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Dutch Hen House almost complete!

post #1 of 11
4/7/12 at 8:32pm
Thread Starter 

My little chickies are almost a month old and are eagerly awaiting the completion of their new coop.  We chose the Dutch Hen House (plans from SunnyChicken) design for it's streamlined simplicity.  My sweet husband built 95% of it while I finished off the last 5% by painting and putting in linoleum in the roost area.  We only have the perch to build and the shingles to go on the roof.  So far we love it!  I'm a little nervous the chickens will be wanting for space to roam during the day but hopefully as time goes on we'll figure out a rhythm or some other fenced area for them to run in.  The coop sits on brick pavers and they underlap by a few inches on either side to prevent predator digging.  All the latches will be locking to prevent critter apposable thumbs and all that damage that comes with them!  Now...anyone from the PNW that can recommend when to put these little buggers in their new home permanently?  My hubs is open to running the heat lamp out there but I'm a little nervous about it!

 

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post #2 of 11
4/7/12 at 8:34pm

Looks great thumbsup.gif

 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

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 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

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post #3 of 11
4/8/12 at 8:36am

From Vancouver, WA.... I put mine out at 6-7 weeks of age and I've done this in November and in May without any problems.  Two weeks from now when your girls are 6 weeks old should be fine.  Hopefully the rain will have slowed down by then.

My BYC Page  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mikecnorthwests-chicken-coop

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My BYC Page  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mikecnorthwests-chicken-coop

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post #4 of 11
4/8/12 at 8:43am

That is adorable! I imagine they will want more room to roam though, sooner rather than later.  But that is a great design, which you can easily add run space too.  But consider a run space that you can walk into, as apposed to being flush with the roof.

1 Buff Orpington Hen, 1 Easter Egger Hen, 1 Barred Rock Hen (Hopefully), 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte Hen (Hopefully), 1 Mille Fleur Rooster + One Male Alexandrine Parakeet, 2 Female Indian Ringnecks, 4 Dogs, 2 Horses and a very patient husband

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1 Buff Orpington Hen, 1 Easter Egger Hen, 1 Barred Rock Hen (Hopefully), 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte Hen (Hopefully), 1 Mille Fleur Rooster + One Male Alexandrine Parakeet, 2 Female Indian Ringnecks, 4 Dogs, 2 Horses and a very patient husband

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post #5 of 11
4/8/12 at 9:07am

Looks Fantastic! I Built the same one. I LOVE it. But I added a 5x10ft run on. It works great!

900x900px-LL-1725f17f_IMG_0332.jpeg                             900x900px-LL-42f4642a_IMG_0496.jpeg

 

Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

                           ...

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Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

                           ...

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post #6 of 11
4/8/12 at 6:52pm

 I am getting My babies next week.  This is the coop we plan to build as well.      Love the simplicity.

So I am hatching MORE EE this month..lol

 

currently have too many EE...

 

 

 

 

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So I am hatching MORE EE this month..lol

 

currently have too many EE...

 

 

 

 

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post #7 of 11
4/9/12 at 5:19am
Nice! We put our chicks out at three weeks, with a heat lamp for them to get under, if they needed it. They are FINE! Very healthy. (It has got to be better for them, than a brooder... Right? .. I am no expert.)

Rain where you are? I had to close mine in the coop during rain - i think they didn't like the sound on the roof, so they went outside. They are a little older and are more comfortable in the coop, now.
Edited by Presidential - 4/9/12 at 5:22am
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post #8 of 11
4/9/12 at 5:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Presidential View Post

Nice! We put our chicks out at three weeks, with a heat lamp for them to get under, if they needed it. They are FINE! Very healthy. (It has got to be better for them, than a brooder... Right? .. I am no expert.)


Yep..... Presidential is correct. 3-weeks even in your weather is fine if they have a lamp to dive under until the temp reaches 65 in the coop and you keep those gusty winds from blowing on them all night. 

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post #9 of 11
4/9/12 at 5:55am

Nice little coop you built there. Your chickies can go out right now. I also built a brand new coop for my chicks. They went outside at 13 days old. I hung the heat lamp in the coop. Mine are now 4 weeks old today and the heat has been out of the coop for 3 days without a problem. They will be soooo happy to be outside in their brand new home.

7 Australorps, 6 Buff Orpingtons, 1 production red, 1 young bared rock roo, 1 pair of Old English Game Bantams, 4 bantam hens, 4 Freakin' cats,  (RIP Cookie) best dog ever, 1 dog sky(smartsmartsmart), and a variety of new chicks.

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7 Australorps, 6 Buff Orpingtons, 1 production red, 1 young bared rock roo, 1 pair of Old English Game Bantams, 4 bantam hens, 4 Freakin' cats,  (RIP Cookie) best dog ever, 1 dog sky(smartsmartsmart), and a variety of new chicks.

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post #10 of 11
4/9/12 at 6:02am

Looks great, how many chicks do you have?

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