TWEAK MY COOP~Tweaks on the Cheap

[SHERRING7712]

That's a nice one @SHERRING7712 ! What are the dimensions, materials used, etc?

Finished size is 12.5' wide 27.5' long and @ 7.5' high. 8 x 12.5 is the completely closed in coop. The rest is run. We have the shade tarp for the summer and will also order another of the heavy duty clear poly tarp for the end that is still open. We used pvc to build the frame along with 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 2x10 for the wood base all the way along the bottom. One 4x4 in the center of the run with beams for support. Plywood covering the ends, scrap doors that we found laying around...etc. The pvc frame is covered with poultry netting wire and then the heavy duty poly tarp. It is nice and light inside and already much warmer than the temp outside. YAY. Still got more to do but it would be predator proof if we needed to move the girls in now! I'll post more pics as we finish up!

 

[aart]

Quote: Pretty cool......Should start a build thread for your coop.

 

[SHERRING7712]

 Pretty cool......Should start a build thread for your coop.

yes I gotta figure out how first

 

[aart]

Quote: There's a "Start a New Thread" button on the top and bottom of every page

.....
......unless you're on a mobile device, then I don't know, that software seems to be lacking in many ways.

 

[Beekissed]

OK so it's not quite done but I am just loving my new hoop coop so much I had to post a couple of pics!!

That's really nice...and big!!!! Y'all get much snow in ND? If so, you may want to place some timber where that PVC is running horizontally on the hoops...a heavy snow load may not buckle the top of your coop but it gets pretty heavy on either side of that middle brace as well...just might buckle those sides. I've seen a pic of just such an event and that PVC went down like it was made of straws.

 

[SHERRING7712]

Good to know. We get a lot of snow but the wind usually blows so much it doesn't build up on the top of things...just the sides which is why we made the doors open inward.

 

[Beekissed]

Good to know. We get a lot of snow but the wind usually blows so much it doesn't build up on the top of things...just the sides which is why we made the doors open inward.

Y'all get that really dry snow in ND anyway, don't you? Between the wind and that, you guys should be doing okay. If not and you have problems, please post back so others can learn if you will. I try to always post any mistakes I make in chickens or their housing so folks who are looking for info can see what NOT to do, as well as find out what TO do.

 

[SHERRING7712]

Yep its the dry snow usually and the wind never stops. I'll keep the thread updated over the winter if we have any issues...more worried about being warm enough than the snow here. Now back home in MT it would be the snow not the cold I'd be worried about.

 

[Beekissed]

Winter tweaking is nearly complete, though I still need to jack up the coop and insert some old treated 4x4s I found on the land, to give me a more level coop and more head room at the front. It seems like that is where all the finished chicken compost gets shoved....for some reason chickens will always try to level the ground on which they live if it's in a coop or run. When it gets deep there, I hit my head on the center brace of the hoop coop, so elevating that end will finally level out the top of my coop and give me more room up top and for deeper litter.


Changed out the tarp from summer to winter tarp, replaced the plastic roof liner/cap underneath first...the old one had finally bit the dust after 4 yrs of use, washed down some surfaces, cleaned out nest boxes, dusted them and the roosts, refreshed the nest bedding, added a couple loads of leaves in the coop and spare pen, and only have a few more little tweaks left to do before winter.






Stripped down to the bare bones....you can see in this pic how low that front end is, as the coop sits on a slight slope.



Nice tight fit with this new tarp, except it's a tad too wide, so I have to do some type of adaptation for that on the long side...don't want to cut this nice tarp to make it fit, so will think of something else to use so I can fasten it down tightly when the real cold sets in, but also take that side loose when I want to let in air on any warm days we get.






I'm thinking about hinging the top of my single nest box and using it to hold my heated water bowl this winter like I did last year....the bowl fits perfectly down into that nest and the top keeps the dust out, while the height of the nest from the floor keeps the DL from being kicked into the water. I want to hinge the top so I can lift it a little to enable them to tilt back their heads better when they take a drink...right now that top is slanted and screwed into place.

Do the tweaks ever truly end?

 

[User395221]

Do the tweaks ever truly end?

No, not if you have ideas.