I posted on Facebook that I was looking for something people might have and this was going to the dump!
Later you will see what we did to add outside nesting boxes here.
Baby chicks just purchased from the feed store. Wondering just what the heck this new surrounding means!
Slowly coming out of the box...
They started eating right away.
The doghouse was very heavy but we got it up on stilts. Cut ventilation holes all around under the eaves.
From a previous job, we were able to surround the coop with heavy duty panels that will be predator proof from the bears, skunks, raccoons in our area.
We painted it to match our house!
Old scrap metal serves as a roof and to help keep it dry. Use a panel like the coop walls also on the roof to help keep light in. We live in Foresthill CA with A LOT of trees, so I was worried they won't get enough light.
More scrap metal enclosed under the doghouse (coop). Planted deep to keep the critters out. More ventilation in the roof. The coop is insulated very well inside. Since we are not planning on putting a door in, I am hoping it will still stay warm when the snow and cold weather hit.
We dug down about six inches and out aprox, 18 inches. Put chicken wire two feet up the walls and on the ground out the 18 inches to keep predators (our two German Shorthairs also!) from trying to dig under and in the coop.
Another view of the outside of the coop walls.
This is a view of the outside nesting boxes we added. With a hinged lid on top to get the eggs out (ha! soon I hope) I am pretty short though, so I was told I will be given a large platform to stand on
The walls going in.
A gate is next on the left in the photo. It slides back and forth. They love it when I sit with them after work and leave the door open so they can come and go.
Getting ready to lay cement over the chicken wire surrounding the coop.
Cement in place. When the rain stops today, I will update with the finished product and photos of our flock
