions almost sicken me. She lives in a building that much resembles a chicken coop. (she has chickens as pets on her closed in front porch. She has small dogs that sometimes pee on the floor. No bathroom, not even an outhouse, just a potty chair. She does keep things as clean as possible but is becomming less able to help herself. I would be glad to stay with her but the conditions are to much to bare. She couldnt bare to live without her critters and I dont want to hurt her feelings. I could handle it if there was at least an outhouse and the chickens were moved, but its a sensitive matter with her. Many of her other children and family dont visit because of this. I want to help her but dont know how. What would you do?

I want to build a a large bird cage, one that I can walk around in, something? like a chicken coop that I can sit in and play with them. If I decide to get chickens later will they beat up the smaller birds or do they live in harmony? Also will they freeze at night since it sometimes drops to 30 degrees at night? I mainly just want finches, doves, and parakeets, and a couple lovebirds, maybe chickens later on

Need advice about silkie chickens? I live right outside the city and am going to start a chicken coop. Firstly I just wanted to make sure it's okay to mix chicken breeds in a coop? Will this cause problems if they are of different sizes? The chickens I think I want are said to have very good temperaments and be friendly. Anyway about the Silkies, I am going to buy from Ideal Poultry Breeding Farms inc. and because Silkies are hard to sex the chicks are not guaranteed a certain sex. The problem I am facing is that I do not want any fertilized eggs but because of the smaller size of this chicken and the possibility of coyotes (coyotes aren't as likely because there are dogs, including mine, on our street) or raccoons attacking the could be rooster I would be afraid of letting it roam around outside of the coop. Is there something I can build it where I can just put him in there at night? I mean this is all hypothetical but still I just want to know if I should get the Silkies or just give up on that.

I have lots of questions about chickens.? So I got this shed, and it is very well built, 4x8. This is without nesting boxes and roosts. How many chickens can I fit in there? Also... in such a small area, I need good ideas for roosts. How many do i need for the amount of chickens i can get in there, as well as nesting boxes. And my friend has a chicken coop, and his roost is just above this box of dirt, so when they roost, all the poop goes into the box and becomes composted, which they throw all over the garden. Are there any other ideas like this i should consider? And for the run... how big do i need the run to be. I have plenty of room for a run, just not a butt load of money. How expensive is chicken wire? Thanks for all the help!

How many would this cost? K, I am still young (14) but I drew my "dream house" and hope to get something like this some day. I want a medium house with a porch( that is going to be light pink XD) and i'll have some people build that for me. On 8 acres. a duck/chicken coop where I will keep 4 chickens and 3 ducks) a pretty big pond where the ducks can swim, but not too big. and a dock a barn wth an attic and a fence around it for 6 goats and a place on top for the pigeons to sleep. :) the house will include rooms and nice funiture and stuff so keep that in mind Also i want 2 big dogs and a cat and a small caged pet (ex: hamster) How much would this all cost? How much monthly would I have to spend on food for the animals?

how much would this cost? K, I am young (14) but I drew my "dream house" and hope to get something like this some day. I want a medium house with a porch( that is going to be light pink XD) and i'll have some people build that for me. On 8 acres. a duck/chicken coop where I will keep 4 chickens and 3 ducks) a pretty big pond where the ducks can swim, but not too big. and a dock a barn wth an attic and a fence around it for 6 goats and a place on top for the pigeons to sleep. :) the house will include rooms and nice funiture and stuff so keep that in mind Also i want 2 big dogs and a cat and a small caged pet (ex: hamster) How much would this all cost? How much monthly would I have to spend on food for the animals?

How much will dis cost?!?!? K, I am still young (14) but I drew my "dream house" and hope to get something like this some day. I want a medium house with a porch( that is going to be light pink XD) and i'll have some people build that for me. On 8 acres. a duck/chicken coop where I will keep 4 chickens and 3 ducks) a pretty big pond where the ducks can swim, but not too big. and a dock a barn wth an attic and a fence around it for 6 goats and a place on top for the pigeons to sleep. :) the house will include rooms and nice funiture and stuff so keep that in mind Also i want 2 big dogs and a cat and a small caged pet (ex: hamster) How much would this all cost? How much monthly would I have to spend on food for the animals?

Can indoor rabbits live outside? (With chickens)? They will be in a very large fenced area (two or three times bigger than most people's living rooms.) Surrounded by woods. The fence goes underground a foot to (hopefully) prevent them from digging out. The fence is about five feet up above ground. (the main predator fear is raccoons, as it's surrounded by trees.) They have a large underground burrow under a couple feet of earth to keep them warm during winter and cool during summer. There will be a large thicket of ceder and pine saplings. There is electricity, so if needed we can add heater/cooler. There will be many rabbits, not just one lonely one. In the same fenced area there will be chickens. Are they safe with rabbits? Assuming they can live, how much will being outside take from their lifespan? (I hear 5 years.) What about outdoor rabbits? Are they even sold? Is 42 really the answer? Temp range for our area is about 30-90. once in a while it goes down to 25 or 95. We live in northern California. Most of the research I've done assumes that the rabbits are in a small coop above ground. Also many articles I read seem very biased towards keeping the rabbit inside. We've already built the underground burrow. If we can't get rabbits, what are the chances that young chickens will use it? (6" tubes that lead into two large chambers.)

Chickens, Winter heat lamps question? This is my fourth winter with chickens. I have 20 in each coop. The coop I built this summer is bigger than my first one and I am wondering if I should put an extra heat lamp in there for the winter. I live in Ohio, winters are mild with night time temps about 33 degrees, seldom colder. My older birds are in there, they are 2 and 3 years old. I only use the lamp in the other coop to help keep the water from freezing, but it helps warm coop because the coop is smaller. Thank you two for answering. I was thinking about the same. I was wondering if there were other people on the program who raised poultry. I wanted to add, "Rusty Oldma, I eat my pets", but oh my what a back lack that would make, lol. What Color do you use for heat lamps. Red or White and why? I am thinking about putting a white one in there, with the red one. That way the girls have a choice. Cool?

should i raise pheasents,geese,or turkey for eggs.? we have 14 chickens in our horse stall that was converted into a coop including an outdoor part(cant completly free range after attempting to but had fisher cat kill 4 hens. i do let them out everyday while watching them for 15-20 min.) we have another stall that is partially made into a coop. it has bedding and wire on the top part of stall so nothing flies out or climbs in. i was wanting to raise another breed of bird in that stall. we may build another smaller outdoor part but i was wondering what is the next best egg producing bird(dad wont keep any animal unless it produces somthing and i dont want meat birds.)that lays ok sized eggs. i was wanting ring neck pheasents but they need a lot of space. what bird should i get? any tips or ideas other than chickens and guinea hens.

build chicken coop? wish to build small (2-3 birds) chicken coop and runin big back garden, we may have foxes though

What is "Capoeira Angola"? The etymology of the word capoeira is disputed by some scholars. Some Brazilian writers claim it is from the Amerindian Tupi language group and means an area of bush that has been cleared by burning or cutting down. In Portuguese, the language of Brazil, it also means a big chicken coop or a place where birds are fattened. Kongo scholar K. Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau thinks that capoeira is really a deformation of the kikongo word Kipura/kipula. According to Fu-Kiau "Both pura and pula means to flutter, to flit from place to place; to struggle, to fight, to flog. Both terms are used to describe rooster's movements in a fight: their back and forth, up and down as well as turning around moves. Kipura, in the kongo cultural context, is...an individual whose techniques of fight or struggle are based or developed on the ground of rooster fighting techniques. The jogo-de-capoeira (play of capoeira)takes place in a ritual activity and a circular area, both called roda (wheel, circle, social group) pronounced ho-da. The roda is a capoeira party in which capoeiristas gather and play capoeira. The players and onlookers form a circle, a roda. At the top of the circle is the bateria which is an ensemble of musicians and singers. Music is not incidental to the practice of capoeira; it is one of the most important elements in the art. It creates the atmosphere in which capoeira is most beautifully expressed. Music is used to inspire the players to more intense level of interaction, and it is used to calm them down when the game has become too heated. There is rarely capoeira without music. The berimbau is the most important musical instrument. It is a musical bow with one string. Attached to the bow is a hollowed out gourd (cabaca) that acts as a resonator box. Tones are produced when the bowstring is struck by a thin flexible stick (vaqueta). A small rattle (caxixi) is held in the hand that holds the vaqueta. With its hypnotic sound, the berimbau is considered "the soul of capoeira". Listen to the music of capoeira. In traditional Capoeira Angola schools, there is a specific location for each instrument in the ensemble. Facing the musicians one would see (from left to right): a ganza or reco-reco (a section of bamboo or gourd with notches cut in it played by scraping with a thin stick; an agogo, a double-headed bell that is struck with a stick or thin metal rod; a pandeiro, a tambourine; a berimbau-gunga, the berimbau with the largest gourd and the one that maintains the rhythm; a berimbau-centro, the berimbau with a mid-sized gourd and one that also maintains the rhythm; a berimbau-viola, the smallest berimbau and the one that "speaks" i.e. improvises the rhythms; a pandeiro, another tambourine; and an atabaque, a drum that is played with the hands similar to a conga drum. The dominant instruments are the three berimbaus; no other instrument should be played louder than them. There is also an order to the types and use of songs. In all, music is one of the most enriching aspects of capoeira. The ritual of capoeira begins when two players enter the circle and squat at the foot of the berimbau. One player will sing a ladainha, a ritual song of commencement. If his opponent doesn't respond with a song of his own, he will begin another song, a corrido a song for going out to play. The song is then passed on to one of the musician as the jogo-de-capoeira begins. A capoeira game is characterized by such dynamic movements as cartwheels, handstands, spinning kicks and spontaneous acrobatics. At its highest level of practice, capoeira is considered an improvisational conversation between two bodies. The operative sensibility is very similar to a jazz performance. Capoeira scholar Ken Dossar writes: The object of the game is for the capoeiristas to use finesse, guile, and technique to maneuver one another into a defenseless position, rendering them open to a blow, kick or sweep. Only ones hands, head and feet are allowed to touch the floor. Being swept and landing on ones bottom disqualifies a player. In general, there is no contact from strikes. An implied strike is more admired, particularly when the opponent has been clearly manipulated into an indefensible position...All strikes, evasions, and counterstrikes are woven together creatively as the game progresses. The freedom to improvise and create openings keep capoeira's action fluid and fresh. It is interesting to note that there is little use of offensive hand techniques in capoeira. Some have attributed this to the belief that slaves had to fight with their hands immobilized by chains and therefore emphasized foot and leg techniques. It is more likely however that the absence of hand techniques is based on an ancient kongo tradition in which the hands should be used for good work, i.e, creative activities, while the feet should be used for bad work, i.e, punishment and destruction. Fu-Kiau explained one relevant proverb in kikongo "Mooko mu tunga, malu mu diatikisa" (Hands are to build, feet are to destroy).