Jensownzoo's Coop Build

[Jensownzoo]

Started construction on my first coop!

Yesterday, I measured and dug out all the post holes. I was *supposed* to have help doing it, but no call/no show. :/ Getting everything squared up would have been much much easier with two people since the ground isn't level. Not to mention the digging. So, this part took all day.

Surprisingly, I woke up today in fairly good shape considering how sore I was the night before. The help that I scheduled for today was much more reliable, so things went much smoother (although I am still very very sore). Only one post hasn't been concreted in--ran out of bags as I forgot to account for the above ground slopes so water will shed the right direction. This pic looks all wonky for some reason, but I can assure you that everything is level and plumb!

Tomorrow I will be cleaning up my mess (too sore to do any more bending over to take care of it today) plus adding in all the joists. I have to arrange transport to get the plywood sheets as they won't fit in my minivan.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I'm glad I made one of the roof panels clear so they could have a skylight. It was very popular this afternoon!

 

[Jensownzoo]

The

The flooring sheets can be evened up over the not square joists. Yup, this is the plan!

Are you going to work in a separate coop area for when you get new birds down the line? I will actually be framing in a extra human-sized door, then covering it up to allow for ease in adding onto the coop later. Right now, I have chicks coming in several shipments or pick-ups this spring since I couldn't get all the breeds I wanted all together. I have quite a few large collapsible wire crates from doing dog/cat rescue that I can throw into this coop for integration. I thought about dividing the coop with a wire wall with a door (leaving the door open when the separation is not required), but decided against it. Easy to add later if needed.

Would love to see your floor plans. Once they're finalized (prob this week), I'll post them!

 

[Jensownzoo]

Sorry! Had an unplanned automotive repair that ate up the roof budget. Plus the standard spring weather ups/downs and getting the cool season garden planted. Planning on working on it tomorrow though, so there will be pics.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Oh I have need for a few more. I want a batchelor pad and a few breeding coops, but those should be fairly small and simple to throw together. I kinda "designed" the garden coop on the fly, knowing that two of the walls would be part of a privacy fence and that the run would extend in two directions along those fences. It's not perfect for sure, but I don't think the chickens will complain much. It's for my broodies (silkies and cochin) and breeds that might get picked on in a mixed flock mostly. The egg-layers for eating/gifting/selling are going in the main coop.

 

[sunflour]

Good job thus far, hope your helpers are more reliable for the rest of the project.

 

[Tumbling K]

you have a great start!!!

the hard part is done, now for the fun part!!!

 

[Jensownzoo]

Right. So. No joists today. Hands are too sore to do much gripping. Will just get the concrete in (should only take four bags) before it rains tonight and fills the holes with water.

Have arranged to go pick up plywood tomorrow morning. I have some oops exterior wood stain to apply to the exposed side of the wood for extra protection against the elements. The coop side will be covered in either linoleum or FRP, so won't need it.

Am seriously considering just doing a 3' apron of HW cloth around the coop base. Was going to bury it 18", but the thought of digging through more wet, heavy clay right now...we'll see.

 

[Gridguru]

3 feet of apron seems pretty excessive. I think 18 inches is probably more than enough.

Im new to this, so don't take my word for it. But i've read a lot of posts on here and that seems to be the consensus.

 

[sunflour]

I don't know if the clay there is as hard to dig as it is here in Georgia, but if it is you don't have to dig for the apron.

We couldn't dig down on all sides of my coop, so laid 2 feet of hardware cloth ( attached to coop foundation), topped it with dirt and tampered it down. On top of that, placed large 20-25 pound cement stones close together. Have never had it challenged, but to dig under they would have to start further than 2 feet, dig thru clay and rock, and if the were to tunnel then 40-50 pounds of cement would tumble down on them.