Reviews by BDutch

Be proud that you made this beautiful coop without being a skilled carpenter! Great to tell about the learning process.

I don’t know about the ducks but you’re chickens must be very happy in it.

Good ideas but Imo its not complete. This refers to chicks in a brooder? I have the feeling this doesn’t apply to all situations.
My chicks are with a broody. From about a week old they try to find their own food in the run. If possible I like to let them sort of free range with their mama in the greens. Always supervised in a pop up run until they are about 10-12 weeks old.
They eat all the insects they can find, but also grasses and herbs. I provide dove grit to digest the grasses and herbs.

I agree with Boppo. Better remove it. The writer hasn’t been around for many years.

Just a picture, no details or information to build it.

No information

Great and cheap solution for a broody with some chicks, a few chicks untill you can integrate them, quarantining, a sick bay or whenever you need a separate coop/mini run for some chickens.

Wow, another excellent article from our BYC manager. Having free ranging chickens for a couple of hours in our garden each day, Good insights and advice.

Free ranging is a suburban garden is possible if you let the chickens decide what flowers you can grow. Some they don’t eat at all. Many flowers only need protection until the are strong enough. I use a piece of hwc for temporarily protection.

Very helpful in hot climate’s or high temperatures in regions where this is not common. Thanks for this great article.

Nice and well build coop!
I do miss the recipe (material list and how and with what machinery its made).

I don’t mind there isn’t a good and detailed description of the actual work, because you build it mainly from second hand materials. Love that. And this is described very well as an inspiration for other.

Some years passed.
I do hope you had you’re chickens free range.
One -. I think the hwc/wire is not fine enough to keep small predators like rats and weasels out.

Extremely beautiful. Love the shape. The mulifunctionality and the sedum roof.

Great work to reuse an old shed. Its really great and obvious you did lots of research building this beauty.
Only wonder how the ventilation is on the highest point (under the roof) and why you start heating as soon as its freezing (under 0 celcius)? Chickens can handle lots of cold if they are accustomed.
And do you use a bedding now in the nest boxes?.

Very helpful. Especially saying that breeds, individuals and flock dynamics do make a difference. Mentioning future plans, like adding chicks (quarantine or natural breeding) too. You might even want 2 setups for that.
On a forum in the Netherlands they advice slightly different rules of thumb.

If you have little space, its best to have only one friendly breed.
First 2 chickens need a minimum of 7m2 run space. The third another 2m2 more. The fourth, fifth etc. 1m2 more.
For happy chicken and a low maintenance run you double the minimum run space.
Bantams need half the space.

Yes! My chickens love to free range in/on our wild, poison free and natural ‘lawn’. Fresh nutrients and natural behaviour let my chickens thrive. They even take the young chicks out there if they have any/can.
So if they can’t free range, I cut a little grass into small piece’s to add to their menu.

A really great article for all the people who consider to start having chickens.
And for those who like to know more about keeping chickens.

Of course there is always more interesting stuff to tell. I missed these (for me) important nice to knows: some breeds don’t lay during winter or need artificial light to do so. And older hens lay less eggs than 1 year old hens. And take longer breaks during moult and winter.

Very informative article about oyster shells, other calcium sources and grit. Only one thing I missed, some info about calcium in feed in relation to laying hens/ not laying poultry and the necessity of other calcium sources like oyster shells.
I suppose it’s important to give real grit (stones) to chickens that don’t lay much, if the feed has enough calcium for laying hens in the industry.

A very nice coop for 5 small chickens.
I love it when people use used materials. Good for savings and good got the planet!

Handy to have the possibility to move it around, but only convenient for free ranging chickens without having to deal a lot with predators.

The ventilation looks good and the windows are great.

Beautiful in its simplicity and functionality. An excellent model for keeping chickens. It only needs a few roosts and a poop board to complete.

Great article. It ticks many boxes to keep in mind. Especially for newbies, but it’s also interesting read for experienced chicken keepers.

Thanks BYC manager for putting this article in the spotlight.

Reviews by BDutch

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