8x30 American Coop (Carolina Coops) build - pix heavy

[3KillerBs]

Looks great.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I think @NatJ nailed it. Looks like Cackle does sell Red Shoulder Yokohama Chicken in their rare breed section.

@John Canfield That coop just keeps getting better and better. The birds are even color coordinated with it. What a wonderful coop you’ve given them. They’ll be out and about exploring in no time.

 

[NanaK]

It looks wonderful! I love it! You have a beautiful flock.

Now you need some chairs or a swing and you can watch chicken TV.

 

[sourland]

Maybe when she gets to be 5 or 6 weeks older the truth will be revealed.

Any tips for getting the girls out of the roost and into the run? We've tried holding meal worms just out of the opening and teasing with a bite or two, tried placing the snack on the roost steps, throwing just outside the steps so they can hear it, rustling the bag and dear wife even caught a lavender americana and took it into the run feeder and run water. It flew back into the roost.

This morning we took the feeder out of the roost hoping a little hunger will trigger exploration.

The best luck I have had so far is getting a lavender on the 2nd step but that was that.

What else?

Chickens hate change - it will take time for them to enjoy their beautiful pen.

 

[NatJ]

At some point they will be able to fly enough to avoid most of the steps, at any rate the girls will have to deal with the ladder.

That door does not look very big, so they will need to sit somewhere and fold their wings before they can walk through it (especially once they are bigger.) An adult chicken with their wings spread to fly is often 3 feet wide.

I would suggest a bigger space right at the top of the ladder, to be a landing pad (or shelf or perch or platform or whatever you want to call it.) That would also let them walk out and look before flying down, which might make them feel more comfortable about going in and out.

 

[John Canfield]

Your kind comments are greatly appreciated!
My brother-in-law (sadly passed way too young) had a beautiful ranch and went all-in with chickens. He maintained a rooster will keep law and order among the hens which I've never forgotten. So if ours is a good fowl citizen, we'll keep him.

 

[Windrider]

I was just going to post the same as @NatJ Unless they slipped some regular chick into their rare assortment.

I would think he is a Phoenix due to the low tail set. Looks like they were hatching Long Tails when you got your rare order! You've got a Phoenix Cockerel, a white Yokohama pullet, and red shoulder Yokohama pullet!

 

[John Canfield]

@John Canfield Any eggs yet? Did you keep your rooster? Your girls have to be getting close. If not already delivering the goods.

Are you pretty happy with the design? Any changes/tweaks you would make if you could do it again?

Hi guys! I've been remiss in not posting here occasionally.

The numbers: 22 chicks, 4 cockerels and 18 pullets. We're getting about 4 eggs a day now! They are mostly laying in the egg hutches but occasionally on the hemp bedding or even in the run.
Not sure what we're going to do with the boys, The red jungle fowl (cockerel) tried to attack me one time but he got my boot in his face. He is drop dead gorgeous though. The Cochin turned out to be a boy - a big boy. One of the lavender americanas is a boy. Forgot what the other boy is.

Four are roosting in the run on a cable spool and some limbs I put there and all of the others roost in the house.

The coop design is absolutely perfect! There is nothing I can think of that could be an improvement. If you want to roll your own - make an exact copy. Seriously.

 

[John Canfield]

Looks wonderful! Can't wait to see it complete.

We like pullet pictures too!

Tomorrow is the big day when we open the door to the hen house from the run and let the girls explore their new quarters! We have three pullets that we can't identify so I need to get pix of them here for an ID.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

This looks amazing! Congratulations on such a beautiful coop.

I’ve always wanted a Carolina Coop. My husband just said we could get one and the wait is 5+ months. I’m still deciding if it’s worth it or not.