New mobile pasture coop

[adkhunter1590]

I can see why the auto roost bar is needed in a commercial hen house, watching the video the roosts are lower than the nest boxes so you would have to close them off before night time to prevent the chickens from roosting in the nest box. I assume the nest boxes are placed at a comfortable height for a person to collect eggs in the commercial hen house.

You will love the clean eggs from a roll out nest box. My neighbor has to wash all her eggs from the conventional nests she has. I built a roll out nest box and except for the occasional feather the eggs are spotless. About once every other week I pull out the false floor and use a brush to clean the dirt and feathers off.

JT

I noticed that in those videos how the roosts are low and all the same height in the middle of the room. Must be the easiest way for large amounts of birds like that. My roosts will be more the traditional style other than being hinged so I can pick them up for cleaning and such. The cost of that auto drop mechanism is only like $80 if I remember correctly so I figured it was cheap enough to make it worthwhile. I always seem to have a hen or two in my current smaller older flock that likes to sleep in the nest boxes and no matter how many times I move her after dark she will be back in a box the next night. I figured for 80 bucks I won’t have to worry about it ever again.

 

[adkhunter1590]

Well progress stalled out a bit due to the weather turning back towards winter. But I’m glad to say that I finished up the framing this past weekend. Now onto the metal roof, windows and siding. Most all those materials will be picked up throughout the week and hopefully accomplish at least the roof and windows this weekend in between working and family duties. Once the siding is up I’ll move to the inside to get roosts made up. Then the chicks can move into it while I wait on the auto door to be delivered. Coming along really well I think so far, other than fighting this never ending winter!

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[adkhunter1590]

Productive weekend here at the farm. Siding boards are up, windows and doors in, roof on. Just need to finish up a few odds and ends tomorrow and it will be ready for paint. Going with barn red on the outside and will trim the windows and doors in white paint to make it look nice. Going to paint the inside white to make it brighter and help preserve the wood. I’ll start fiddling around with the water system later this week also. Really anxious to get this all done so I can move the chicks into their new home!

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[adkhunter1590]

Some more progress....
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Rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Going to set me back another day. But at least it’s closed in. Hoping to have it ready for paint by the weekend.

 

[adkhunter1590]

Well it’s almost there! Just need to finish up some battens on the end walls and build the deck for the water tank and it will be ready for paint. I’ve got the roost bars mapped out in my head and will get to work on those after we get the inside painted up. Order the pullet shut auto door the other night and it will be here Saturday. Hoping to be buttoning it all up by the end of the weekend and moving the chicks in next week sometime.

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Very important add on here. Door chain! Almost had the wind rip the door off. Won’t have to worry about that now.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GBsPh7Ons0G6WOLv1

 

[adkhunter1590]

Well the coop is home! Had a little tire trouble on the way home but thankfully it was a short trip and didn’t go totally flat until I got in front of my house. But it did make it impossible for me to get it backed into the driveway with the truck so I had to get the tractor and finish the job.

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Pullet shut door is in. Need to mount the solar panel and get the battery secured inside the water tank box and that will be all set.

Going to pick up a water barrel early this week and get started on the nipple system. Waiting on the nice pvc Ts that you can screw the nipples right into without having to mess around with drilling all those holes and fighting leaks. Hoping the Ts will make this a easier job.

The wife is going to start painting the inside tomorrow. After that’s done I’ll get the roost bars up and get the chicks moved in. Going to order nest boxes in a week or so. No rush for those yet since they are still a ways from laying.

So in other words. Still a bunch of little odds and ends to finish up but the main part is done. Can’t wait to see some money return on all this! Haha