I am really new to this pet chicken thing so need all the advice i can get. I am getting 2 chicks, one rhode island red and one orpington. I have a smallish size dog crate that i am going to use for the first few weeks. Then i need thoughts for a cheap/simple to build chicken coop/cage. I live in the city but my backyard is pretty huge. Is there anything else i need to know other than basic stuff like feeder & waterers.
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See some of the stuff they have at http://www.mypetchicken.com.
We got a small flock of 10 this past july and we LIKE them!!!! A lot os trial and error with feeders and waterers and such. You just have to see what works for you. There are a lot of plans for coops and just pictures of coops that you can see doing an onilne search. Build what will work for you.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/
They have a very excellent care guide on the site also. Most of the feeders and waterers they have you can get at your local feed or Ag store.
We built a coop for about $150. It is off the ground and made from very sturdy rough-cut lumber. Predators cannot get in. The chickens free range during the day and every night they go into the coop at dusk. We shut them in for the night for protection. Coops are not that expensive to build….especially for a small flock. And you only need the heat lamps for the first month or so, then they say to NOT provide heat even in the winter. Chickens will adapt to the cold, but they will not adapt as well if they have artifical heat. And if the power goes out, they could freeze.
More sites that we found helpful:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php
http://www.essortment.com/all/chickenseggsli_rnzr.htm
You will need to protect your chickens from wildlife…building a predator proof coop is not going to be cheap. You will also need heat if yu live in a colder climate
Get involved in the online community BackYardChickens.com. You will find support, friendship, and learn all you need to know about keeping chickens. There are hundreds of people on there who keep just a couple of chickens in a city dwelling. There are also pictures and plans for coops, thoughts for feeders, advice on waterers, anything you could question.