Hi all! I have a few questions and concerns I am hoping you all could help me out with. I will include some pictures to help explain what I am talking about.
First- I have a premade coop, I know building your own is probably better but I am a first timer and figured I would buy my first coop then I can iron out my "likes & dislikes" then next spring I could build my own to suit my needs! So, my boys put together my coop and I've noticed some spaces. Are they left intentionally for airways? Or should I go ahead and fill them in? Will 100% silicone be okay to use inside the coop? Because where would we be in life without silicone & duct tape!? hehe The first photo is of the right hand side from the inside view. See how there is a slight overhang? I worry about something sliding it's way in...
Second- Before I got my coop and it was assembled, I had visions of hanging buckets of their feed & water INSIDE the coop...but now looking at it, it won't leave them much space. No good. So my question is, is it okay to just leave their food and water inside the RUN? I mean inside the coop is for sleeping right? I can't image they will be sleep walking for food/drink!
Do these critters wake up with the sun? Is that how early you need to be outside?
Third- The little sliding door. I'm a little confused about how I can rig something up to help slide it open/closed. I have RA and climbing inside the coop run to grab the door doesn't seem ideal nor fun for me. So being as the door slides sideways, how the heck should I tie a rope on it? If I just have one rope and pull one way, how would I get the rope to slide the other!?
Lastly, I plan on painting the red on this coop. I'm assuming regular latex exterior paint will be fine, but I also thought about adding a coat of weatherproof sealant. Any thoughts on what would be good and wouldn't be harmful to the chickens?
First- I have a premade coop, I know building your own is probably better but I am a first timer and figured I would buy my first coop then I can iron out my "likes & dislikes" then next spring I could build my own to suit my needs! So, my boys put together my coop and I've noticed some spaces. Are they left intentionally for airways? Or should I go ahead and fill them in? Will 100% silicone be okay to use inside the coop? Because where would we be in life without silicone & duct tape!? hehe The first photo is of the right hand side from the inside view. See how there is a slight overhang? I worry about something sliding it's way in...
Second- Before I got my coop and it was assembled, I had visions of hanging buckets of their feed & water INSIDE the coop...but now looking at it, it won't leave them much space. No good. So my question is, is it okay to just leave their food and water inside the RUN? I mean inside the coop is for sleeping right? I can't image they will be sleep walking for food/drink!
Do these critters wake up with the sun? Is that how early you need to be outside?
Third- The little sliding door. I'm a little confused about how I can rig something up to help slide it open/closed. I have RA and climbing inside the coop run to grab the door doesn't seem ideal nor fun for me. So being as the door slides sideways, how the heck should I tie a rope on it? If I just have one rope and pull one way, how would I get the rope to slide the other!?
Lastly, I plan on painting the red on this coop. I'm assuming regular latex exterior paint will be fine, but I also thought about adding a coat of weatherproof sealant. Any thoughts on what would be good and wouldn't be harmful to the chickens?