About a year ago my neighbor and I talked about getting chickens. Well she got hers about 8 months ago and I just bought 5 chicks about 4 weeks ago for my 38th birthday. I turned my Golden Retrievers metal dog crate into a brooder and now I'm on my way...
I have 5 kids ranging from 16 yo - 22 mo., 1 dog, and 5 baby chicks (3 more on the way) and I homeschool my 11 yo daughter.
Well it turns out I was allergic to their baby chick feathers, my daughter had to handle them until they got their feathers in.
So as they started growing, like a weed I may say, the urge to make their coop became more and more evident. So during spring break, my 16 yo son and I started making the coop. I've been researching for months and going through what seems like hundreds of coops here on BYC. I found elements of what I wanted, just not exactly what I wanted. So to the drawing board (actually it was a piece of paper), and I sketched out exactly what I wanted.
Being in the city I wanted it to look like a play house and I wanted it to "match" my house. I am very blessed to be in a city that allows chickens, even a rooster, with a permit.
Right now I have all the walls up, no door nor a roof, and no run. Oh and have I mentioned a stinky garage.
Here is the frame, yes it's square, just a little lopsided. Ha, ha.
I then added the nesting box and another one to store the water and food (for the automatic water & feeder).
*********************
So it turns out making a roof is a little harder than I thought. I guess that is what google is for!!!
I guess I should go onto the next phase and put the doors on, but the kids are hungry and it's time for dinner.
**********************
Well, I figured out how to make the roof, and it is currently on the coop but only the frame. I also have 2 walls up for the run. It's drizzling right now, so I will have to wait until it clears up a bit.
Here is one of my chicks, helping out her mom. I moved the coop to it's "home" in the yard.
This is where the run will be. I added pullies for the coop door.
Now to add the roof, my oldest son helped, it is detachable and so are the nesting boxes. I made them this way since we will be moving out to the country in a few years.
I also made a removable tray for easy cleaning. You can see the roost here as well.
To the right is the nesting box and to the left is the storage compartment. The nesting box closes so they don't roost in there at night.
Well that is what I have for now, I have added the walls for the run, just need to take some pictures for it.
I have 5 kids ranging from 16 yo - 22 mo., 1 dog, and 5 baby chicks (3 more on the way) and I homeschool my 11 yo daughter.
Well it turns out I was allergic to their baby chick feathers, my daughter had to handle them until they got their feathers in.
So as they started growing, like a weed I may say, the urge to make their coop became more and more evident. So during spring break, my 16 yo son and I started making the coop. I've been researching for months and going through what seems like hundreds of coops here on BYC. I found elements of what I wanted, just not exactly what I wanted. So to the drawing board (actually it was a piece of paper), and I sketched out exactly what I wanted.
Being in the city I wanted it to look like a play house and I wanted it to "match" my house. I am very blessed to be in a city that allows chickens, even a rooster, with a permit.
Right now I have all the walls up, no door nor a roof, and no run. Oh and have I mentioned a stinky garage.
Here is the frame, yes it's square, just a little lopsided. Ha, ha.
I then added the nesting box and another one to store the water and food (for the automatic water & feeder).
*********************
So it turns out making a roof is a little harder than I thought. I guess that is what google is for!!!
I guess I should go onto the next phase and put the doors on, but the kids are hungry and it's time for dinner.
**********************
Well, I figured out how to make the roof, and it is currently on the coop but only the frame. I also have 2 walls up for the run. It's drizzling right now, so I will have to wait until it clears up a bit.
Here is one of my chicks, helping out her mom. I moved the coop to it's "home" in the yard.
This is where the run will be. I added pullies for the coop door.
Now to add the roof, my oldest son helped, it is detachable and so are the nesting boxes. I made them this way since we will be moving out to the country in a few years.
I also made a removable tray for easy cleaning. You can see the roost here as well.
To the right is the nesting box and to the left is the storage compartment. The nesting box closes so they don't roost in there at night.
Well that is what I have for now, I have added the walls for the run, just need to take some pictures for it.