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

[@brianaghastin7259]

I am a new chicken mama, and I totally appreciate your videos...I've learned a ton from you, and it helps that you live in the same climate as me (I'm in Northern Illinois). Our coop and run is a work in progress too. Thank you for your tips, because we are new at this, and there is still a lot to learn. All I want is a happy and healthy flock (we have eight little ladies). I absolutely adore them, and I want to give them everything they need to thrive. Sometimes, I watch other people's chicken videos, and feel like I am doing everything wrong, but you have reassured me that I am on the right track. So, thanks again! God bless.

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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?

[@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!

[@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. 😁

[@erichuff2538]

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

[@VictoriaYoutube12]

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

[@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

[@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. 🐤

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@ksyifajayabroiler702]

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

[@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. 😊 🙏 😊

[@brusselsprout5851]

Thanks for sharing the trials and errors.

[@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.

[@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?:)

[@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.

[@CharraSuite]

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

[@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

[@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?)

[@steveconnor5388]

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

[@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.

[@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. :)

[@amandacampbell1959]

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

[@mrs.bizzybee4437]

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

[@Joefest99]

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

[@alejandracampos934]

The magic school bus too.

[@Whey2lovely]

Lol I like that " crazy chicken lady"

[@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

[@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.

[@normajeanslagel4633]

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

[@freewillchoice8052]

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

[@jadevans320]

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

[@mikesmith8928]

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

[@iztherelife1340]

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

[@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.

[@alohastate7752]

Crazy chicken lady. Haha I love it.

[@BroadShouldersFarm]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@bfhomeandgarden8421]

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

[@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.

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

[@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!

[@gustolopez2410]

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

[@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

[@kareemaafteraddiction8965]

My hubby and I were thinking of getting chickens

[@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

[@Tsuchimursu]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@phillipgoble2741]

Nothing wrong with reusing old wood, it save money and that is how our Father and Mother made it during ruff times. Good video.

[@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.

[@beverlystone4513]

I have 3 nest boxes and all my hens use 1!

[@chillertechtexas4375]

"Janky little ramp!" Hilarious

[@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! 😜❤

[@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.

[@jayrobertson1689]

Should be proud, doing great

[@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. ❤

[@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.

[@jayrobertson1689]

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

[@blaqkdown]

can you do more informative chicken videos like this

[@meganmondelli4426]

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

[@pcluvvw7129]

"raise the roost" get it?" 😂😂

[@julieroegele]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I laughed so hard!

[@ricardodelzealandia6290]

The only other change I'd make to yours is reversing the roof so rainwater doesn't flow all over your back when you're leaning in the cage. You obviously don't have fox problems there. It doesn't look particularly fox proof.

[@walkbyfaithfamily9177]

How many chickens do you have? I started with 4 and one turned out to be a rooster... so of course I had to get two more chicks to replace him. 😆 My husband calls me a crazy chicken lady because I have the new babies in our bedroom! “Hover chicken momma!” Thanks for sharing this! ♥️

[@OakAbode]

Aw man! I can totally relate with "chicken math" -- we now have 17. When I started looking a couple years ago at getting them we thought we were going to get 4, haha. Keeping the babies in the bedroom is the only way! :)

[@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??

[@danpozzi3307]

The coop looks great

[@dingbial9796]

Nice setup! They don't need a tajasmahall.

[@rickycaruana8925]

I think you did a great job 😊

[@glennrodeorealtyrealtor5622]

Have you ever updated the chicken coop?

[@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

[@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.

[@TealStoneHomestead]

I love your videos! This is very helpful to me, I'm currently building my first chicken coop :) I will avoid spray foam, haha.

[@OakAbode]

Thanks for joining us! Are you following a specific design for your coop? Haha yes, the spray foam was such a newbie mistake on our end. 😭

[@TealStoneHomestead]

@@OakAbode I had the design in my head! I'm creating a timelapse for my channel but if you watch it eventually you'll probably notice how many things I redid, haha! Hopefully that will be up in the next week or two :)

[@MudfossilGaia]

OMG...lol...I thought I was the only one who did that! Guess I've reached the status of crazy chicken lady, lol! 🤪

[@Jesuslightshines]

I use a small hard plastic swimming pool ❤

[@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

[@gezapapp9318]

Very informative, thank you!

[@quangvuong9691]

I really like your backyard.

[@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

[@selahhurtado3332]

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

[@leahsaure6888]

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

[@dennisharvey8435]

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

[@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.

[@LilCraftyNook]

So are you familiar with The Radford Lumber Company? I believe it’s in Osh Kosh. They just went out of business after 150 years due to the pandemic …😥 My dad’s extended family started that! Both his dad and grandfather were lumberjacks! I love your humor!! 😂

[@DEATH_TO_TYRANTS]

I've got rhose island reds (my favorite) something something gold's (my rooster is one of these), and some sort of wild but beautiful black chickens that I call spooks.

[@robburke5577]

So your birds are CIA Operatives? 😂 That made my day!

[@shannongautreau5204]

With your deep liter method, what type of shavings are you using? Thanks!

[@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.

[@samtheskoolie]

this comment is a bit delayed, but using recycled material is a great choice, and personally, as an avid builder and wood lover, i think the coop looks great. an easy way to avoid the gaps is just by trimming the edges of the wood boards with a chop saw or table saw (for short and long sides respectively) and the boards will sit flush with one another and be good as new! great video. my friend has baby chicks so i am watching videos to help her, as well as for my future collection of chickens :)

[@vamountainman2512]

Scared me when you said you wrapped it in plastic entirely until you showed your ventilation 😅 I think it is a thoughtful build. I have redesigned my coops more times than I care to remember at this point!

[@RichardMiller-tq6ut]

I think it's a fine coop