Adventures with Chicken Coop building

[aart]

i thought about putting them 18" from the left side wall, and 18" and 24" off floor - thoughts?

It's really hard to fit a poop board into a 4x6.
I'd put a single removable roost along the french door wall (12" away),
put the poop trays on the floor.
Would make it easy to grab the trays and the birds for exams.

Here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[MaGlockner]

so here's a couple of things -- would like opinions from the learned chicken gallery:

1. Neighbor legit saw a bobcat!!!! walking through his yard last week, mid day ... holy moly. how to keep chickens safe from that predator????

2. we are wondering if the weight of the plywood would pull out the hinges on french doors. Also wondering if animals would try to get their noses under. Possible workaround would be pull up doors. I'm less enamored of that because i think it makes clean up harder. Thoughts?

Clearly the trail cam I wanted to buy a while ago needs to be purchased sooner rather than later.

Also, any thoughts on automatic coop doors????
At some point the pandemic will end and I will need to work from the office rather than home.

 

[3KillerBs]

Looking at the likely predator load here at our new country property we've decided that we'll be using electric fence as well as other ant-predator measures.

We know that we have raccoons, opossums, foxes, hawks, and varying levels of stray dogs.

We know that the area has coyotes.

Bobcats and eagles are possible.

Bears are not *known* in this part of central NC, but the flooding from the hurricanes a few years ago are known to have pushed bears and wild boars out of their low-lying eastern habitat towards the piedmont so it's not impossible.

Not to mention the need to keep deer out of the orchard we're planting.

I had the suburbanite's timidity about electric fence when we started planning this, but we concluded that electric is the way to go.

 

[MaGlockner]

ok. they are out. in their space. it's not finished, but close enough. There are minor things to do and one major thing which can be done later. I had to get them out as I needed my downstairs bath ... here are some photos.

The run was built in four foot panels. The outdoor space is approx. 72 sq ft for 5 hens. The coop is 6x4. There will be an external egg box at some point, but I have a bit of time on that as they are still 14 weeks.

 

[3KillerBs]

That looks nice.

You won't regret making the run tall enough to walk into.

 

[MaGlockner]

I have a chair I bring in at least once a day so I can sit and hang out with them. I'm surprised at how absolutely peaceful it is. They have 50% more than the recommended space and it seems to keep peace.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have a chair I bring in at least once a day so I can sit and hang out with them. I'm surprised at how absolutely peaceful it is. They have 50% more than the recommended space and it seems to keep peace.

I call it "Chillin' With My Peeps".

I'll take a book or my Bible study out there and just sit for an hour or so in the evening. Lovely way to de-stress after work.

 

[MaGlockner]

We are pretty much done here. Have some photos to share. There's still a bit of painting to do on the egg box, plus a few minor things here and there. Otherwise, this is it.

 

[RainbowHen]

We are pretty much done here. Have some photos to share. There's still a bit of painting to do on the egg box, plus a few minor things here and there. Otherwise, this is it.

Great job!

 

[MaGlockner]

lined the nest boxes with chopped straw, lavender, calendula and fresh lemon balm. the girls seem happy.