Adding 2nd run.. If you can't laugh at yourself? (added predator pics)

[88heather]

thanks Connie!!! I wish I had photo'd today as I came up with an idea and built a center vertical post. that I was proud to have build. for someone that has been afraid of tools for a long time!

Shannon are you actually doing the chopping block or hubby?? I don't think I could do any part of it even though I know that when you eat chicken that is how they get to the dinner table.. i guess I just want to put my head in the sand over that!!! LOL! So what was wrong with the chickens in cell block 6??

 

[BorderKelpie]

I would sure love to see the look on your Hubby's face when he gets home. Make sure you get pictures for us, ok?

I think what you are doing is great! Keep up the good work!

 

[88heather]

Long time no post!.. All I'm doing now is adding more of the galvanized staples and I need to add hard cloth on the door. Went to take pics tonight and it's getting too dark.. so should be able tomorrow. and LOL>. I got a NEW chick today! I want to name the new chick "Crackers" but kids are saying 'no'.. Hopefully I'll get my way! New chick is a black copper maran! Woot! bought all my new chicks from a lady here that is also at BYC and local for me! she's so nice and has nice chickens.. so excited to have someone local to go to.. I lucked out and found her local listing here and snatched one more! YAY!!!

 

[dsqard]

Heather just remember that you promised to post more pics of the finished product. Sounds like you are just about done!

You have inspired me to get going on our new coop. I got tired of waiting for DH to start so today I made my list of needed supplies listed in the Coops for Dummies book. We are building the walk in coop. Here is what I got done today all by my self. Keep in mind that I have built very few small projects and was worried that I would mess this up. I was surprised at how well the floor came out. I just followed the directions and it actually looks like the picture! I am so excited to get going on the walls next. You really can't go wrong with that book in hand!

Here is the frame with the joists in place.

Here is the floor all done.

It only took me between 3 to 4 hours to build.

Thank you so much for the inspiration! I built a floor!

 

[88heather]

I was looking for you first name to reply but don't know it!.. But WOW! Look at you!! congrats!!! I am sooooooooooooo ordering that book!! I want to try and build a mini coop! tee hee!.. want one for injured birds.. or another way to add chicks down the road.. LOL. my hubby will be shocked!

I am soooooooooooooooo impressed with your floor! Wow!!!


I took photos the other night.. Let me see if I have a decent one on my camera! Oh.. and I bought one more chick!

I got a black copper maran chick that I named "Crackers"... she is sooooo cute! I may have a good one of her too.. Funny that even at such a young age the first four are picking on Crackers? Hopefully soon they'll let her be part of the cool chicks!

So the run is pretty much done.. I just have to keep hammering in the galvanized staples.... I also built them a little table they can go under for shade.. I'm calling it the bus stop! I even looked for a vintage bus stop sign I may put out there.. I'm having way too fun learning these tools.. now that I am not afraid of the drill or miter saw! Yay!

I just got back from Home Depot.. I got the coop from cool coops.com.. Well.. i want to tweak it.. I have 2 things I don't like about it.. The back wall removes but is held up by bolts with wing nuts.. I think the wall should be on hinges.. b/c it is a pain in the rear to take off the wing nuts and washers off.. then lift the back wall off the bolts just to get to their water.. (the door is too narrow to fit the waterer through that way).. Also.. the nesting boxes are inside the coop.. if those were cut out.. they'd have more floor space.. so I want the nesting boxes to come out the side like most nesting boxes do.. Oh brother.. I'll be dismantling.. Oh noes! My friend her her hubby may come and help me cut out the nesting boxes.. and I'll also need to cut the bolts off the back wall.. The back wall will be so much better on a hinge making it quick and easy to open for cleaning. Love the coop.. think I got in for a good price.. but it needs tweaking.. plus when they get more floor space.. it would be helpful to extend the perches inside.

Will post some photos in a few! Keep meaning to!

 

[vfem]

I am so glad to see you still plugging ahead Heather... I hope next time you return you have more pictures. I'm struggling trying to stop all these never ending projects here. So far, no new coops... but even Brian made the suggestion we get 1 more coop for large layers... and maybe a moveable coop for some meat birds. I'm guessing he's finally getting interested in this.

 

[88heather]

Oh .. I'm not giving up! I'm just getting into more trouble!

Ok.. Here's the run.. I was just ecstatic to get a working door!

Also.. I remember teasing my hubby for not getting super tight straight wire..and here I thought I'd do better.. NOT! Oh my.. the top run wire.. I had such trouble with.. I was soooooo scratched.. Doing this by myself didn't help.. and when I was doing the roof wire.. it was hot those days.. Usually we are cooler this time of the year.. but I can feel fall is coming! Last summer was much cooler than this summer.

If not for my friend that helped me think of the panels.. wow.. this would look WAYY worse!

I was proud of my center post.. and added the little pieces of wood on the ends (like a coat rack).. LOL.. when I screwed those on.. since it was just me.. no one holding wood for me.. I just balanced it on my driveway as I put the screws in and it worked! Woot!

See the little table in there? I made this little table they could go under for shade.. calling it their "bus stop".. I am having too much fun learning on my own this stuff! (I will buy the dummy book since I want to try and make a mini coop!!... my poor husband will be shocked when he visits at xmas! tee hee! ;D )

My new chick I got the other day we named "Crackers".. Isn't she cute?? She's a black copper maran I got from a lady in town.. My chicken dealer!

And the new chicks in the run! yay! not the most beautiful run.. but it works!!

 

[88heather]

Ooops.. missed Crackers pic..

Here's Crackers!

 

[dsqard]

Heather you should be so proud of yourself! The run really looks great! The "bus stop" is really cute and I think that finding a sign for it is an excellent idea.

The changes that you want to make to the coop are ones that people usually make. There is a list of 10 things in the back of the book that people would have done differently and I am pretty sure putting the nesting boxes on the outside is one of them. They show you how to make nesting boxes in the book as well. I can't believe how easy it was to build the floor following the directions in the book. They also explain how to use all kinds of different tools, how to make all kinds of different cuts and all kinds of simple carpentry skills to make the different coop plans. I love the fact that they list all of the materials you will need and then they break it down into each section so you can go buy exactly what you need for what you are building at the time. I only bought the materials for the floor yesterday and when I was done the only clean up I had was sawdust on the floor since I tossed the small pieces of scrap into the trash. Very handy. I also love the fact that they tell you how many chickens will fit into each coop design so you can decide which one fits your needs the most. It really is a great book!
Anyway, Crackers is adorable and I think the name should stay! You should be able to name at least one of the chickies!
Keep posting pics of your improvements! Your go out there and get 'em attitude is really inspiring!

BTW my first name is DiDi (hence the dsqard = d squared)

 

[vfem]

LOL... drive through town and steal a bus stop sign! I DARE YOU!!!

And you know me... I will egg you on until you do it, and you'll feel like you shouldn't have... then we'll some wine and all will be good!