Need help in Goodells, MI

We moved out to the country as we always dreamed. Fell in love with chickens down the road and decided to get some. Being the compulsive researcher type, I read everything I could find to prepare. Unfortunately, books can be wrong. They said my chicks could stay in a brooder then a small grower cage until about 4 months. Well, it's 3 1/2, and I have a temporary coop in my garage, and the birds are all over my yard. They've seemed to set up in the front woods. I'm building a coop in the backyard, but it's hard by myself. First, I tore my rotator cuff, then my husband started having all kinds of health issues and can't help like he wants. So, here I am with 14 pullets, 3 roosters and 3 guineas, and I'm afraid they will never switch to a coop (if I can get it finished!). Plus, they're so comfortable in my front woods, and the shrubs in the front of the house, I'm afraid they'll start their laying in those places. Don't really know anyone out here, and haven't been able to find anyone to hire to help finish the coop that doesn't want outrageous money. I love my girls, and want to get them set up well before winter. Is there anyone in my area who might want to help a naive idiot? I could sure use a hand and some prayers. Thanks. Laureen in Goodells. raylastanford@juno.com

Laureen - I am by no means a poultry expert (not even a novice yet), however it would seem that a temporary coop could be assembled that would do until a more permanent fixture could be completed. I will bring your post to the attention of someone who is much more knowledgeable than myself.

Laureen, first.. a hearty WELCOME TO DG!

I can offer plenty of prayers for ya but I'm afraid the distance between NC and MI is a bit too much for me to just drop by and give a big hand.

I wonder if you can contact a group of local FFA kids, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, or the like to have them come by and give you a hand on the chicken coop. Another choice would be to buy an already constructed building from Home Depot/Lowe's and it would be an immediate set-up for you.

As for enticing the chickens to their new abode I'd start feeding them where it will be. Throw out some scratch, especially in the evenings, and they'll be drawn to it. (You might have to start feeding them in the woods then leading them closer and closer to their new coop.) They are attracted to light so if you teach them to feed where you throw out their scratch/food if there is a light on inside their new house they will be drawn to it and will eventually take up residence inside, just make sure you have some perches for them as they will want to be off the ground.

I'd also suggest that once you have them in your pen/coop to trim their wings so they can't fly up into the trees. I usually don't trim the roosters wings, nor the guineas, as they will tend to do their best to protect the hens and need those wings to do so.

Holler back and let us know how things are coming along. Hope it all works out for you!

Shoe.

Shoe - dude - thanks for both responses, u r awsome.

Ok, so you need temporary housing for your chickens. First, guineas actually prefer to be loose, if posible, so you don't have to worry so much about them. As for the chickens, get on the net and connect with freecycle.org. It will direct you to the one in your area. On this site people get rid of things they don't need or want any more. There may well be someone in your area that has a coop, ice shanty or small moveable building you can have for FREE. There may also be someone with a dog run or or outdoor kennel. Connected to a pen or inside a fence, even an old truck topper will work as a coop (though hard to collect eggs from). I actually know one flock that live in an old camper for a coop. You will have to train the chickens at this point to go in one though. Just throw food in there and they will follow. As a last resort, lots of people free range their chickens, just pretend that it's an Easter egg hunt every day. Free range chickens can be trained to go in a coop (or truck topper) at night to be safely contained for the night by feeding them each evening in the desired shelter.
We have found plastic fencing (Sold at any building supply), zip ties and T posts to make quick efficient enclosures. I extended the hieght of my T-posts with bamboo poles and added even cheaper netting type fencing on top. I have 17 chickens, 4 turkeys and a bunch of ducks in just such an area right now with only an occasional escapee. It does not offer much protection from predators though.

I wish I was closer to help more. Good luck!

Thanks for all the input so far. It's nice to know there are others out there as nuts about their peeps as I am!
We have 22 acres, so we are planning on free ranging to an extent. I started building a coop several months ago, but got delayed because of injuries, DH hospitalization, etc. It's a 12 x 8 with a 4 x 8 bump out. I have it on a skid, the wall and roof sheathing are on, but no shingles or hardiboard yet (it is sitting in my yard though.......). I finally got some insulation, windows and wall board in, but I still have lots left to do. I did build a temporary coop in the garage with perches (plus they've made use of my rafters!!) They go to it at night or during a storm. I guess as long as the inside is ready, the outside can wait. I'm hoping to borrow my neighbors tractor to drag in some dirt around the coop so they'll hopefully like it there as much as they like my flower bed and shrubs in the only finished area of my yard.
I'm going to start luring them back there with scratch, though. That's a great idea! Thanks again for the thoughts. Laureen

Chickens ALWAYS prefer the flower bed, no mater what you do.
Your coop sounds wonderful. My husband even found a chandelier at a yard sale for ours. I don't even have a chandelier in the HOUSE!