3/19 Update!! NEW PICS w/Layout!! Updated photo of our new coop.

[PartridgeRckgal]

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Thank you kfchickenlady! I'm sure it would work really well for ducks. I only drew out the plans after we finished the coop layout .... LOL. We knew in our heads what we wanted to do and just kinda went from there.

I can't wait to get our silkie chicks!!! My son is so excited he can hardly stand it

 

[texaschickmom]

Hi there, PartridgeRckgal....How are things progressing on your coop? I've been mulling over the photos and have some questions for you. I could ask on here or PM you if you'd rather. Thanks so much...Martha

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

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Hi Martha. Hope you are having a good day. It is looking pretty good. I finished tacking down all the chicken wire yesterday. DH hasn't been able to work on it for the past 2-3 days. He's the music minister for a revival at a local church...so that has taken up his evenings. Hopefully Thursday afternoon we will be able to put up the short run of chicken wire across the front of the coop (up high... under the rafters) and up high between the coops. It goes a lot more smoothly with both of us when dealing with the wire.... one to hold and one to staple. We still have to build the 3 interior doors, 3 more roosts and the nest boxes and that will pretty much finish it up. I'm so excited!! I will be sure to take plenty of photos and share them with you

Oh, and you are certainly welcome to post here or PM my anytime.

 

[texaschickmom]

Thank you so much. I'll ask my questions here since it might help someone else, too.
1. It looks like you're using a metal roof. Is that one long sheet or 2? If just one, is it 12 feet long?
2. How are you attaching your roosting units? To that top 2X6?
3. Will your nesting boxes be sitting on the ground or mounted? From looking at your plan, it seems you have them on the front "wall of wire."
4. I noticed what looks like a 4X4 in the middle of your coop. Is that for extra support?
5. Why did you run the chicken wire on the inside instead of outside of your welded wire?
Sorry about all the questions, but we are soon to start our own large breeding coop/barn. I had planned on a barn type shed with a gabled roof but we have very hot summers here and your open design lends itself to our situation. You don't have to worry about adequate ventilation either!

Thanks so much for all your help. Martha

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Excellent questions.

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

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Hi Martha... here goes

1. Yes, we used regular house-type metal roofing (the heavier gauge, 3' wide stuff that people put on their house roofs). The sheets are 12' lengths.
2. We are using rough-cut lumber 2x4s (rough-cut is wood that we had someone cut up for us after cutting down 1 of our pine trees) for the roosting racks. 2x4s on each side and the slats are made by ripping the 2x4 in 1/2 with a table saw... so basically the chickens will sit on a 2x2. The rack will be attached to the 2x6 by cutting a 45 degrees angle on the 2x4s (with a circular saw) and then screwing them to the 2x6.
3. The nesting boxes will be up off the ground about 2 feet. There will be a 2x4 placed horizontally between the 4x4 posts this will provide added support and stability for the wire as well as act as a back and place to attach the nesting boxes.
4. The 4x4 you mentioned.... I looked back at my pictures and I think what you are seeing is a 2x4 that was leaning against on the 2x6 header boards. I had picked it up off the ground to get it out of the way of our shoveling. It's not attached to the coop.

I should have moved it before I took the photos LOL.
5. The wire was DH's decision. He said if we put the chicken wire on the outside, it could stand a chance of getting chewed or broken by a predator. Raccoons can chew right through chicken wire. He said they wouldn't be able to get through the welded wire. I guess we didn't really have to put the chicken wire up, but were were just being extra cautious. I mainly wanted it in the pen I will be keeping my brooder and younger chickens... so they cannot get through the fence. Basically... the welded wire is on the outside to keep predators out and the chicken wire is on the inside to keep the chickens in

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No we don't have to worry about ventilation. It gets hot here... I'm mean really hot! Our winters aren't normally that bad. It is hot for 10 months out of the year and we have to build for that instead of the cold. We are actually talking about putting in a misting system to keep down dust and help keep the chickens cooler in the hottest summer months. Again, that is DH's idea.

Hope these answers help. Feel free to ask all you like, I'm really glad I can help.

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

I'm a total sucker for coop photos. Yours looks very nice.

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

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Thank you hudsonhouse!!

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Here are a few more progress photos!!

 

[texaschickmom]

Thanks for the new photos! Looks like you're nearly done...the chickies are enjoying your new water system!