How We Saved £700 on our Chicken Coop

Рет қаралды 2,499

Жыл бұрын

If you have an off grid dream and want to know how to get started, you can find more information at: theoffgridfamily.co.uk/your-j...
For a long time we have dreamed of building our own chicken coop, but with the rise in cost of materials we soon realised that it no longer made sense for it to be a DIY project. We decided to have a look on Facebook Marketplace, and we quickly found a great coop only 30 minutes from where we live! Instead of worrying about spiralling costs and lack of time, we were able to enjoy making it our own by adding an automated door, wheels and a new coat of paint! We were amazed that by buying the coop and wheels secondhand, we could create something that would have cost £1k to buy new.
If you'd like to know more about our chickens and the process of incubating and rearing them, why not check out this playlist:
• Chickens 🐣
Thanks for watching,
Fraser, Rachael, Grace and Albie
The Off Grid Family 🐓

Пікірлер: 38

@poypiedlajego78 Жыл бұрын

I've been learning patience from Fraser. Lovely greetings from an off-grid settlement in Poland again!!!

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

😊 This is great to hear!

@TheKurdish1988 11 ай бұрын

Beautiful family and hardworking 😊 that’s really I want to do get off grid

@grahamcornford3285 Жыл бұрын

We have used a Hensafe Automatic Chicken Coop Opener for the last 7 years. We change the batteries before each winter as a precaution. The only problem we have had is the cord has worn through twice, that's the only problems we have had. It can be set to operate on light levels or on time. We have the door set evening on light level and morning on time to 7.30. Early morning Fox`s might get excited if the hens are out in there run much earlier. Have you shut the hens in the Coop for 24 hours so they get the idea that it is there home, if not they will be in trees, on the Coop roof or anywhere to get off the ground to roost. Good luck with them. The kids will love them and you will love the eggs

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice 😊 Always good to get tips from people who have been doing it for years 👍

@bloodynorahvan2203 Жыл бұрын

Such a great video! Covered a lot for me - the self sufficiency with the chickens, family life and the truth about the cost of materials. Top class!

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

@EvermoreAcres Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! We kinda cheated too cause our homestead already had a loafing shed that we turned into our coop. Fort Knox! 😉

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Brilliant. Sounds very handy! 😊

@ASmileAdayful Жыл бұрын

Some advice from a 2 Yr chook keeper! Do what you want to do, not what the books tell you to do! They don't have to come out crack of dawn, chooks are very adaptable, so close and open the door when ur ready. Mine take there selves in and I like to check their all OK close door, then I up at 5am mist mornings I let them out about 6, 7am easy, and I use sand as a base, stops smell easier to clean up toand cheaper . 👍🐔

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice 😊👍

@robertpopescu6695 5 ай бұрын

Did you update the firmware maybe this is why is opening less??? You are doing great!!!

@darwinsfish 11 ай бұрын

Definitely recommend the chuxaway pop hole auto system. Simple and effective. Used it for years with no problem.

@The_OffGridFamily 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation 😊

@kroozer5215 Жыл бұрын

Frasier does make me laugh with the stuff he comes out with - he is certainly on my level

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Well we like to keep it real 😂

@joschmoyo4532 Жыл бұрын

Chickens are the business. I tried the movable chook pen but in the end it's easier to let the Chickens free range and build a fixed pen. We have an Aussie made lifting door with a well engineered aluminium door and construction. Timer is easy to program. Comes with solar panel to charge the batteries. Fing brilliant bit of kit. We keep the pen in sight of the house to make sure the chooks have gone to bed before the door closes.

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Your set up sounds great 😊 Ours should start laying in a week or two and we can’t wait! 👍

@ShabazDraee 10 ай бұрын

Awesome channel, subscribed. What are the prices of land such as yours these days in England, if you are aware of prices that is?

@ShabazDraee 10 ай бұрын

Know of any websites that are known for selling land?

@richard091164 Жыл бұрын

Bear in mind your wood door will expand and increase friction, thus causing the motor to lift door less each time. Especially in Autumn and winter and wet days.

@happyglampers9053 Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣👍Updating firmware/reading the handbook 😳 You wait until you have to wear glasses for reading too 😂 £310 for this is not cheating, it’s using ‘common sense’. Not sure about the automatic door opener? Huge risk with foxes etc. Great to see Grace and Albie enjoying themselves 👏👍 Another great insight to your lives. Thank you 😊

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Don’t even get us started on the firmware! The door seems to be doing ok so far. Grace and Albie are a bit wary of the chickens these days. Remember ‘Pinkie’?! Well we are pretty sure he is the one we now refer to as ‘Colonel Pinkie’ and he is quite hostile! Luckily for him he’s a beauty else you know where he’d be going… 🥧😳

@happyglampers9053 Жыл бұрын

@@The_OffGridFamily Pretty good all round then. And …. 😂😂winner winner, chicken dinner 👍

@DJ-uk5mm 8 ай бұрын

😂😂😂.I need to update my firmware that’s for sure

@The_OffGridFamily 8 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@hightreegarden Жыл бұрын

Make sure you dig in the ground and put wire mesh in the ditch and against the wall of your pen because a fox will dig right under your fence and kill all your chickens.

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately this is really difficult when we are moving them around as a ‘chicken tractor’. So far the electric fence is keeping the fox at bay 👍

@srowlands248 Жыл бұрын

What happened for you to lose some of the chickens??

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

Our dogs broke out and they killed them 😞

@timclarke8565 Жыл бұрын

Gosh. That's frustrating. Our dogs are.... Well ... I think they're either scared of chickens or are sure that they're made of chicken.... Hence they don't offer any issues. Our tortoise however.... If he could catch a chicken.... He might try to eat it..😂

@srowlands248 Жыл бұрын

@@The_OffGridFamily O no, good night for the dogs not such a good night for you and the family 😞😞

@The_OffGridFamily Жыл бұрын

The whole family had been unwell 🤢 We had been caring for the children whilst being unwell ourselves. We left a gate unlocked for a minute whilst we brought something in and the dogs broke out 😞

@srowlands248 Жыл бұрын

@@The_OffGridFamily from what I remember from your posts, your dog’s aren’t a hunting breed of dog. So I guess they just saw the opportunity to play but just like big brothers and little sisters big brother doesn’t understand how much stronger he is. Not so much fun for the chickens but a hole lot of fun for the dogs, I’m sure they wouldn’t have done it on purpose.