low budget chicken coops and other questions.

[Claire_Bear]

I am getting chickens soon, and i just cant
wait!so anyways, I was thinking of salvaging our old bunny hutch and turning it into a house for the young chickens, to give me just enought time to make a proper coop.
Also, there is no way i can fence off my whole yard, and we are close to a highway (not too close) and I'm worried that they will walk into the road. Are they smart enough to stay away from there? or do I have to make a fenced in area for them?

 

[bigzio]

Claire, The chickens prolly aren't smart enough to stay out of traffic.

Simple brooders work well with a cardboard box in a dry secure area, with a heat light. the rabbit hutch might work if it is large enough, dry and draft free.

bigzio

 

[justusnak]

On cool days, the chickens might be drawn to the warmth of the road, plus there is a lot of tiny gravels there for them to peck out. I would try to get some sort of fencing....if possible!

 

[MTchick]

You might consider a chicken tractor- they don't require a lot of materials and can be relocated to allow the chickens to enjoy new soft grass and bugs.

Check out some tractors on the Coop Designs page- they are neat.

-MTchick