Wow. What a waste of money and time.
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend jumped on the idea of getting chickens on our property so we could have fresh eggs. We got them as chicks, and were told that they would be laying eggs around August. We were also told that they would need to be inside for the next 5-6 weeks before they could go into either our barn or coop.
Before we even went to the store to see the chicks (which I had suggested going to just to look around--NOT to buy any chickens). I had told him that we needed to get the barn cleaned up (lots of scrap that needs to be hauled off to the dump--which is a bit difficult for us since we don't have a truck, but not hopeless since his sisters husband HAS a pickup truck they have said we could use to remove this stuff, but he won't ask to borrow it and doesn't want me to drive it because it's not the safest). This barn is terrible, and hasn't housed an animal (at least not a domesticated animal) in years. There are barn cats in the barn, and while we were in there once we noticed rat droppings. I had mentioned to him that before getting any chickens we would need to make sure the barn was clean and secure from predators, to which he agreed. So it was a shock to me to see him buy six chicks before we had even started working (or doing any research) on what would be their coop/hen house.
The chicks have been in our basement in a brooder for 3 weeks, and they are getting big. So big that we had to build a new brooder because they were outgrowing their original one and were very close to jumping out. My bf obliged in helping me make a new one, which has much more space for them, but I put it in his ear that we hadn't even started on getting a coop/hen house ready for them. Naively I had thought he would be more into this and we would be more than 1/2 way done with what we were going to do. That's not the case. After telling him all that I have researched and learned, I told him we need to start on it...like now. I told him this wasn't going to be a 2 weekend deal, and with me having our 2 year old with me during the day, it's hard for me to do anything with her around without anyone watching her, so if I want to do anything--I have to do it in the evening so he can watch her.
Two days ago, I discovered a shed buried under some brush. Upon looking more, I discovered it actually is a coop. Full sized, walk in coop. Needs a lot of TLC (just like all the other sheds and barn on this property since they have all been neglected over the years). I showed him the coop and he was willing to help restore it for our chicks. Now all of a sudden, he wants nothing to do with the chickens, the coop...nothing. Ever since we got the dog, he wants nothing to do with the project we agreed on starting a few weeks ago BEFORE we got the dog. He has said to me several times in the past few days, "if you're that worried about getting the chickens in a coop, you go deal with it". So I have.
Last night I spent 1 hour with the hedge trimmers clearing away the brush in front of the coop so that we could GET IN the coop. When I told him I was going to go do that, he looked at me and said, "you're going to go do that NOW?" Yes. Why not? It's not going to get done by itself. And why do you care when, or how, I'm going to do it? It's not like you care enough to help. I wanted to wait to get chickens so we could take our time (like 1 year time) on getting a coop ready for them, then get the chickens. You did it ass backwards, so now I'm the one that has to frantically work (when I can--which isn't much time) with the little resources I have, to get something ready for them.
He shoots down every suggestion I have too. And has absolutely no faith in me what-so-ever. every-time I suggest building our own coop to save money, he says he doesn't know how to build one. I've told him he can find plans online, as well as tutorials on how to do it. To which he will then say, "well if you want to do it, then you can". When I say I will, he says, "do you know how?", no but that's how you learn--trial and error. Seriously, I've looked at the plans and tutorials. It honestly doesn't look that hard. It's not brain surgery.
Back to the coop that is overgrown with shrubs. Once I was able to get to the coop and get a good look inside it, I realized there was no floor. The coop just sits on the ground. So I suggested. today to my bf, putting down concrete inside the coop (the coop isn't that big, but big enough to house our six chickens). It would help to keep predators out since they wouldn't be able to dig up into the the inside of the coop. He said no. I suggested buying a coop (a coop to house all our chickens would run us between $400-$600), he said, "no, find something smaller and cheaper". You can't put six full grown size damn chickens into something smaller than what I was showing him! You want a smaller coop? Sell some of the chickens. But he won't do that either. He wants ME to do that. No. You didn't do your homework on how to care for chickens, and you don't want to help put in the work, and effort for these birds...you sell them. You doubt me and have no faith that I could possibly do anything--which is always a good feeling. (sarcastic) And because you doubt me, and have no faith in me being able to do this--I no longer want to do this. I was willing to do this alone, but since you basically tear down any ambition I have to do it...you know what, bite me.
