Why We HATE Our Chicken Coop | Poultry Housing Mistakes | Beginner Backyard Homestead

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Well, you asked for it! Here's a tour of our current chicken coop, as well as what we hate about it, and the MANY improvements that we need to make.
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[@andreacharais8070]

"Raise the roost. Get it? Oh my gosh." I love this narration XD

[@JMDVful]

your coop looks a lot better than mine. I have 2 coops and they look like squatter camps due to low funds so I make do with scraps. So well done on your coop, it has given me some ideas.

[@FookYoua]

The imagery is emaculate

[@evanskelen171]

I’m proud of my janky coop made from pallets. I make repairs and improvements, but I’m proud of it because I made it. My next 1 will be better

[@cherylangel1714]

Yeah, I am proud my my wonky coop as well. I am making improvements to it regularly, and enjoyed the opportunity to build it!

[@jamiecarmelo2791]

i know I am kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@kharicoen7962]

@Jamie Carmelo Try flixzone. You can find it by googling :)

[@daltonbruce6400]

@Khari Coen Definitely, I've been watching on flixzone for since april myself :)

[@jamiecarmelo2791]

@Khari Coen thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service =) Appreciate it!!

[@bradpayn8058]

Just move the food and water out to the run, you don't need it in the coop at all. You may want a little roof over part of the run so they can come out without being in too much snow, or rain doesn't get in the feed. They don't need food and water where they sleep at all as long as you open the door early, or get a door timer. I've tried every trick in the book, types of feeder, etc to stop them from flinging around food, making a mess, and wasting some. They'll always make a mess all you can do is try to not make it too big of one, and decide where you want them to make it. Same with water. Some work better than others, but none stop it all. The best I've found for feed is just to choose a place to be bare ground and to throw food on the ground there. Feed them first thing in am, usually, unless they didn't eat almost all the day before. If they left some, don't feed them yet, well toss a handful right on the feed they left, but leave with the rest of the, 95% new feed. Go put a little feed away, you either fed them a little too much the day before or they're finding something to forage -- they're not hungry, or they would have eaten all their food the day before. Go back in an hour or two, all the feed should be gone now, then feed them a little less than the day before. Likewise, if in the afternoon you should walk by and they are all begging for more, look at their feeding zone, if a bunch of feed is there, they just want cake or worms, they're not really hungry, like little kids, they're always hungry for goodies even when their too full to eat what's on their plate - lol. So give them some goodies if you want. But if they're begging and you look and they ate all their food, they are hungry, give them a bit more for that day, and increase their rations for the next. When there is really deep snow and it's really nasty out, I may put some food and water inside the coop for them, but only for a few of the worst days. Also when it gets real cold, feed them about as much whole corn in the afternoon as I gave them feed in the morning. Digesting it at night helps them stay warmer. I'm at +7,000 ft elevation in the Wyoming Rockies, so I know just as well as WI what cold is, forty below and fifty miles an hour, yikes, that's the kind of weather when you feed inside, not that above 0° f. stuff, they'll be fine in that going out to eat and drink, even if they're going right back in when they are done.

[@jenniferwyoming8067]

I am a new chicken owner in Wyoming. Is a heat source not needed in Wyoming for winter?

[@annikadjurberg6762]

Awesome

[@adriannabrewer5604]

🖤

[@marianne8352]

I know this post is crazy old, but so glad to see this - I am currently designing my chicken run and coop, and I was planning to have food and water outside, but watching this I was worried that there was a reason I couldn’t do that, so I’m relieved to see this!!

[@robinham2796]

ME TOO!!

[@ajwolgemuth5981]

Hey you should put an electric bug zapper somewhere in your chicken coop because the chickens love eating the dead bugs that fall on the ground and it’s good pest control

[@heatherk8931]

Great!!! Idea, and I have one just sitting around!

[@tonyz6421]

🤣

[@vamountainman2512]

I personally think a bug zapper in a chicken coop is an atrocious idea

[@andrewmunchkin7212]

@@vamountainman2512 yep, something don't sit right with the bug zapper idea at all. 🐤

[@FluffyBunnyArsenal]

I'd MUCH rather see a video like this one vs. a how to. Great idea! Thanks! Building my 1st coop now.....

[@stephanieshu898]

We are too- did you end up building one?

[@susyesmera4633]

Love the simplicity of your coop. And the main thing is the love you give to the chickens. They have water, food, run, shelter, nest. I am a big chicken mama too... I feel you. You are doing wonderful!

[@saresasmith]

Good luck with adding more nesting boxes... we have 4 boxes with 7 lady birds.... and they all fight for the same box regardless 😭 I have literally caught them piling up on top of each other 😂

[@brendarodriguez4098]

Bi

[@Texan_American]

Just block that box off for a while

[@patriciasnyder6915]

We have used litter boxes and dog houses. The chickies love it.

[@normajeanslagel4633]

While they will still fight over 'the' nest, you may encourage use of another at times by placing one of those ceramic fake eggs. We did that to encourage using the other nests, and it did and didn't work. But even just a couple of girls using nest number two lessened a little of the congestion in nest one.

[@jdbfortney]

My birds lay everywhere EXCEPT the nesting boxes lol

[@rosedowling3690]

I give you soo much credit for sharing what you feel your fails are for a coop.. It actually helps us newbies of what to do n not to do..I;m sure your revisions will be a winner .. We learn from our mistakes ... I will be watching for updated videos

[@papaandnanahomestead1467]

Great job. Don t be ashamed of anything you do when you are trying. I thinks you did great. But even if you make mistakes. By showing others you help those who may be planning to do the same on how they can improve. You guys are awesome.

[@erichuff2538]

Love the channel and your uncut honesty. God bless you and your family.

[@annloui8814]

Starting this spring with our first ever chickens and so clueless. I'm so happy you're in Wisconsin, we are too...your channel will be very helpful!

[@jasonwolfe1470]

So yeah, we also live in WI (Stevens Point) and will be starting a build on a coop soon and we would like to come see yours and find out all we need and what we will be getting ourselves into.

[@YooperCountry]

Thanks for your thoughts. We are in the middle of building a coop right now so I appreciate this video. Subscribed and looking forward to seeing more videos.

[@firebirdtelevision175]

What an adorable coop! Love it :) Great garden, too. Rock on, little farmer!

[@VictoriaYoutube12]

bungy cords are great for keeping doors open! even two eye hooks with a cord connecting works great

[@pennycorp89]

I appreciate the tips and tricks you guys offer in this video. Like you, I also built my coop with refurbished items. I always look forward to your videos. 😊 🙏 😊

[@mikesmith8928]

Thank you. We are building our first coop this fall and this was very helpful

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Hey if it works, it works. Great video. I built my coop so I can walk into it, I don’t ever want to craw into a coop again.

[@jadevans320]

We’re adding to our flock, and have to make another coop. This was helpful

[@mrs.bizzybee4437]

Thanks for sharing this is going to help with my first chicken coop this spring

[@carlosp.3330]

Hey don't be that hard on your selves, that's a great coop for your first time. I can't wait to see the upgrade. 😁

[@brusselsprout5851]

Thanks for sharing the trials and errors.

[@moralestexasfishing5583]

Glad to have found this video.I think y'alls coop is nice.We made ours out of scrap wood as well and has done the job for 4 years now.You have great ideas for it in the future.Were in San Antonio TX and have 3 barred rocks,2 buff orpingtons,2 white leghorns,2 deleware hens ,1 rhode island red and 2 new hampshire reds.Im looking at starting a differentg channel strictly for my chickens .Have a great day.

[@carljensen5730]

This was great. I'm planning on building an adobe chicken coup, so I need to learn all the "do's" and "don'ts" before starting the build.

[@JacWarner]

Lovely chickens. You’re doing great. I’d suggest dividing the nesting boxes so they have their own space. I also made the mistake of letting my girls sleep in their nesting boxes. I love your idea of wrapping it in plastic. I’m doing that this year.

[@amandacampbell1959]

This is the BEST informative video! Thank you!!!

[@BroadShouldersFarm]

This is a great video! Really thorough and thoughtful. 👍🏻

[@gle108]

Love the video :D Thank for the tips as well! I am glad I stumbled up on this video before building my mom's coop. Great personality :D

[@joypleticha2704]

Thank you for sharing. Building my first coop this spring.

[@retrotv8759]

Same

[@kaileyyy3772]

Same here , starting this week and have no clue but hoping for the best, you have any advice?:)

[@CharraSuite]

Videos of mistakes are the most useful... great stuff

[@monkeywrench2800]

Love the enthusiasm you have. Wish you were a participant on my hen run project! (and yes.... "project". Aren't they all a project?)

[@gailprier3785]

Love this video. I live in New Zealand in the country and am a crazy chicken lady too. Our coop and run constantly changes as we make improvements. I am a bantam chook lover and have seven little girls. I like the idea of deep litter but not sure what material to use. I don’t like wood chips and have straw in coop and nesting boxes. Looking forward to seeing what you do next.

[@meganmercier8423]

The nest boxy you can put a ring on the side that your doing for an add box and a hook the the door so easy less work to do for your door and a real thin plywood inside can help this winter

[@greatfulchristian4314]

Ty oak abode for sharing your homemade coop. I like it we are in the process of building our own. I also watched your video with the new coop but for now it's cheaper for us to go with homemade. :)

[@olgakuchukov6981]

Thank you for putting up the “imperfect situation” videos. Really helpful for newbies and also the unique situation I find myself in. Neighbor inherited 3 chickens and a duck and I’m smitten and ingratiated myself into the mix, caretaking them. Deep dive chicken youtube university and the more I learn the more freaked out at how janky and loose their coop and run are. Regarding Grubterra: I’ve compared prices on soldier fly larvae in 2 different farm stores in southwestern NH bordering Vermont - where I am. Everyone has chickens here. Lotsa farms. I went to Agway and Tractor Supply. Their 5lb or 4lb bags were way more $$! Plus coming from China. So a corporate situation and I’d much rather support a person with a name stateside or on the continent. I know about soldier fly composting so it ain’t hard! They don’t need to come from overseas and get irradiated or worse at the border! I’m getting a bag from Grub terra and hand feeding now that the jumping worms are gone. One of the RI reds keeps trying to peck at my rubber gloved pinkie recalling fondly me hand feeding her a giant worm just a week ago. Chicken memories.

[@bloominginplace4791]

Thank you, thank you. I am Watching lots of videos to design one and I learn more from the wish i hads than what is.

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

I put and old park style bench in the run and the chickens will line up along the back or set on the bench now my run is 40/40 with shade trees and i have the bench in the shade and they love it

[@bridgetdziewa5389]

I’m from Waukesha county, not sure if your familiar with that area. My dad and I are building my coop this weekend, and this is super helpful! Thank you!

[@WingsDippedInBlood]

Thank you. My chickens are not happy going into their coop at night and we followed your idea for the roost. We had too many!

[@gathercreatelivewithleslie8340]

We did something similar to yours but had the whole side open up with two doors. The two doors makes it super simple to clean out, like fifteen minutes. We are building another coop now from scrap. We are using wood from a playhouse we took apart. Having plywood board then adding the siding worked great for our doors and reduced the holes, we used pallets and broke them apart for the siding wood. We're at 6500 ft in the Rocky mountains in Colorado. I ferment food and take it out daily right now and they forage on the property. In the winter we actually hang the food and water in the coop so they don't get it soooo messy on a chain and carabiner.

[@ksyifajayabroiler702]

chicken coop behind the yard I like, morning series I always play in my chicken coop before going to work

[@bfhomeandgarden8421]

We loved seeing that random hummingbird fly by. Do they visit your garden?

[@EMSPROVIDER-dg4ss]

I used pallets from lowes as a frame and black tar paper on in side and shaker wood on out side.also hung water so ducks n chicks wont spill it..great ideas keep ot up..all my items where free or recycled...peace

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

I’ve had chickens in a past life, and now we are getting another small flock. We are going to put guttering to fill a 40 litre drum. That in turn will prove a constant water supply for the girls, especially during summer.

[@kareemaafteraddiction8965]

My hubby and I were thinking of getting chickens

[@Whey2lovely]

Lol I like that " crazy chicken lady"

[@lindseysrouji5229]

Hey there :) we just bought a house in Colorado that came with the most gorgeous coop and fenced off chicken area! We are getting pullets next week (Wyandotte’s, Easter Eggers, and prairie bluebell Eggers) we have been prepping the coop using your recommendations! Can’t wait to test out this deep litter method, sounds awesome

[@Tsuchimursu]

I'm about to build my first coop and knowing what to avoid is equally important as what to do. Thanks

[@BeggingOwl]

Thanks for this. I'm in WI too. I want to start chickens this year. Everyone keeps telling me I need a heat lamp, and I know that there's got to be a way to do it without that. The fact that you do it without that is really nice. We don't have any wind cover, however.

[@treerat6959]

The trick to winter coops is building to the size of the flock kept so as they help keep themselves warm but you can help with a oil lanterns and clay flower pots to make warmers for the coop.

[@mistidiane788]

We are currently building an 8×4 coop. My 14 are still teenagers and are in a 4×4. They are starting to get crowded. It is pretty drafty too. Someone gave it to me. The new coop will be bigger & hopefully not drafty. I came across your video while looking at the inside of coops to see how I want my layout.

[@gezapapp9318]

Very informative, thank you!

[@rh635]

You guys should look into Carolina Coops for ideas on how to build your coop. They have a lot of great ideas. I have the American Coop and I love it!

[@iamfunboy]

Those look nicer than my own human house.

[@vamountainman2512]

@@iamfunboy probably costs just as much too. I build everything with free materials from craigslist/FB market and local papers

[@robburke5577]

Great channel! Lots of interesting stuff. My first coop was homemade too. I seen enough videos to know I wanted my nesting box access outside. My second coop was Amish built. I changed a few things after it was delivered. We have 3 black astrolorps 6 black sex links and 16 isa browns. In the future we will only raise black chickens. The raptors never mess with black chickens for whatever reason! Good video!

[@michaelvanhoose5077]

I cant confirm if its true. But ive heard black chickens scare off hawks because they resemble crows, which are a natural rival.

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

[@alohastate7752]

Crazy chicken lady. Haha I love it.

[@normajeanslagel4633]

Oh and that coop is absolutely not bad at all. Good job.

[@pnwfarmandgarden]

We are getting ready to start a chicken coop at our community garden! I've kept chickens before, but it has been awhile, so this was a really helpful video to watch. We plan to have them in a 8x12 ft kennel with a coop inside. I'm thinking of doing wood chip deep bedding in the kennel and the shavings like you have in the coop. I'm also thinking of making them a small run I could put them out on the grass in. Would you recommend a fenced in short tractor style run or a net fence? They would only be in that option while someone is with them at the garden.

[@katiebea9258]

Am up one of the right in the foothills just north of you ... HOW was your experience with the deep cover inside the coop, please??

[@Ashgar11111]

I'm very late but I built a hoop coop and made it covered completely and with heat lamps and straw it stays very warm. Lots of room too.

[@Throku]

Didnt notice until the last moment of the video, but saw you had the firewood in there, that seems like a really good idea that I never thought of. Not that I have any chickens, but I had to take down an oak last spring and makde firewood off of it and during the summer there were so much bugs in there it was silly. Great chickenfood no doubt.

[@jayrobertson1689]

Well done,my first coop was more rudeamentry than that and they did fine

[@freewillchoice8052]

Listen up, chicken lady....nice video 😃👍

[@iztherelife1340]

I use a short cover the little chicks can fit under but not big chickens. Creep feeder. Works great.

[@morrisyarnell6083]

I built our coop before we got the girls. Did it for the time at home at the start of Pandemic. As a retired Architect I did go a little overboard but I also incorporated a 8 x 10 potting shed for my wife that has since partly turned into a feed storage space. Have to keep the feed in metal containers, we have squirrels and apparently mice that will attack the feed if it is not secure. We have 3 orpingtons and 1 french chicken a crevecouer. I do enjoy your videos and am always looking forward to the next installment.

[@pittylovinmom]

Super helpful! Thanks

[@glennrodeorealtyrealtor5622]

Have you ever updated the chicken coop?

[@meganmondelli4426]

your chicken names are the best! lol Ms. Frizzle and Reptar haha 😂😍

[@melissamarieprojecthappy4161]

This was great! 🤗 Have you done the food/water upgrade yet? We're just getting our coop ready and I'm looking for some ideas to setup a food/water station that's accessible from the outside but runs the food/water INTO the coop... I was thinking PVCs and then also integrating a rain water collection system 🤷‍♀️

[@steveconnor5388]

The coop looks good to me I like how it's built

[@quangvuong9691]

I really like your backyard.

[@rickycaruana8925]

I think you did a great job 😊

[@Joefest99]

😂 You have a chicken named Reptar! I love the Rugrats reference!

[@alejandracampos934]

The magic school bus too.

[@grizzly4736]

I have been learning a lot from your videos, thank you for the content first off. I do have questions if you are still checking the older videos. 1) Is it necessary to put prep the ground in any way before the coop and run are set up? 2) What bedding are you using in the coop for the deep litter method as it doesn't look like the shavings bedding one uses in the brooder? You did sort of answer one question I had about how bad they will tear up the rest of the yard. I will make a pen for them around the coop run so that I can still have some kind of yard and garden.

[@michellealvermann1377]

Awesome I'm in Wisconsin to..

[@gustolopez2410]

Lol.i have the same set up you have. Just built my coop out of spare materials.👍

[@SugarCreekCottage]

It works! Looks great! What kind of bedding litter are you using inside? I have 14 Rhode Island Reds that I got back in the middle of May 2023. I am a first time chicken mom. They are 5 months old now and are starting to lay really well. Im getting around 8 eggs a day. I chose these girls because they are cold hardy birds and great layers. I ordered them from Murry-Mcmurry hatchery in Iowa. They have been so much fun. My husband and I just love them. ❤

[@beritblackie3168]

Super helpful video, thank you! Please tell me what you use for bedding? 🌸🌺

[@leahsaure6888]

I also live in North Dakota which gets really cold in the winter

[@blackmetalpaganbushcraft9542]

I had to slap a coop up over the weekend cause I was brought 7 chickens, I understand totally what ya mean. I got plans working for another location, at least they have a home right now!

[@pcluvvw7129]

"raise the roost" get it?" 😂😂

[@julieroegele]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I laughed so hard!

[@danpozzi3307]

The coop looks great

[@ianpassion]

Nice. Keep up from Thailand.

[@tstzoophoojywg7226]

Good to see someone who live in Wisconsin and raise chicken in the back yard too. Actually your chicken coop is lot better than the one I built for my wife. I now take it down and rebuild new one. I am not an builder or handy man so took me a wok and still not complete the project yet.

[@selahhurtado3332]

I'm going to get chickens soon, probably start with a barred Plymouth rocks, Rhode island red, white leghorn, and an easter eggers

[@dennisharvey8435]

the airflow should be above the roosting chickens! think about the draft in the winter

[@prettybirdthepetgoosefrien8155]

The only thing id add is more wire around the openings (like the roof gap) to prevent predators like Minks & Weasels or other predators from getting in over time. Just a thought . ill be building my own chicken coop after we move too❤ im excited to screw it all up and spend hours fixing it hahaha 😜 i think that is part of it! Gold Shaw Farm talks about failure and learning in a great way! 😜❤

[@jayrobertson1689]

Should be proud, doing great

[@rwthiel330]

Awesome, thank you

[@dingbial9796]

Nice setup! They don't need a tajasmahall.

[@debralynnbailey6527]

I think you did a great job you only fail if you didn’t try. We been building ares now for few weeks and after watching everyone we learn along the way. But the main thing is keep them safe so you get a 5 star ⭐️ thanks for sharing

[@marcbaker3376]

I saw on other vids they like to roost on sticks from trees better than 2 x 4s. About one or two inch round sticks they can rap their claws around

[@vintagesweethaul9773]

Beautiful 🐥🥚🐓🐣

[@chillertechtexas4375]

"Janky little ramp!" Hilarious

[@TEABRACELETS]

I just got a coop today that was free and custom built! Found it On Facebook and we are so excited! But one complication..we had to chop it in half to bring it home! Now we are confused, on how to build a run could you do a video on that?

[@moonlightgypsy3229]

Great video! I learned a lot. Not sure why anyone would do a thumbs down.

[@reneebrown2968]

I would switch the clean out times to spring and fall. That way you have more insulation during the winter and plenty of time to build up but not taking their insulation when they need it.

[@wakingforbacon6439]

Yep was gonna say the same thing. Lol.

[@williamburkey4910]

Could you direct me to plans for building your new chicken coop?Thank you

[@Queenskid19]

Thats cute. I bought one and its kind of a piece of crap and i want to get a couple more birds so i might build one. But that one seems fine. I know the wood shrinks up and warps and stuff everything gets misaligned. Why i bought a metal run. Im going to use your advice with the plastic and wrap it in plastic for the winter. Like you did. I did some pvc pipes with a wye on the bottom and fill them with food and that works pretty good to feed them you should try that out for in the coop

[@dc5701]

Also can we use pine pellets on the bottom of their sleeping quarters along with maybe some sand and pine shavings how do you make deep litter?

[@blaqkdown]

can you do more informative chicken videos like this