12x6 Coop Construction, August 2016 Deadline!

[kie4]

All external wire is now stapled on.

 

[kie4]

5 week old chicks enjoying some weeds

This weekend I'm experimenting putting a bucket feeder at neck height for the flock. INteresting to see if they take to it.

Door is next on the priority list. Wood stain on the frame and cross piece. 2 white painted "X" in the empty spaces.

 

[kie4]

Side window in

Switching out the old waterer for a horizontal steel nipple.

Chickens took to it straight away.

 

[kie4]

Hen house floor going in

 

[aart]

Side window in

Switching out the old waterer for a horizontal steel nipple.

Chickens took to it straight away.

I can't tell if you did or not, but you'll need to poke a hole in the cap of the nipple waterer jug or the water flow will stop.
Coop looks great!

 

[kie4]

I can't tell if you did or not, but you'll need to poke a hole in the cap of the nipple waterer jug or the water flow will stop.
Coop looks great!

Hi @aart! I took my tiniest drill bit and drilled a tiny air hole in the cap yes. I think the almost paper thin plastic water bottle is not suited to these horizontal nipples. When I went to check in the morning the whole breeze/cinder block was wet and the bottle half empty. I wiped the bottle down and stood it on some bounty, sure enough it was leaking ever so slowly. Switched it out for a good grade thick 4 gallon square bucket. Ran the 3/8" drill bit slowly backwards for a long time to make a perfectly clean hole. The nipple was a lot harder to put in and it looks to be not leaking. I'll check the water level again in the morning.

 

[aart]

Quote: I use HN's on all kinds of thin plastic bottles and jugs.....it can work but you have to be careful of drilling clean and smooth hole(smaller than 3/8"). Nipple does not have to be threaded in all the way, just enough to make a tight seal.
If I used a thick wall vessel (3-5 gal bucket) or pipe I would get a tap and cut threads first.




ETA:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/210#post_14202676
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/330#post_14593735

 

[kie4]

Hung the run door. Don't think I need a backstop with this type of latch.

 

[kie4]

I use HN's on all kinds of thin plastic bottles and jugs.....it can work but you have to be careful of drilling clean and smooth hole(smaller than 3/8"). Nipple does not have to be threaded in all the way, just enough to make a tight seal.
If I used a thick wall vessel (3-5 gal bucket) or pipe I would get a tap and cut threads first.




ETA:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/210#post_14202676
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/330#post_14593735

Hi @aart , thank you for the advice on the HNs. The next time I drill into a thin container like the 1 gallon supermarket distilled water one I used. I'll use an 11/32 drill bit and drill very carefully.
For the bucket I am using now, I think taking the time to drill backwards has helped a lot. The hens love the one nipple waterer and it hasn't spilled a drop. The breeze/cinder block it is sitting on is bone dry. Very pleased with this current set up.

 

[kie4]

Made a start on the 3 nesting boxes. Piece of scrap on top in case it rains.