How many chickens do you have/want?

Chickens only need a weasel-proof structure at night, draftless and small enough that their bodyheat is shared while still being well ventilated. On a 4x8 base, that's about 8-9 chickens.

During the day, coyote/hawk-proof only needs a roof, frame and wire, the floor can be the ground.

If you're talking a full truck box, that's a LOT of chickens -- like, agricultural runoff issues/commercial permitting numbers -- and cleaning it's going to be a bitch.

By the time you find, move, clean, adapt, mount and level a shipping container, you can build one with scrap lumber.

Source: built one.

That sounds amazing, good luck with all of it!

are you hoping for some kind of miracle

On the murderins

Tell that to Vermont Compost, where they have hundreds of laying hens they feed entirely without supplemental grain. Feeding chickens compost is a very common part of a sustainable food production system. They generate food while breaking down kitchen scraps more quickly into nitrogen-rich manure.

Meanwhile, in my neck of the woods (family in Vermont though):

Baltimore: Homicide Rate: 56/100k Shooting Rate: 167/100k

You didn’t qualify that it was within Vermont, you referred to Burlington in the same lens as much larger cities where 5 murders a weekend would be a nice break lol. Sure, Burlington is the major city of Vermont. It is absolutely not a major city

I'd be double sure about the permitting and zoning requirements of the town where you live before you go plopping an empty shipping container down next to your garage. There is always some nosy busybody with nothing better to do, who will make it their business to prevent you from doing this, because they don't like how it looks.

try a cheap rundown used camper

Fear of missing out?

USPS? You’d be doing the lords work for a small town post…

You might be able to get a cheap one out of Arizona.

Metal prices are at all time highs, and then there are the logistics of moving a 2 tons 20' container (over 4 tons if you get a 40' container).

Chickens also require ventilation and light - possible but not easy in a sealed metal container.

Sorry, but I suggest wood. Lots of people sell old coops this time of year after deciding not to over-winter their flock.

Just to follow up on the other reply: it’s a little more expensive, but look for single-trip containers. These will have less rust / damage. Some retailers also advertise whether or not a given container is still water-tight (most single trip containers are).

For a chicken coop you likely don’t need a full 40’ box. The next standard size down is a 20’ box but you can also get down to 10’ pretty easily. This can help save on costs and planning.

You’ll still need a level support for the container to sit on. The most common method is leveling blocks for the corners to sit on. Plenty of videos on YouTube showing various methods for container placement / leveling.

I think a bigger part of the cost is delivery and prepping the site for it. Also they get hot AF inside unless you do some extra modifications. Maybe look into an old non running bus or something instead that can be towed to you.

"Compost" is more valuable as soil rather than a feed for poultry. Chicken eggs are more nutritional when minerals are added, such as flax seeds or other organic ingredients.

It feels like the seasons have 'shifted' a couple of months. But, that is just my 40 years of personal experience/opinion without actually looking at any data.

https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/the-cheapest-way-to-feed-your-chickens-when-you-cant-free-range/

seems like it's pretty normal and healthy?

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Bolduc's in Middlesex sells them, but I wouldn't count on cheaply.

You know you'd still have to level a shipping container, right? You don't want one of those sliding down your yard.

If your feeding compost, your doing it wrong!

Hauling firewood. Omfg.

how much feed is needed for one dozen eggs? Used to have chickens, remember feeding them mostly compost

Considering how much feed you need to produce a dozen eggs, it's cheaper to just buy them from a store.