James McGregor | Backyard Chicken Zone

Top 9 Chicken Coops You Can Purchase Online

February 4, 2016November 5, 2015 by James McGregor

Your chicken coop is likely going to be your biggest initial investment when starting out and you need to choose carefully so you don’t end up with an expensive pile of firewood and a flock of homeless backyard chickens.

To help you out we have put together a list of the top 9 chicken coops that you can purchase online. Our list covers a range of chicken coops from premium chicken coops for those who want to make a statement through to more economic chicken coops where functionality is the most important requirement. We have also included some plastic chicken coops that are relatively new to the market but provide some useful features in relation to cleaning and red mite control.

Premium Chicken Coops – less than $2000

Colonial Gable Chicken House with Ramp and Nesting Box by Little Cottage Company

Standing 114 inches high, 87 inches wide, and 97 inches deep, this chicken coop is suitable for 8-12 hens and is the equivalent of a chicken mansion. It comes complete with a working window one chicken door, nesting bins, a 72 inch roosting bar, and all the necessary fasteners and hardware to assemble the kit. It is solidly built with timber framing and can be assembled in one day. You will need to supply the roof shingles (or metal roofing if you prefer), drip edge, and also paint the chicken coop as this allows you to match your color scheme and roof finish to your existing people coop.

Click here to get the latest pricing and detailed specifications.

Gambrel Barn Chicken House with Nesting Box and Ramp by Little Cottage Company

This chicken coop will make you want to swap places with your chickens and move into the hen house! Standing 94 inches high, 63 inches wide, and 73 inches deep, this chicken coop is suitable for 6-8 hens. It comes complete with a working window (tempered glass and screens), one chicken door, four nesting bins, a 48 inch roosting bar, and all the necessary fasteners and hardware to assemble the kit. It is solidly built with timber framing and can be assembled in one day. You will need to supply the roof shingles (or metal roofing if you prefer), drip edge, and also paint the chicken coop as this allows you to match your color scheme and roof finish to your existing people coop.

Click here to get the latest pricing and detailed specifications.

Quality Chicken Coops – less than $1000

CC Only 141″ Chicken Coop with Chicken Run

This chicken coop is made from solid wood construction using quality semi-hardwood dried fir timber. Standing 52 inches tall, 141 inches in length (with the chicken run) and 53 inches wide it is suitable for 6-8 hens. Complete with a shingle roof, pull out tray for easy cleaning, ramp, door, and two nesting boxes. It is well ventilated with two screened windows and a 34 inch roosting bar. The chicken coop on wheels so that is can be easily relocated around your yard and represents a good balance between price and quality.

Click here to get the latest pricing and detailed specifications.

CC Only 124″ Chicken Coop with Chicken Run

This chicken coop is made from solid wood construction using quality semi-hardwood dried fir timber. Standing 50 inches tall, 124 inches in length (with the chicken run) and 39 inches wide it is suitable for 6-8 hens. Complete with a shingle roof, pull out tray for easy cleaning, ramp, sliding door, and two nesting boxes. It is well ventilated with three screened windows and a good sized 45 inch roosting bar. You will need to water seal the timber after assembly to extend the life of the chicken coop.

Click here to get the latest pricing and detailed specifications.

Budget Chicken Coops – Less than $500

Extreme Cape Cod Chicken Coop with Nesting Box and Roosting Bar by Precision Pet Products

This little chicken coop is one of the most popular best sellers online. It is perfectly suited to a little flock of up to two backyard chickens that have access to a fenced yard to forage during the day. The design offers some protection against predators although we recommend to enhance the security with some stronger locks and fasteners. The small run is not suitable for keeping chickens for extended periods but it is a pretty little overnight hen house for a couple of pet chickens. Overall this is a practical, economical, and cute little chicken coop for a very small backyard flock.

Click here to buy Precision Pet Coop Extreme Cape Cage

Pawhut 91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Bunny Rabbit Hutch / Chicken Coop w/ Large Outdoor Run

Whilst it is touted as a “deluxe” rabbit hutch it also doubles as a practical chicken coop (although you will need to make some modifications). It is relatively stylish looking and has a well designed central living space and a good sized chicken run for 3-4 hens. It stands 40 inches high, 90 inches long, and 27 inches deep but is missing built in nesting boxes and roosting perches: you will need to add these yourself. The ventilation is very open and so will need to also provide some weather protection to the windows. But despite being a luxury rabbit hutch it provides a good basis for a pretty good chicken coop making it a good value proposition well worth considering.

Click here to buy Pawhut 91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Bunny Rabbit Hutch / Chicken Coop w/ Large Outdoor Run

Plastic Fantastic

Plastic chicken coops have begun to emerge in the market over the past few years. Whilst the wood vs plastic debate continues with chicken keepers around the world they each have their pros and cons. Where plastic chicken coops come into their own is cleaning and maintenance. The cleaning of plastic chicken coops is much easier than wooden housing as you can simply hose them out and they are dry in less than an hour and maintenance is practically zero. Plastic chicken coops are also resistant to red mite by reducing the number of place red mite can live inside the coop. Ultimately it comes down to your needs and personal preferences.

Here are our pick of what is available on the market.

Formex Snap Lock Large Chicken Coop Backyard Hen House 4-6 Large 6-12 Bantams

As the name suggests, this chicken coop simply snaps together and requires no tools for assembly. It has a removable litter tray, large adjustable ventilation, easy access for egg collection, insulating double wall construction, predator resistant, and red mite resistant. It features 4 nesting spots with removable dividers and a generous amount of roosting space with three 36” roosts.

At 64” tall, 39” wide, and 42” deep it is recommended for use with 4-6 Large Chickens or 6-12 Bantams on average. Can vary with the size of your yard or an external run space.

Click here to buy Formex Snap Lock Large Chicken Coop Backyard Hen House 4-6 Large 6-12 Bantams

Winscombe Chicken Coop

This is our other suggested plastic chicken coop. It is precision designed and manufactured from 100pct recycled plastic for minimum carbon footprint featuring ample space, plenty of ventilation, molded nest areas, elevated roosting areas, and a convenient large egg collection door on the back.. Cleaning is extremely easy with removable roof panels and dropping tray allowing you to simply pressure wash the entire coop, wipe it dry and put it back together. An optional sturdy 3.5 by 6 foot welded mesh steel run is also available from the manufacturer.

It is also red mite resistant due to its plastic construction and design to minimize crevices where mites breed and make cleaning as easy as possible.

Click here to buy Winscombe Chicken Coop

One final note. Whilst raising chickens for eggs is a sustainable way to produce your own food – why stop there. At backyard chicken zone we believe that going green does not mean sacrificing your lifestyle and that green tech and eco friendly products can give you the lifestyle you desire whilst moving towards a more sustainable future. Our partners at GoGetEco.com have the latest in cool eco friendly gadgets, future gadgets, future tech, the latest in green technology, eco friendly products and cool green tech inventions. Why not check them out.

How to clip your backyard chickens wing

February 2, 2016November 3, 2015 by James McGregor

This instructional video from our Urban Farmer YouTube channel will show you how to clip your chickens wing safely and easily.

Click here to get your members only "Guide to Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed"

Best Backyard Chicken Books

November 21, 2015October 18, 2015 by James McGregor

When you are first starting out raising backyard chickens it can be quite overwhelming with the huge amount of information available through forums on the internet. This information is often fragmented and you get a wide range of contradictory information.

So if you want to save yourself a lot of time and effort we recommend you get yourself some good comprehensive books on raising backyard chickens written by experts. These books will provide the foundation of your knowledge to get your backyard chickens off to the to best start, help in selecting the best breed of chicken, explain hatching eggs and raising chicks, raising your backyard chickens, housing and feeding your backyard chickens, and reveal the top tips and secrets for getting the most out of your backyard chicken experience.

At Backyard Chicken Zone we aim to cut through the clutter of information out there and we have put together a suggested reading list of the absolute best books about starting out raising backyard chickens.

Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens…Naturally Hardcover – by Lisa Steele

More than ever, Americans care about the quality and safety of the food they eat. They’re bringing back an American tradition: raising their own backyard chickens for eggs and companionship. And they care about the quality of life of their chickens. Fresh Eggs Daily is an authoritative, accessible guide to coops, nesting boxes, runs, feed, and natural health care with time-tested remedies. The author promotes the benefits of keeping chickens happy and well-occupied, and in optimal health, free of chemicals and antibiotics. She emphasizes the therapeutic value of herbs and natural supplements to maintaining a healthy environment for your chickens. Includes many “recipes” and 8 easy DIY projects for the coop and run. Full color photos throughout.

Get your copy of this book here – Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens…Naturally

Raising Chickens for Dummies 2nd Edition – by Kimberley Willis and Robert T Ludlow

Your hands-on guide to modern chicken-raising methods Thinking about raising chickens? You’ve come to the right place! This new edition of Raising Chickens For Dummies provides the most up-to-date, thorough information on the many aspects of keeping chickens in your backyard. Inside, you’ll find hands-on, easy-to-follow instructions on choosing and purchasing chickens, constructing housing for your birds, feeding your chickens for optimal health, combating laying issues, controlling pests and predators, optimizing egg production, and much more. Raising chickens on a small scale is a popular and growing pastime. If you’re interested in keeping chickens as pets or as a source for eggs, Raising Chickens For Dummies gives you plain-English explanations of everything you need to know to about caring for chickens. Inside, you’ll learn about basic chicken biology, breeds, and behavior, which chicken breed is best for you, how many you need, ways to spot healthy chickens, how to build a chicken coop, best practices for mating your chickens, how to incubate eggs, how to hatch and nurture chicks, manage laying hens, collect and store eggs, and butcher meat birds. * Offers practical advice on choosing and purchasing chickens * Helps you construct the right housing for your chickens * Provides tips on feeding and caring for your chickens * Includes top tips for raising healthy chickens Whether you’re a first-time poulterer or you’ve been raising chickens for years, this comprehensive guideprovides practical how-to advice for keeping chickens in virtually any backyard.

Get your copy of this book here – Raising Chickens For Dummies 2nd edition by Willis, Kimberly, Ludlow, Robert T. (2015) Paperback

A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store’s Guide to Chicken Keeping 1st Edition – by Robert and Hannah Litt

Robert and Hannah Litt have dispensed advice to hundreds of urban and suburban chicken-keepers from behind their perch at Portland’s Urban Farm Store, and now they’re ready to help you go local and sustainable with your own backyard birds. In this handy guide to breeds, feed, coops, and care, the Litts take you under their experienced wings and share the secrets to:

Picking the breeds that are right for you • Building a sturdy coop in one weekend for $100 • Raising happy and hearty chicks • Feeding your flock for optimal health and egg nutrition • Preventing and treating common chicken diseases • Planning ahead for family, neighborhood, and legal considerations • Whipping up tasty egg recipes from flan to frittata

With everything that first-timers will need to get started—along with expert tips for more seasoned keepers—this colorful, nuts-and-bolts manual proves that keeping chickens is all it’s cracked up to be.

Get you copy of this book here – A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store’s Guide to Chicken Keeping

Backyard Chickens – The Power of One

October 18, 2015 by James McGregor

What does it cost to raise backyard chickens?

November 29, 2015October 17, 2015 by James McGregor

One of the most commonly asked questions we get is how much does it cost to raise and care for backyard chickens.

In this post we have broken it down in to stuff you need to buy to setup your urban backyard chicken farm and stuff you need or should budget for to care for your chickens

Backyard chicken stuff you need to buy at the start

Chickens – $3 to $30 depending on age, breed etc.

Chicken coop – $150 if you make your own up to $2000 for upmarket versions. Average around $500.

Fencing

Incubator – $50-100 if you want the thrill of hatching your own eggs.

Brooder – if you want to raise chicks $50 to $100.

Feeders and waterers – $8 to $40.

Backyard chicken stuff you need to care for your chickens

Feeding

-A chick will eat roughly 9-10 lbs of feed in it’s first 10 weeks.

-A mature, standard size chicken will eat approximately 5 lbs of feed per month, if allowed to free range, and an active laying hen, if confined to the coop, will need around 6 lbs of feed per month.

Backyard chicken food options

50lb bag of chick starter crumble $8-$18

Grower and “all flock” feed for older chickens will cost around $17.00 per 50 lbs bag layer pellets between $15.00 and $30.00 per 50 lbs bag, depending again on brand and whether you buy organic/regular.

Scratch grains cost around $10.00 per 50 lbs bag, between depending on availability and quality.

Bedding

Wood shavings cost around $6.00 (.276 cubic meter loose and .092 cubic meters compressed).

Straw will cost you between $3.00 and $12.00 per bale, depending on availability, quality and size of order.

Sawdust pellets will cost around $4.00 per 40 lbs bag.

Other backyard chicken stuff

In addition to feed and bedding materials, add roughly $10.00 per month for miscellaneous extras, such as medicine, pest control, egg boxes etc.

Lets look at an example.

Jenny, her partner and their two your children have researched the idea of getting some backyard chickens by reading and decided to join the growing community of urban farmers by getting their own backyard chickens. Jenny wants the chickens for eggs and for a family of four will need at least three good laying hens. Jenny decides that she wants the children to enjoy the thrill of watching the eggs hatch and finds a local supplier. These cost her $10.

She purchases an incubator for $30, an Brinsea Ecoglow brooder for $80, an chicken coop for $400, and a feeder and waterers or $12. They have a good secure fenced yard so she doesn’t need to worry about fencing.

Once she has the incubator and brooder she gets her eggs delivered and puts them in the incubator.

While they are waiting excitedly for them to hatch she gets some food delivered by purchasing a bag of chick crumbles for $8, some bedding by purchasing some pine shavings for $6.

Now they are all set to go and welcome the new chicks into the world.

Jenny has spent a total of $546 and has enough supplies for the first few months in addition to some very excited kids (including the grown up variety) which is priceless.

Check out the following infographic on some of the other benefits.

by kylatomdesign.com

Hatching Chicken Eggs

May 24, 2016October 17, 2015 by James McGregor

Hatching chicken eggs using artificial incubators is both an art and a science. Whilst it is not difficult incubating chicken eggs there are a number of key principles that you need to adhere to.

The first thing you need to do is to source quality fertilized eggs for hatching your own backyard chickens.

Good quality eggs require that the hens are in good health, have a well balanced diet and managed so that each hen is regularly serviced by a fertile rooster. The eggs should be clean fresh eggs that ideally have not been washed – washing can dramatically reduce the eggs viability be removing its protective bloom creating the potential for germs to infect the egg.

Source your eggs from a reputable breeder who keeps the nest boxes clean and filled with fresh dry bedding to prevent soiled eggs, collects eggs frequently, and stores them correctly.

For the best results in hatching chicken eggs the eggs should have been stored at room temperature with their pointy end down, rotated daily, and ideally should be less than 7 days old.

If possible your should pickup up eggs directly from the farm gate, however if you get them through the mail you should keep them still for 12-24 hours to allow the air cells to settle prior to placing them in an incubator.

As temperature is the single most important factor for successful hatching you should try and locate your chicken egg incubator in a room that has a relatively steady temperature, not in direct sunlight and away from draughts.

Click here to get your members only "Guide to Selecting the Best Backyard Chicken Breed"

Turn on your chicken egg incubator and allow it to run for at least 24 hours to make sure the temperature inside the incubator has stabilized.

Set your eggs up in the chicken egg incubator on their sides or pointy end down in accordance with the incubator manufacturers instructions.

(Quick note on hatching rates – no matter how good your chicken egg incubator you can never fully replace a brooding hen and hence some eggs simply won’t hatch. The best rate you can expect is about 85%. If you are using eggs that have been posted to you then the hatching rate can be much lower around the 50% mark.)

Incubating chicken eggs will take 21 days after whichever time you will have a bunch of hungry chicks to feed.

Successful hatching using an chicken egg incubator requires four key factors:
1. Temperature

2. Humidity

3. Ventilation

4. Turning

Temperature
Every chicken egg incubator model will have its own settings for temperature however it is a good idea to get an incubator thermometer rather than rely on the incubators factory thermometer. If your eggs fail to hatch then temperature is the most likely cause. As a guide your eggs are unlikely to survive several hours of temperatures above 103degF or under 96degF.

Humidity
Humidity within the chicken egg incubator affects how much moisture is lost from the eggs during incubation. Fortunately most incubators create their own humidity through the use of water trays. (Tip – always use Luke warm water when you refill these water trays). The ideal humidity for hatching your backyard chickens is around 50-55% for the first 18 days and 65-70% in the final three days before hatching.

Ventilation
The embryos inside the eggs need oxygen which they get via their shell from the air around them. Therefore ensuring your incubator maintains good ventilation is important.

Turning
To be successful at incubating chicken eggs and hatching the chicken eggs, the eggs must be turned regularly for the first 17 days to prevent the embryos sticking to the shell. Ideally they should be turned 2-3 times per day. (Tip – mark the shells with a pencil with an A and a B on opposite sides so you can easily see if you turned all the eggs.)

You stop turning the eggs in the last 3 days of incubation.

Hatching your backyard chicken eggs
Soon the chicks will begin pipping – this is when they begin to peck through their shell. This can take up to 6 hours with a further 6 hours for the chicks to dry and “fluff up”. Since they still have the reserves for the egg yolk to draw upon the chicks don’t need to eat or drink for the first 24 hours.

Once they are dry they can be moved to a brooder. Check out our post on raising chicks to see what to do next.

Urban Chickens

October 16, 2015 by James McGregor

Raising Urban Chickens

by kylatomdesign