Carpe Dihens Chicken Coop

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[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Our Coop Page[/FONT]
updated May 30, 2010 We finished the run!
by Carpe DiHen:

Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace. It is popularly translated as "seize the day". Carpe means "pick, gather, etc.", but Horace uses the word to mean "enjoy, make use of."
May 30, 2010 We finished our run this weekend! Here are some pictures of it finished, and if you look below, you can follow the steps we took to build it.

In the picture on the right, you can see Dasher my avitar above the coop guarding the hens!

There is "SUNTUF" Polycarbonate Sheets over half of the run. DH said it is very nice material to work with.

Poop Boards

Cupholders!

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I want to share our preparation in case it can be helpful to anyone.
We bought a kit coop on line. It was pricey (thinking of calling it Coopa Costa Plenty), but we do not have a lot of time off and wanted something pretty and fast. We needed something sturdy to hold up to 2 feet of snow and tons of racoons.The run is 4+ x 14 feet (see below)
Here is where we bought it:
[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]http://www.chickencoopsource.com/chicke … p.cfm#tabs
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We got it shipped free to California, plus 10% off first time buyer. It came in one week, all on one tidy pallet. We put it together in one day. It came painted, but I painted the inside before we put it together.
Warning: It is highly recommended by BYC members to add more ventillation to this coop! We have bought two gable vents to go on each side at the roof peak.[/FONT]

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The company was nice to deal with and it went together pretty well. There were a few glitches (the base did not fit and had to be cut), but nothing we couln't fix. It is made really well.

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Here is the original thread with some of the forum Q&A's and comments:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=297231
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Here it is finished (steps to follow):

Here are the steps:

Egg Nesting Boxes go in:

Finshed!

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[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]April 26, 2010 THE RUN IS FRAMED!!!!!!!!!!!! Now it just needs wire and a couple doors. We will cover half of it with "SUNTUF" polycarbonate roof panels starting at the pop door side so it will have shade and protection from the weather. DH is AWESOME!![/FONT]
May 5, 2010 Some images updated to show wire and new coop color. The clay color is the current color and it matches our house:

I had to update my painting (see tale below) when we changed the color (I think it looks better!):

The story of the painting as it unfolded back in 3/7/2010: I opened a thread asking for pictures of roosters in the garden but only got a couple (very nice!) replys. I want a colorful rooster for "my girls" to look at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=300691
[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I am thinking of using the photo by Cats Critters of an EE named "Red":

I need to find a garden background to go around him. The mural will go here:

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif] I will update when I'm done! I have finished the paiting of "Red", just need to all add all the garden flowers around him. He doesn't have feet because he will be stepping into violets.

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***UPDATED***3/12/2010: Have added some flowers (yes that's a dandelion)

(can you see the worm?)

***Updated*** 3/21/2010: Finished! We have not attached it to the coop yet, so we could share it with our family today (Happy Birthday JoAnne and Yippee Lee for getting here!)

***Updated 5-5-2010*** Here it is on the coop!!! Ane here is the color change version to compare:

[FONT=tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]our critter family: 8yr old male German shepherd (Dasher)(my avitar), a 6yr old male black Standard Poodle (Donner), 2 cats (Jester and Gypsy) and a bunny (named Milli which is short for "454,000 milligrams" because that equals 1lb and I got her at "the pound") I live in the Sierra Foothils with a very loving husband who says I can have as many cridders as I want as long as I pick up the poo![/FONT]