I only bought the aviary wire and hinges -all wood came from skips/freecycle. An old shed provided much of the external boards, an old pub table provided timbers for the roosts and an old desk became my feeder.
My build here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=52779
Feeder:
Yup I'm in England. There are a few rescue groups here and I got mine through these guys:
http://www.northlondonhenrescue.org.uk/
I was surprised at how good the condition of the ones I saw when I collected mine was though one has a bald back and another a bald neck which isn't obvious in...
Thanks for all the feedback!
The 6 ex-batts arrived today and 3 quickly went up into the coop for a look around
While 3 stayed underneath
For some reason they liked the top of the ramp and 4 of them tried to sleep in there when it started to get dark but I encouraged them into the coop...
Well I think I've finished - well I have other ideas but I need a rest from all this hard work! Should be getting 6 more ex-battery hens tomorrow.
Better shot of roosts
I made a large feeder from an old desk - unsure of capacity but looks like 2 or 3 20kg sacks of feed would fit. The top...
Quote:
WHAT!!! Need MORE Ventilation!!! All of MY tractors have plenty of ventilation. A lot more than any coop ever had. Open air ventilation is only one of the benefits of the chicken tractor. I don't know what tractors you have built but if yours has that little ventilation you might...
Mine is 6 1/2' x 5' and was pretty much free as wood from skips and freecycle:
Build on my thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=52779&p=1
Have now added the access ramp. I decided to enclose it and have the entrance under the coop so that wind won't get in and I can go away without having to close it up at night - does this sound OK? Will be secure as inside a pen but unsure if the temperature will be less warm in the winter -...
I think I'm more a bodger than a carpenter!
Had to work until 2.15am last night so had the day off today to make up for it and spent some time on the coop. Finished insulating the inside - ran out of the nice shiney insulation so used some had to use bubble wrap in some of the higher up...
clarkestep - I'm really a beginner at this (both at chicken keeping and building stuff!) so not the best person to answer your questions; however I'm pretty confident in what I'm doing and it's all going to plan so far! I plan to run the roosts from the back to the front setting them at the...
The coop is 6 1/2' wide, 5' deep, 7' high at the front and 6' high at the back; in addition the nesting box is about 6' wide, 15" deep and 15" high and about 5" above the coop floor. The floor is 2ft off the ground and I plan to have a feeder and drinker under there, maybe even box it in...
I think the run is too small for the coop; the coop is fine for at least double the number of chickens that the run is OK for. If you free-range for much of the time then the run size is less of an issue.
I had no intention of getting into my chickens' home so am building a raised one. I like the idea of having the space underneath to shelter food and water; my build is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=52779
Well I hate it but half the fun for me is building stuff so am biased. If I was buying for that money I'd want something more substantial and I think its only big enough for 2 or perhaps 3 hens. Having said that my hens love running about flapping their wings which I don't think they could do...
Well I have two chickens...is 5 nesting boxes enough?!
I should be getting more in July and plan to build up in small batches until I have as many as I think seems OK. I love building stuff and couldn't bring myself to build something modest!
My chicken photos are here...