Over the last decade life has gotten awfully complicated. Disconnecting has become a deliberate act and for many a new-found emotional need. Smart phones, tablets and other devices have changed the way in which we work, communicate, educate and decompress. And as a result, there is a growing population of young to middle age adults desperate to slow down and feel connected to the outdoors; exemplified in our willingness to engage in various homesteading activities such as gardening, beekeeping, and backyard chicken ownership.
As life’s speed and demands increase it seems almost impossible to add yet another task to that ever-growing to-do list, but when it comes to backyard chicken ownership Cutest Coops thinks they have the answers you have been looking for!
“When I first got my flock I had a very demanding job, a young child at home, a busy husband, and aging parents, so the idea of adding another daily, or even weekly, task sounded just awful. But, despite my initial hesitations, I very quickly realized my priorities...”
Kathy Hughes, CEO and Founder of Cutest Coops said, “When I first got my flock I had a very demanding job, a young child at home, a busy husband, and aging parents, so the idea of adding another daily, or even weekly, task sounded just awful. But, despite my initial hesitations, I very quickly realized my priorities of teaching my daughter about responsibility and food sustainability, and the need for a family activity that would force us to slow down a bit easily outweighed my concerns about the added time commitment. After settling in as a backyard chicken owner it was clear to me that our new-found status was no longer a short-term experiment as we all quickly gained multiple benefits from the experience. My new-found appreciation for backyard chickens still didn’t eliminate the pressures around my time schedule though, so when it came to designing and building my very own coop, and then later all of the coops for Cutest Coops, I decided to make them for people like me… chicken lovers who are just really busy!”
When first considering owning backyard chickens many people ask what the maintenance will be like and how much of a time commitment chicken ownership really is? And the answer truly is, it just depends! It depends on how committed you are to your flock and what kind of set up you are willing to invest in, both for you and your chicks…
If keeping yourself and your coop clean is important (and it should be!) then ease-of-use should be one of your highest priority considerations when shopping around. Take our Clean Out The Coop Door™ for example! We’ve specifically designed and developed this door to give backyard chicken owners a simple, fast, and easy solution when it comes to cleaning out old bedding. Just a few simple strokes of a broom will brush everything onto a tarp and away the old bedding goes! It is easy, sanitary, eco-friendly, and time conscious!
Clean Out The Coop Door™
Window w/ small-gauge hardware wire
Also, let’s face it, most of us considering owning backyard chickens today are NOT farmers. And maybe you’re like me, with a full time job that keeps you away for long hours, making predator safety, especially when you’re not home, another big concern. It makes perfect sense! That’s why we always install small-gauge hardware wire screening on all of our Cutest Coops doors and windows. So your chickens can enjoy proper ventilation but still remain totally protected while you’re away, and you remain guilt free!
Arguably the most exciting parts of having backyard chickens is gathering their eggs, but what happens when you’re running late and your shoes aren’t exactly “coop poop worthy”? Well, once again Cutest Coops has your answer! Each coop has been designed with nesting boxes that are 100% accessible without having to enter the coop and walk through soiled bedding.
And the same is true for opening and closing the run door… a daily task that all chicken coop owners quickly become familiar with (by the way, you may want to consider converting to an automatic run door!). Although these features may seem relatively rudimentary, there will very quickly, and often, be times when you find yourself being very grateful for the thoughtful design put into each of our coops!
In conclusion, if you already lead a busy life yet find yourself interested in becoming a backyard chicken owner we know what it’s like to be in your shoes, and through our trials and tribulations, we believe that we have the perfect coop solution for you!