From Surprise Shed to Chicken Coop
Imagine this…
You’re sitting at home, minding your business, when you hear the unmistakable sound of a truck’s back-up alarm. Curious, you peek outside—and see a massive shed being moved into your yard. 😳
Well, that happened to me one day.
My husband and my oldest nephew had decided (together) we were getting chickens. And that shed? It was about to become our coop.
Did they ask me first? Nope.
Did I put up a fuss about it? Also, nope.
Instead, I got to work.
The Reality Check
A few weeks into researching chickens, I realized raising them was no small job.
On top of that, I’d be the one handling the day-to-day care—alone.
I told my husband that, and he just smiled nodding, ‘You’re right.’ 😆
His response confirmed that I needed more time to get ready.
The Prep Phase
So, over the next year, I dove into learning mode:
🛒 I visited Agri Supply, Tractor Supply, and Southern States for supplies.
📚 I picked up a book, then watched way too many YouTube videos and read lots of articles.
🏡 I even found a coop for 50% off! I’d been eyeing it since late spring. Then, I saw it marked down in early fall. Even though the sale had technically ended, the store agreed to honor the price. And we bought it that same day!
What I’ve Learned So Far
Our family is starting with baby chicks. I’ve learned a LOT during this past year—some cute, some not so cute facts about chicks…
Like a pasty butt. Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
If a chick’s vent (where they poop, pee, and eventually produce eggs) gets blocked, it can be deadly. So, someone (probably me) has to clean it off manually with warm water and a gentle touch.
HERE’S WHAT ELSE I’VE LEARNED (SO FAR):
💩 Chicks need shelter and warmth. Baby chicks need a cozy space that mimics mama hen. That’s why I got a brooder box, heater, feeder, waterer, bedding, and feed. The brooder needs to be around 95°F for the first week—then we’ll gradually lower it. The chicks will stay in the brooder until they grow feathers (around 6–8 weeks), which will help them stay warm.
🐣 Chicks need clean space. Overcrowding can lead to stress and pecking. That’s why we need to give our chicks at least 3 to 4 square feet each. A calm chick is a happy chick. Along with giving them enough space, keeping their home clean is key. I’ve been using vinegar to clean everything. I also disinfected all the products before using them. As for the brooder, I was told once-a-week cleaning was enough. But (AS FOR ME), I’ll probably clean it at least every two days to keep things fresh. Healthy, happy chicks need a clean space to thrive!
Brooder with radiant heater and 3-4 inches of pine wood shavings to keep brooder dry and odor-free.
🚰 Clean water = happy chicks. Chicks are cute but messy, so I’ve gotta keep their water clean and fresh. We’ll refresh waterers every 3-4 days. I also learned if you get chicks by mail, adding electrolytes to their water helps rehydrate them from the journey.
🌾 Food matters too. Starter feed is packed with nutrients chicks need to grow strong. That means I need to give them feed made specifically for chicks—not regular chicken feed. And I’ve gotta keep their feed fresh too. That means we’re cleaning and refilling feeders daily.
This tiny waterer and feeder are perfectly sized for this brooder. I added faux rocks to help prevent drowning.
💩 Pasty butt is real. Pee, poop, and egg production all comes from the same place—a chicken’s vent (it’s directly below their tails). If a chick’s vent gets blocked with hardened poop, it can be deadly. The hard, pasty poo has to be cleaned manually with warm water and a gentle touch. Then, the chick needs to get back to the heat source ASAP to avoid getting chilled.
Now… It’s Almost Go Time
Fast forward to almost a year later, and we’re just days away from bringing our first little chicks home. 🐥
Am I ready? Probably not.
To be honest—I’ve been prepping for a year, and I still don’t feel ready to raise chickens.
But am I excited? Absolutely.
The best part? While picking up supplies, I met people in every store who were eager to share advice I didn’t even know I needed.
Advice is valuable.
But advice I didn’t even know I needed? That’s pure gold.
These shopping experiences reminded me how valuable real-life connections are.
I’ll explain…
A lot of my work happens online and through social media.
Being online so much means I see a mix of the best and worst of humanity. And honestly? Sometimes the worst gets the most attention.
That’s why getting outside, touching grass, and having real-life experiences matters SO much.
They’re proof there’s way more beauty in humanity than we realize.
But back to my chick journey…
Now, I get to put all that advice—and everything I’ve learned—to the test.
New Adventure Unlocked
Raising chickens is about to be a whole new adventure—and I’m taking you along for the ride. This started as a surprise, but now I’m all in and I’m genuinely so excited to share with you.
Up next, we’ll be securing our chicken coop with hardware cloth aka predator wire.
Predators are smart—so we gotta secure the coop from day one! 🏡 Safety first.
We’ve also been warned—snakes and mice are tough to keep out.
If you’ve raised chickens or have anything to share, drop your best tips in the comments.
Well, that’s all for now. My family and I are just getting started! 🐥
So, stay tuned for pics of our chicks—(God willing) they’re coming soon!
Follow @LolaCabaya on social media for updates and pictures!
Oh…one last thing:
Imagine if you treated worry as an invitation to dream—not stress. That’s what I’m trying!!
👋🏽 Hi, I’m LOLA ⸻ the creator of offbeat life advice brand, The Smoking Prophet, owner of a growing content agency, and cultivator of life (family first)!
Most days, you can find me at my desk, in my garden, or on the go. My super-social family keeps me on my toes!
Follow The Smoking Prophet to ignite your creativity, grow spiritually, and blaze your own trail online!
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