Here’s the finished product. Cost about $1,500 (I was shooting for $500 - Oops).
The story of the build goes:
Buy house in Northern California.
Think it would be nice to have chickens.
Don’t ask wife.
Buy chicks.
Google.
Discover https://www.backyardchickens.com/ Learn first mistake people make is to buy chicks before coop is built. Oops.
Google more.
Decide on small coop inside a big run (because of hawks).
Something like this:
Try to figure out plans for coop.
Give up.
Buy coop (from antique store for $185).
Try to figure out plans for run.
Give up.
Continue to watch chicks grow.
Google more.
Buy plans for run from here: http://www.thegardencoop.com/
Modify plans by making it twice as big and incorporating the sloping retaining wall along the back.
Buy tools (sweet!).
Buy lumber.
Dig trenches.
Stain wood. Frame wood.
Attach hardware cloth.
Definitely use these to attach hardware cloth (I tried everything).
Put it together.
And none too soon.
Put on roof.
Add straw.
Add roost (an old fence post).
Add chickens.
And relax.
Some features:
Brick entry for the rainy season.
Solution to sloping retaining wall.
Dutch door. Oooo nice.
View with top door open.
Automatic waterer from http://chickenfountain.com/ Since I bought this and use the deep litter method, I only go into the run once a week to refill their food.
My kids get the eggs.
After dinner I let them out. They always go home to roost (but you knew that).
Chicken TV.
EDIT 1: I added a light sensitive automatic door opener. This thing has been awesome! The girls let themselves out in the morning, free range all day (no more bugs!), and at dusk they go in all by themselves. The door has never failed to close behind them, and they've never been late (yet).
EDIT 2: I added a corral around the coop/run (I have no idea why).
The story of the build goes:
Buy house in Northern California.
Think it would be nice to have chickens.
Don’t ask wife.
Buy chicks.
Google.
Discover https://www.backyardchickens.com/ Learn first mistake people make is to buy chicks before coop is built. Oops.
Google more.
Decide on small coop inside a big run (because of hawks).
Something like this:
Try to figure out plans for coop.
Give up.
Buy coop (from antique store for $185).
Try to figure out plans for run.
Give up.
Continue to watch chicks grow.
Google more.
Buy plans for run from here: http://www.thegardencoop.com/
Modify plans by making it twice as big and incorporating the sloping retaining wall along the back.
Buy tools (sweet!).
Buy lumber.
Dig trenches.
Stain wood. Frame wood.
Attach hardware cloth.
Definitely use these to attach hardware cloth (I tried everything).
Put it together.
And none too soon.
Put on roof.
Add straw.
Add roost (an old fence post).
Add chickens.
And relax.
Some features:
Brick entry for the rainy season.
Solution to sloping retaining wall.
Dutch door. Oooo nice.
View with top door open.
Automatic waterer from http://chickenfountain.com/ Since I bought this and use the deep litter method, I only go into the run once a week to refill their food.
My kids get the eggs.
After dinner I let them out. They always go home to roost (but you knew that).
Chicken TV.
EDIT 1: I added a light sensitive automatic door opener. This thing has been awesome! The girls let themselves out in the morning, free range all day (no more bugs!), and at dusk they go in all by themselves. The door has never failed to close behind them, and they've never been late (yet).
EDIT 2: I added a corral around the coop/run (I have no idea why).
