Things you've learned while building your coop...

Zahboo · Mar 3, 2009

I figured to help those who are planning, building, adjusting or destroying their coop! Everyone has their own opinions. List what you wish you had, or what not. I'll start:

1. Make it BIGGER. It's always too small when it's time to get spring chicks!
2. Have an accessible run. This comes in handy.
3. Tall enough to walk into, it is hard to reach 4 feet back!
4. Raised wall around the floor to hold in shavings
5. Nesting boxes accessible from outside.
6. Pulley system or automatic pop door

KEEP IT GOING. Try not to repeat things, but if you do it's okay

Lobzi · Mar 3, 2009

Water-proof the roof, very well, of both the pen and coop areas. Your chickens will thank you for it.

Zahboo · Mar 3, 2009

7. Cut once after measuring 2 (or 3, or 200)
8. Safety glasses when sawing
9. For the less cordinated, watch the fingers when hammering
10. Screws are removable easier than nails!

GaDawg · Mar 3, 2009

11. make nest box lower than the roosts
12. read all posts on BYC before you build...lol

patandchickens · Mar 3, 2009

13. Make the latch on the pen such that it cannot POSSIBLY close and latch itself and lock you inside

Pat

bluie · Mar 3, 2009

Don't forget to make a poo board. Don't make the run roof and door 1" lower than the top of your head. Give the bottom of the run door more clearance so you can get it open even when there is a little ice and snow in front of it.

jkg · Mar 3, 2009

If possible, have all roosts at same level in the coop to reduce fighting over the "alpha" roost.

briana1975 · Mar 3, 2009

I like this post, we are building coop when weather gets warmer. Some good ideas. Keep it going.

Zahboo · Mar 3, 2009

I'm glad you like this thread. That's the point, (maybe in a few weeks it will be sticky worthy

) lol.

I thought of something else,

Round the edges of the roost and have big enough roosts so that they can protect the toesies from frostbite.

VENTILATION not DRAFTS

4 sq foot per bird and 10 sq foot for run for STANDARDS
2 sq foot per bird and 5 sq foot for run for BANTAMS

12x15 pop door for standards 10x10 for bantams
About the same for nest boxes.

Have nestboxes easy to clean.

CLEAN WATER AT ALL TIMES which may mean raised feeder and waterers

Chainlink runs aren't that safe, since they can stick out their heads.

Chicken wire can be torn up by predators.

Chauntecleer's Keeper · Mar 3, 2009

Expect to have predators and have a good plan to defeat them. A hot wire along the top of the fence has worked well for me.

make your coop easy for your wife to clean out

Things you've learned while building your coop...

More options

Zahboo

Simply Stated

Lobzi

Crowing

Zahboo

Simply Stated

GaDawg

Crowing

patandchickens

Flock Mistress

bluie

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jkg

In the Brooder

briana1975

Songster

Zahboo

Simply Stated

Chauntecleer's Keeper

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