4’x8’ coop

[booth2010]

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?

The front of the coop faces the north and the open side is the west. I lined it up to run the same direction as my detached garage.

If I were to rebuild I would have made the back a foot taller so the slope of the roof wasn't so great. I'm having to build a little overhang on the front to keep rain out.

 

[booth2010]

Well, less than a month away from the arrival of my chicks. I'm getting excited! Made a final to-do list before they get here. Most of it is for the coop and that I guess can be completed in the month or 2 they are in the brooder, but the goal is to have it completed by their ship date of October 1. I still have to build the overhang, nest box, and chicken door, fence in the run, put up corner flashing on the coop, finish rodent proofing, and tidy up the run and spread mulch. Oh and of course build the brooder! I'm going to wait till probably the 22nd or 23rd to build it so that its not taking up space too long in the garage, I know the wife will complain. I'm going to try the MHP with a heating pad we have lying around that's never used. I will test it out a week before they arrive and if I'm not happy with the results I will have time to buy a heat lamp get it set up. I need to remember to call my post office in the coming weeks to make sure they will hold the package and call me when it arrives.

 

[PetesChicks]

Just make sure the heat pad doesn’t have automatic shut off. And it’s hard to check the temp, because the chicks get the warmth from pressing their back against the pad from underneath. I put a thermometer on the shavings under the MHP and it was about 10’ cooler then when I put it up against the pad (like the chicks will) with the bungee cords that held the pad to the frame.

 

[booth2010]

Just make sure the heat pad doesn’t have automatic shut off. And it’s hard to check the temp, because the chicks get the warmth from pressing their back against the pad from underneath. I put a thermometer on the shavings under the MHP and it was about 10’ cooler then when I put it up against the pad (like the chicks will) with the bungee cords that held the pad to the frame.

I was going to check to see if it had a shut off tonight. And yea I was planning on putting the thermometer between the wire fencing and pad to see what the temp was. I was reading on the MHP article that most pads only reach 82-85 degrees but from all the good results it shouldn't matter. As long as they're happy and not huddling to get warm.

 

[aart]

I was going to check to see if it had a shut off tonight. And yea I was planning on putting the thermometer between the wire fencing and pad to see what the temp was. I was reading on the MHP article that most pads only reach 82-85 degrees but from all the good results it shouldn't matter. As long as they're happy and not huddling to get warm.

Remember that a pad doesn't heat like a lamp, the chicks need to be able to touch their backs to the pad surface-why easy adjustment of height of pad is very important, and there's really no measuring the temp like when using a lamp. The surface of my pad is ~100-120°F which is comparable to commercial chick heating plates.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

Most of it is for the coop and that I guess can be completed in the month or 2 they are in the brooder,

In your climate @booth2010 you could put your chicks in coop way before a 'couple months'...or even right from the get go.

 

[booth2010]

Remember that a pad doesn't heat like a lamp, the chicks need to be able to touch their backs to the pad surface-why easy adjustment of height of pad is very important, and there's really no measuring the temp like when using a lamp. The surface of my pad is ~100-120°F which is comparable to commercial chick heating plates.

I am planning on putting the pad on some extra hardware cloth or fencing so that I can easily lower and raise it. I guess I will just keep a close eye on the chicks the first few days to makes sure the pad is doing its job. I am taking off the whole day they arrive so I can monitor them closely.

In your climate @booth2010 you could put your chicks in coop way before a 'couple months'...or even right from the get go.

I'm sure I could, it shouldn't drop below 70 deg for a few months and even then its only in the mid 70s for a few hours at night. Then its 80+ for most of the day, 90+ for a good 5hrs in the middle of the day. I will probably keep them in the garage until fully feathered though so I can make sure they are growing healthy and so its easier to interact and build a relationship with them as chicks. Unless of course the brooder becomes too small. The area I plan to keep them is about 3.5' x 6' which is just over the recommended brooder size of 2.5sqft per chick.

 

[Molpet]

I am planning on putting the pad on some extra hardware cloth or fencing so that I can easily lower and raise it. I guess I will just keep a close eye on the chicks the first few days to makes sure the pad is doing its job. I am taking off the whole day they arrive so I can monitor them closely.



I'm sure I could, it shouldn't drop below 70 deg for a few months and even then its only in the mid 70s for a few hours at night. Then its 80+ for most of the day, 90+ for a good 5hrs in the middle of the day. I will probably keep them in the garage until fully feathered though so I can make sure they are growing healthy and so its easier to interact and build a relationship with them as chicks. Unless of course the brooder becomes too small. The area I plan to keep them is about 3.5' x 6' which is just over the recommended brooder size of 2.5sqft per chick.

a lot of us put the whole mhp in a zipper pillow case so the chicks don't get caught between the wire and the pad or inside the pillow case...can sew it shut too
also most put the pad inside the wire... so they contact the pad better... but if you read blooies stuff you know this

 

[booth2010]

The overhang is complete. I’m not too thrilled with it but it’ll work and it’s built tough enough it’s not gonna get ripped off. And the corner flashing is now installed. I will be working on the chicken door and the nesting box this week. Chicks are supposed to arrive next week. I’m getting more excited every day.

 

[booth2010]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Chicks arrived Oct 1 all alive. They sent 10 instead of 8, they gave me an additional RIR and PBR supposedly both females. One barred rock struggled with pasty butt the first week but all 10 are still alive and are growing so much faster than I anticipated. I changed out the pine shavings and in less than a week they had the whole garage smelling again so the wife had enough and said they needed to go outside. So I finished predator proofing the coop, put in roost bars, made PVC feeders, and put down 3”+ of pine shavings. Moved them out to the coop a little while ago and they have already found the water, which I need to get a larger waterer, and a couple have figured out where the food is. Here are a few pics.

The highest bar is 14” from the wall and the bars are 12” apart. Not picture is a small 3” bar that’s 15” off the ground so they can reach the other 2. I’m sure they can jump/fly up to them but I just wanted to make sure.


Feeders, I may have to make the opening down at the cap larger. Idk if the food with come out well enough as is.

Once they are full grown I will make a single larger feeder and these 2 will be for grit and oyster shell.



The chicken door will probably be redone at some point but here is it.


And here are the chicks exploring their new home

 

[Molpet]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Chicks arrived Oct 1 all alive. They sent 10 instead of 8, they gave me an additional RIR and PBR supposedly both females. One barred rock struggled with pasty butt the first week but all 10 are still alive and are growing so much faster than I anticipated. I changed out the pine shavings and in less than a week they had the whole garage smelling again so the wife had enough and said they needed to go outside. So I finished predator proofing the coop, put in roost bars, made PVC feeders, and put down 3”+ of pine shavings. Moved them out to the coop a little while ago and they have already found the water, which I need to get a larger waterer, and a couple have figured out where the food is. Here are a few pics.

The highest bar is 14” from the wall and the bars are 12” apart. Not picture is a small 3” bar that’s 15” off the ground so they can reach the other 2. I’m sure they can jump/fly up to them but I just wanted to make sure.
View attachment 1581151

Feeders, I may have to make the opening down at the cap larger. Idk if the food with come out well enough as is.
View attachment 1581152
Once they are full grown I will make a single larger feeder and these 2 will be for grit and oyster shell.

View attachment 1581153

The chicken door will probably be redone at some point but here is it.
View attachment 1581154 View attachment 1581155

And here are the chicks exploring their new home
View attachment 1581156

nice new home for them
yes everyone is surprised the first time as to how fast they grow