I love the attention to detail in the building of these two coops and the run. I'd like to know more:
1. There are two high points in the netting which covers the run. One is supported by a pole. What supports the other one? Is it wired to the tree behind the run?
2. How does the large coop connect to the run?
3. There appear to be three floor level hatches in the large coop, one facing the run, and two more on the left and right sides relative to the door. Is the plan to have additional runs and rotate use, or are the two side hatches for other purposes?
4. How is the coop ventilated?
5. Have there been any further modifications since the post was written?
Kiwibird thank your for your questions.
1. Yes, netting is supported by those two birches with wire. If there would not be any tree on the run, I assume I would support it with two poles. Pole is placed in reverse direction, so it lasts longer in wet weather. At first I thought that the netting wouldn't last a season, because it is very cheap and doesn't feel very reliable, but I was wrong. This will be the third winter for netting and there is no worn-out signs. It holds winter heavy snows and small branches from those two trees. Hover the challenge was to install netting because I had to stick multiple nets together.
2. Coop connects to the run with hardware cloth.
3. The right side door was supposed to function as cleaning doors, but haven't used it because it is lower than wheelbarrow and composite boxes are inside run. Therefore, for cleaning purposes I just use run doors because composite boxes are inside it.
Doors on the left I mainly use for small run when I have new chickens and I need to separate them from old ones. Glad I made this left door.
4. There are two ventilation holes at the front and the rear of the coop. In summer, I keep windows open as well.
5. Since post was written I have:
* added small roof over run doors, so the food bowl doesn't get full of rain water when it is raining.
* made modification to nesting box so now eggs roll in boxes. Chickens used to crack eggs with thinner eggshells and other eggs got dirty, which were hard to clean. Of course, chickens love soft bedding in nesting boxes, but I had to make compromise.
* made "easy to install" separate section for newly added chickens. Although I had built "safe area" when built coop, it was too small for 10-12 chickens. When new chickens are brought home, I just install three hardware cloth walls to "safe area" and keep them there for two to three weeks until the old chickens are used to them. As I mentioned above, they have separate doors to small run and they are very close to old chickens.
* added additional roosting bar :)
You can see some images of these updates on the one of article (just updated)
A well-built and purposeful coop, what more could one ask for? The high quality photos are what truly caught my eye here, though. What lovely property.
Wow, a wonderful job. A SMART chicken house electronics and lighting for the Back Yard Chicken keeper. Who would have thought. Great photos. I love what you’ve done with the place!
You did a bang up job there going to steal you feeder been fighting forever trying to get one that works and does not waster the feed upright pvc or laying down
Fabulous coop, thanks for sharing your build. That may be the most high tech coop i've ever seen, I really like the ability to ha1ve a camera in there. Considering you said you had no construction skills this was an amazing build
1. Yes, netting is supported by those two birches with wire. If there would not be any tree on the run, I assume I would support it with two poles. Pole is placed in reverse direction, so it lasts longer in wet weather. At first I thought that the netting wouldn't last a season, because it is very cheap and doesn't feel very reliable, but I was wrong. This will be the third winter for netting and there is no worn-out signs. It holds winter heavy snows and small branches from those two trees. Hover the challenge was to install netting because I had to stick multiple nets together.
2. Coop connects to the run with hardware cloth.
3. The right side door was supposed to function as cleaning doors, but haven't used it because it is lower than wheelbarrow and composite boxes are inside run. Therefore, for cleaning purposes I just use run doors because composite boxes are inside it.
Doors on the left I mainly use for small run when I have new chickens and I need to separate them from old ones. Glad I made this left door.
4. There are two ventilation holes at the front and the rear of the coop. In summer, I keep windows open as well.
5. Since post was written I have:
* added small roof over run doors, so the food bowl doesn't get full of rain water when it is raining.
* made modification to nesting box so now eggs roll in boxes. Chickens used to crack eggs with thinner eggshells and other eggs got dirty, which were hard to clean. Of course, chickens love soft bedding in nesting boxes, but I had to make compromise.
* made "easy to install" separate section for newly added chickens. Although I had built "safe area" when built coop, it was too small for 10-12 chickens. When new chickens are brought home, I just install three hardware cloth walls to "safe area" and keep them there for two to three weeks until the old chickens are used to them. As I mentioned above, they have separate doors to small run and they are very close to old chickens.
* added additional roosting bar :)
You can see some images of these updates on the one of article (just updated)