My Intro, my coop.

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brokenknee

brokenknee

In the Brooder
Nov 1, 2015
23
6
26
About 30 miles NW of Bemidji MN.
This is the "coop" We started out with, an old dog kennel with a wooden box in it. Since we live in northern MN I knew we would need something better for our MN winters. We knew this going in, but needed the chickens to get me motivated for the build. .




This is the outside to date, still need to add the siding. That will have to wait until next spring as winter is almost upon us and I have many other projects to wrap up.



Here is a shot of the other side



An inside shot, will be adding another roost and poop board on the back wall.




I have four nest boxes, so far with four hens laying (one just started today) they only use two.




I did wire if for electrical, people light, switch for the heat lamps (will turn on once it gets below minus 10f, it get down to minus 30f here for usually a couple of weeks or so in the winter with maybe a day or two close to minus 40f. an outlet for heated water and a outlet for an automatic pop door (i have all the material just need time to get it done). I also have a LED 9 watt light on a timer so they have light for 14 hours a day.

Been a "lurker" for most of the summer, most of the ideas I got from this site. Thank you.

Coop size is 8 by 8 by 8 feet tall, as most have said I wish I would have made it bigger. I did not think about storage when I was building it. Was concerned about making it to large; as my intent was to size it for ten chickens.
 
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Almost forgot, here is a picture of some of the girls. I had nine at the time, started out with ten. One died the first couple of days.The other two I lost to a "skunk" just a couple of days before I moved them into the coup.the skunk also maimed another. I wanted to cull it from the flock, but the wife had already named it gator-girl because of the marking on her legs and would not let me do so. They do free range during the day.We have forty acres for them to run on.

 
Won't the wood(coop) be damaged by the Minnesota weather, before the siding goes up in spring? Very nice looking coop and easily large enough for 10 chickens. Always better to have more room especially if the chickens stay inside during extreme weather conditions. Crowded coops make for cranky birds that start feather plucking, bullying and sometimes escalate to cannibalism.

Glad you joined the Backyard chickens flock.
 
welcome-byc.gif


Your coop is really shaping up! And I don't think I've ever heard anyone say their coop was too large so you fit right in.

Thanks for joining us!
 
drumstick diva said:
Won't the wood(coop) be damaged by the Minnesota weather, before the siding goes up in spring? Very nice looking coop and easily large enough for 10 chickens. Always better to have more room especially if the chickens stay inside during extreme weather conditions. Crowded coops make for cranky birds that start feather plucking, bullying and sometimes escalate to cannibalism.

Glad you joined the Backyard chickens flock.
Click to expand...

OSB is rated for short term weather use, The winter will be easier on it than the spring, getting wet is what degrades it. I have seen some building with just osb on it with no paint for a couple of years without any real damage other than turning grey. If it was laying flat were water was sitting on it, I don't think it would last six months, but up on the wall will be OK until spring.

Thanks every one for the welcom.
 

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