We started with 4 Buff Orprington chicks. They started out in a cardboard box in my kitchen under a heat lamp. When they started trying to jump out of the box, with some success I moved them to the garage and into a home made cage. I have started building their permanent coop but the project isn't moving forward as fast as I would like.
Here are the chicks a few days after we brought them home. This was their first day outside. Their feathers are starting to grow in.
I've started building the coop in my garage.
My daughter loves her chickens. I need to get going on the coop as they can now jump out of the cage. They don't run away but I don't like them pooping all over the garage floor. We let them run free in the yard and they always return to the garage.
The coop is taking shape.
All the windows are framed. My wife approves as she is helping with the vapour barrier.
Next I am going to plywood the interior walls and install the nesting box. The interior area is about 30" x 30". My question is should install the nesting boxes inside the coop where I believe the hens will be warmer in the winter but that makes less area inside to move around or should I hang them outside as many of the coops here are? I am worried about the hens being cold in the winter when laying. I am only installing 2 boxes 12"x12" each. It looks like I have 3 pullets and 1 cockeral.
Thanks for looking.
I have the interior walls and ceiling in and painted first coat. The roof is strapped and insulated.
I don't know what I was thinking when I framed the top window. It is supposed to have square corners. Oh well it will make it interesting to try and make a window to fit.
Since this picture I have shingled the roof and installed wood sofits and flashing. The roof strapping sofits and flashing are recycled skids and packing crates. I had to cut each piece and straighten each board on my jointer. I incountered a couple of nails and dinged up the jointer knives. I have to sharpen them before I can do the siding.
Here are the chicks a few days after we brought them home. This was their first day outside. Their feathers are starting to grow in.
I've started building the coop in my garage.
My daughter loves her chickens. I need to get going on the coop as they can now jump out of the cage. They don't run away but I don't like them pooping all over the garage floor. We let them run free in the yard and they always return to the garage.
The coop is taking shape.
All the windows are framed. My wife approves as she is helping with the vapour barrier.
Next I am going to plywood the interior walls and install the nesting box. The interior area is about 30" x 30". My question is should install the nesting boxes inside the coop where I believe the hens will be warmer in the winter but that makes less area inside to move around or should I hang them outside as many of the coops here are? I am worried about the hens being cold in the winter when laying. I am only installing 2 boxes 12"x12" each. It looks like I have 3 pullets and 1 cockeral.
Thanks for looking.
I have the interior walls and ceiling in and painted first coat. The roof is strapped and insulated.
I don't know what I was thinking when I framed the top window. It is supposed to have square corners. Oh well it will make it interesting to try and make a window to fit.
Since this picture I have shingled the roof and installed wood sofits and flashing. The roof strapping sofits and flashing are recycled skids and packing crates. I had to cut each piece and straighten each board on my jointer. I incountered a couple of nails and dinged up the jointer knives. I have to sharpen them before I can do the siding.
