2nd Recyled Coop need thoughts

[TheNewMrsEvans]

Don't underestimate cats. I had a full grown duck get the *&%$# scared out of her by a cat...she died that day.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Don't worry it is going to be reasonably protected and have something that goes to the ground. I have a (human entrance) door and two windows now. The door is a little tall so I'll have to shorten it a little. I'll decide on the floor soon too which may be some concrete pavers we removed from a path we had through the garden.

I'll put an update up when I'm able to work on it...kinda raining for the last couple days.

Cats pfft I had to rescue the half feral "Barn Cat" when she ventured into their pen because they all started flogging her and pecking. I thought they were going to kill her. Some reason they despise cats lol.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Not a lot done yet because of the on again off again rain we've been having. Still under works. Eventually I'll put a standard roof etc. Just using what is here now. I found the side windows open for ventilation. The front will probably be built in soon with some hardware cloth in the middle for more ventilation. They'll be getting lights via some solar outside lights that I've rewired.

Everything recycled on it. The nestboxes were a small stereo stand that I turned sideways.

Amanda Blake (old Red Star Hen) already took to it unfinished or not and started using the nest before I had even put down material for her to use. She's a fussy old broad so I let her do as she pleases.


Here she is in the middle of a molt looking kinda worn down bald spots and all. But still laying eggs sporadic.

 

[Heather J]

I think it's great. We've talked about getting an old truck topper and putting it up on a frame in the run just for shade (no trees in my yard), I love recycled--my original coop cost me almost nothing, and the roosts and nesting boxes were used, and super easy. The fencing, however, was not, but it was well worth it in the end.

 

[BFeathered]

Recycling is awesome, and you've certainly done wonders with the "state flower" of SC (I used to live in NC-- our "state flower" was a big ole satellite dish!). I like the psychedelic van idea - a Grateful Dead motif. I recycled the plastic playhouse into a coop for my three girls (?

). They've got a 8 x 4 x 3 tractor to hang in when we're not home, and the whole yard when we are. Keep the updates coming, can't wait to see the final design.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

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As a shade that makes a good idea maybe even used as an shelter for a chicken tractor if one puts wheels on it. Most of my stuff is kinda modular so if I run across some boards I may make a real roof later. If you are in a semi warm area we have fig trees hanging over their fence. They don't bother with the leaves/stems but love the figs that fall off.

Their cage is 40x70 with our garden going around one side in an L shape. When the final crops are done they will have access to that area for foraging too from fall-winter. Nice fertilizer.

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Oh the Kudzu that is an experiment. I'll be working with a few other plants like Japanese Honeysuckle etc. I lived in NC for a few years in Elkin NC. It was a beautiful area but, much colder as I would catch colds when I visited my parents here in SC and drove back a few days later.
So far I replaced the perch sticks with 2x2 boards as my heavy girls broke them down lol. It's raining now so I couldn't get to it today.

 

[Maryallison77]

Great job with the recycling!

We are big into recycling and we used a old rabbit hutch. We did have tobuy some wood and chicken wire though...

 

[packinaglock]

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I know racoons eat chickens, but do possums?

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

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I know racoons eat chickens, but do possums?

I'm told that they will but, with having chickens for 10 years (on and off) the only predator problems I've ever had were people's dogs on the loose (major problems), rats once, the occasional cat peering at chicks. This might be because there is a lot of foot traffic by us and the pens are close to the house in the Garden.

The rat problems vanished after I stopped leaving food overnight and started feeding a half-feral, old as dirt cat named Maggie so she will stick around. Just make sure the chicks are kept up as she would most likely take one.

There are a few possoms in the woods bordering our property but, never come onto our land as far the chicken coops. I've never seen a raccoon in the 30 years I have been here (since a little kid).