4’x8’ coop

[booth2010]

I cut the carpet runner a bit long so it rolls up at the end and for fun I put a wedge of wood under it just because I had it laying around.

This shows the first false floor with the risers under it to pitch the floor up in the front. I've since changed to 1/2" OSB to get a bit more slope in the false floor. I have a broomstick pin under the floor and use that to push up the false floor then I can pull it out and sweep the dirt off from their dirty little toes.

JT

Thanks I get it now, I guess the pitch doesn't really matter all that much? I was thinking a 1 or 2 inch drop, or I found this nesting carpet that is sloped already. I see a lot of nesting boxes paint red, even many commercially made only come in red, is there any particular reason to this or do most do it just because? Also how high is yours off the ground?

 

[jthornton]

Thanks I get it now, I guess the pitch doesn't really matter all that much? I was thinking a 1 or 2 inch drop, or I found this nesting carpet that is sloped already. I see a lot of nesting boxes paint red, even many commercially made only come in red, is there any particular reason to this or do most do it just because? Also how high is yours off the ground?

The height of the nest box needs to be a foot or more below their roost so they don't try and sleep and poop in the nest box. The steps into the box are about a foot off the floor so it's easy enough for them to hop up on the step and look inside before they enter.

I read somewhere that they are attracted to the red curtains. The reason the box is red is because I used barn and fence paint and it's red.

JT

 

[booth2010]

The height of the nest box needs to be a foot or more below their roost so they don't try and sleep and poop in the nest box. The steps into the box are about a foot off the floor so it's easy enough for them to hop up on the step and look inside before they enter.

I read somewhere that they are attracted to the red curtains. The reason the box is red is because I used barn and fence paint and it's red.

JT

I thought it looked like 12-18" off the ground, I will probably put it at 12". I think my roost bars are going to be 24" off the ground. I honestly figured that why it was red, most people going for that barn feel.

 

[booth2010]

It’s been a while since I posted. Not much to update. I finished getting the flooring in place and cut it flush and finished putting up the 2x4 girts for the metal siding and hardware cloth. I built the roof framing last weekend and just need to lift it up there and secure it. I hope to do that this weekend along with putting the metal panels on the back and side wall. I’ve been so busy getting the yard and house ready for my sons birthday party. I have too many projects and not enough time to get em done. I’m placing my order next month for chicks at chickensforbackyard.com and hope to have em arrive in October.

Well here is a pic of my progress so far:

 

[booth2010]

Roof framing and sheet metal up.

 

[booth2010]

East and South siding have been installed. Forgive the horribly crooked screw pattern. It was very hot and humid this weekend so by the time all the panels were cut I was all out of Fs to give and just wanted to go inside lol. I checked in it this morning and rain had only got into the first 6ish inches of the two open sides and it really came down last night. So that’s good. I still need to go buy some corner pieces to make it look nicer.

 

[booth2010]

Chickens have been ordered! I went with chickensforbackyards.com as I could order 2 of each breed, they had all 4 breeds I wanted, and I could order just 8. So I have Barred Rocks, RIR, Golden Comets, and Speckled Sussex's to be delivered the first week in October. I have everything I need for the brooder I just need to build a top and front for it. I was given some reclaimed fencing so I have everything I need to fence in the run. I just have to buy the hardware cloth and build the door and front canopy. I haven't done any work on it since I put the siding on, ive been too busy preparing the house and yard for my sons birthday party this weekend.

 

[booth2010]

It’s starting to look like a coop! Believe it or not I found the cheapest hardware cloth on Amazon. I have a Lowe’s, Home Depot, TSC and an Ace Hardware all within 10 miles and Amazon was cheapest. Anyway, door is up. It is square, the opening is not.


The 1/2 x 1/2 hardware cloth is up on both sides. I only have screws and washers in it now, still need to put the fence staples in.


Here is this side. The red circle is where the chicken door will be.

 

[booth2010]

Ventilation shouldn’t ever be an issue. Along with the 2 open sides, where the roof is attached there are gaps due to the ridges in the metal and on the lower side there is a 3-4” opening along the back. I will put hardware cloth in that opening but I don’t think I will put any over the holes from the roof ridges.
High end of roof:


Low end of roof:

 

[Frank3]

So when I started planning keeping chickens I was going to do a 4’x6’ coop but the more I thought about it and discussed it on here I realized it was way too enclosed for FL and it would have been difficult to clean being that the door was only 4’tall and I am 6’. The coop is meant to house 8 chickens that will free range an 1800sqft section of my yard during the day.
After a very quick brainstorm I thought up a 4’x8’ with the back and one side wall enclosed with the front and other side open with 2”x4” welded wire. The front of the coop will have roughly 7’ of headroom and the rear will be around 5’. I won’t ever be against the back wall so it shouldn’t be a problem. There will be 4 nesting boxes against the back wall and 2 4’ roosting bars on the left half of the coop. I will be recycling an old door for the coop door.
Attached are some pics of my progress this weekend. The floor framing is complete and most of the floor has been attached. I need to grab a jigsaw to make a few cuts of the floorboards before I can finish and then I’ll have to cut the back flush. The girts are all in place for the rear and side walls. Theyre not even but I figured it’s just a chicken coop no need to be perfect. At least the walls are perfectly straight and the coop has come out pretty square.

Quick question...this is the type of open air coop I was thinking of. How is the coop situated on the land, which way are the front and sides facing; north , south, east and west?