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Hello from southern IN- most common mistakes in building a coop

post #1 of 10
4/28/12 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 

Hello, I am going to have a coop built very soon and would appreciate others thoughts on the mistakes you felt you made in designing or building your coop.   I like learning from others mistakes so I don't have to repeat them.  Thanks for any tips you'd like to offer.  

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post #2 of 10
4/28/12 at 8:13pm

WelcometoBYC.gif. I suggest you try the coop section: http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

 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 10
4/28/12 at 8:52pm

Welcome to BYC! frow.gif

 

I bought my coop and didn't make it, but I would suggest you don't leave any nails sticking out (even if they're just a little bit sticking out of the wood). I have cut myself many times one sharp nails. Your flock could do the same.

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

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  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

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post #4 of 10
4/29/12 at 6:06am
Thread Starter 

Red Rooster, thanks for the suggestion.   And Kevin565, I appreciate the link.  I had been looking in that area, just thought this was the newbie intro and that was my question.   Sorry for the misplacement.   Appreciate all of the help I can get.  

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post #5 of 10
4/29/12 at 6:57am

welcome-byc.gif from New Mexico!!

 

Ventilation...ventilation...VENTILATION!!! I had a ton of trouble with frost bitten combs till I just flung every window and vent open in the dead of winter, temps near zero! Chickens need a ton of air and air to move. The moisture from their breathing and pooping will create enough moisture to freeze on combs. So do not worry about your chickens freezing, as they will adapt. But those combs will freeze. I learned the hard way. LOL So make sure to put in a ton of windows and vents. As long as the air is not directly on their faces, EVERYTHING needs to be open.

 

Enjoy the forums!!

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #6 of 10
4/29/12 at 3:12pm
Hi and welcome-byc.gif from Ohio. So glad you joined. Use screws instead of nails. Easier to remove when things need to be changed. thumbsup.gif

TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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post #7 of 10
4/29/12 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for both comments, on ventilation and screws instead of nails.   Appreciate the advice.  

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post #8 of 10
4/30/12 at 12:01pm

HI and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan frow.gif

 

Biggest mistake is not making it big enough

Home of the world's cutest dachshund, one crazy blue heeler, two cats,
              one fat pony, and many (but not too many!) chickens

              Can anyone tell me, how many are too many chickens?

 



My Chickens
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/1muttsfans-chickens
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Home of the world's cutest dachshund, one crazy blue heeler, two cats,
              one fat pony, and many (but not too many!) chickens

              Can anyone tell me, how many are too many chickens?

 



My Chickens
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/1muttsfans-chickens
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post #9 of 10
4/30/12 at 1:03pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1muttsfan View Post

HI and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan frow.gif

 

Biggest mistake is not making it big enough

 

Yep!  That's what I was going to say too.  Make it as big as you can afford!  Using screws is good advise.  I did, but I stripped so many of them with the stupid drill that I don't know how I'd get it apart. haha  So if I were to do it again I'd replace the screws that started to strip instead of going ahead and stripping them all the way but getting them in.  

Also, with the run, I'd make sure your posts line up perfectly, don't just eyeball it.  Didn't think about that when we were placing them and it caused problems when we were putting up the fencing and making gates. th.gif

That's all I can think of at the moment!  big_smile.png

btw,  welcome-byc.gif  frow.gifwoot.gif

♫ "I don't wanna go through the motions.  I don't wanna go one more day.  Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don't want to spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything'? Instead of going through the motions." ♫

 

 

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♫ "I don't wanna go through the motions.  I don't wanna go one more day.  Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don't want to spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything'? Instead of going through the motions." ♫

 

 

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post #10 of 10
4/30/12 at 2:25pm

frow.gif & welcome-byc.gif from Alabama. Glad you joined us. Completely agree about making it as big as you can cause chicken math kicks in & you'll end up with more chickens that you thought you'd ever want lol. 

Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
The Golden Girls "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

 

Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
The Golden Girls "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

 

Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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