pickleskipper
In the Brooder
Well... My daughters and wife finally broke me down about a month ago at Atwoods, and we took the plunge with 6 baby Chicks. Three yellow Sussex and three black Sussex made their way home with us and the "fun" began. With baby's in a heated stock tank, the timer had begun on needing a Coop and a run.
I looked all over for different ideas on what a coop needed, how to build, existing kits, ect... But finally decided I was just going to go ahead and tackle it myself. I have some old pallet racking that has been laying around, and it seemed like a good place to start. So after a couple of runs to the local Menards, and a few late nights in the garage, I am making progress.
So here is where I started:
Built a vent across the top and trimmed out some 1/2" mesh on the bottom with a couple runners so I could drag the coop:
Added siding with a back door to the run below:
Here it is when they open:
Finished out a couple doors with some windows that will come out, and it's ready for roofing:
Now for the questions that I am hoping to get a little help with if at all possible...
1. At what age do these girls need a roost inside of the coop? Can I wait or will they use the roost right away (considering they are only 5 weeks old right now)?
2. Nesting boxes: while I plan on fabricating some out of 5-gallon buckets for them... Again at what age do they need them and should they be inside of the coop?
I have a number of things on the Honey do list for this weekend anyways, and wouldn't mind taking a week off from the coop if at all possible, unless they need a roost and nesting boxes now?
I looked all over for different ideas on what a coop needed, how to build, existing kits, ect... But finally decided I was just going to go ahead and tackle it myself. I have some old pallet racking that has been laying around, and it seemed like a good place to start. So after a couple of runs to the local Menards, and a few late nights in the garage, I am making progress.
So here is where I started:
Built a vent across the top and trimmed out some 1/2" mesh on the bottom with a couple runners so I could drag the coop:
Added siding with a back door to the run below:
Here it is when they open:
Finished out a couple doors with some windows that will come out, and it's ready for roofing:
Now for the questions that I am hoping to get a little help with if at all possible...
1. At what age do these girls need a roost inside of the coop? Can I wait or will they use the roost right away (considering they are only 5 weeks old right now)?
2. Nesting boxes: while I plan on fabricating some out of 5-gallon buckets for them... Again at what age do they need them and should they be inside of the coop?
I have a number of things on the Honey do list for this weekend anyways, and wouldn't mind taking a week off from the coop if at all possible, unless they need a roost and nesting boxes now?
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