Tag: lock

What to Look For in a Coop Kit for Backyard Chickens

April 24, 2023 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Hi! I am Sarah, the Real Simple Mama, and I’ve been a chicken tender for six years now. (No this isn’t the beginning of a Chicken Addicts Anonymous meeting!) I’m actually to here to talk about how to buy a coop kit for your flock.

My family and I got chickens six years ago in a semi urban Texas neighborhood; while we’ve moved quite a few times in this six years, we’ve almost always had a “coop kit.” I define this as a coop that comes in a box with instructions, pre-measured materials, and a plan. You’re paying for the convenience and the work it took for someone to design and package a coop – just build the kit and you’re ready for chickens!

But coop kits are sometimes less-than-easy to shop for, and I’ve had my share of bad experiences. Read on for all of my recommendations – what to look for in a coop kit for backyard chickens!

And hey for your shopping convenience, click on the free downloadable printable towards the end – it’s a short-and-sweet copy of my list so you can take it with you when you go to buy your own coop kit! Plus check out the video tour on YouTube, linked at the very bottom of this article.

Review: Omaha Chicken Coop Kit by Rugged Ranch

April 6, 2020 / The Mama / 3 Comments

We have upgraded to a new chicken coop for Jurasschic Park 2.0! While we deliberated for a few months on whether to build one ourselves from scratch, hire/pay someone to do it, or get another coop kit, we found the Omaha Chicken Coop by Rugged Ranch online. I thought it was cute and well-designed but we weren’t crazy about the price.

Imagine our surprise when we find a local antique shop selling one, still in its box, for almost half the price!

So now we bring the review to you here at Real Simple Mama. We’re paying customers and want to share all the stats, loves, and hates with the Omaha Chicken Coop Kit from Rugged Ranch.

How to Build a Chicken Run

May 24, 2018 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Who really rules the roost at your place? We’ve had backyard chickens for about a year and decided we needed to build them their own chicken run instead of letting them free range in our entire yard. Our build is working beautifully and so I’m passing on the information to you! Read on for how to build a chicken run which is functional, affordable, and versatile! Bonus YouTube videos and photos throughout, of course! Continue reading

The Best Cough Remedies for Kids

May 21, 2018 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Being sick is no fun! What’s even worse is when it’s your child who doesn’t feel well. From daycare to playgroup to vacation, we have had our fair share of colds and coughs. And we’ve ended up trying every over-the-counter medication and remedy there is! So here I am to help you and your kid feel better as I go through the best cough remedies for kids. Continue reading

Review: Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller

May 7, 2018 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I like to call myself a runner. I’ve been working hard but it’s nearly impossible to go on a run alone when you have two young kids. So my little freeloader gets to lounge in her BabyTrend Expedition jogging stroller while I do all the work! Here’s my honest review of this lifesaving product, complete with lots of photos and a video demo at the end! Continue reading

The Best Outdoor Toys

April 26, 2018 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Let’s play outside! The weather here is beautiful, and the kids and I are itching to be in the sunshine. Here is a straight-to-the-point review of the best outdoor toys – the ones that we have and love! And watch for a demo video at the end that gives you a tour of our backyard and the toys in this review! Continue reading

Three Big Life Lessons I Want to Teach My Kids

February 26, 2018 / The Mama / 0 Comments

There is so much that I want to teach my children. I’m not talking about specific facts, though those certainly have their place. I mean big worldly concepts, abstract things, life lessons that I want to lock into their minds and hearts while I’m still around. In mulling over this the other day, I came up with the three most valuable, most essential concepts that I want to pass on to my children. So here they are for my readers: three big life lessons I am teaching my kids. Continue reading

The Best Toys to Inspire Imagination!

June 19, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I think almost every parent at some point feels that they have too many toys for their kids. It seems like no matter how much cleaning and reorganizing, selling and donating, threatening and taking-away we do, we end up with multiplying toys.

As our family looks to downsize and simplify, we notice that our kids enjoy their imaginative toys the most. These are the toys which inspire open-ended, creative play. (And as a bonus, they rarely require batteries or make loud noises!) I’ve compiled my kids’ favorites and the smartest buys, so read on for the best toys to inspire imagination – and I hope that they help your family pretend, create, and play together! Continue reading

Review: Baby Trend 2 High Chair

May 22, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

It has taken me too long to write a review for our Old Faithful, the high chair we’ve had for over three years. Our Baby Trend 2 High Chair is on Kid #2 right now and still going strong. It’s been an unexpected, unconventional focal point in our little home and I appreciate it very much. So I owe it its own review. (Ignore the over-personification of things, it’s a side effect of Chronic Mom Brain.) Continue reading