Almost Done

[tx203grower]

This is what I've got so far. My girls love it! Just put them in it about 3 days ago. It is 4 feet wide 8 feet long and 4 feet high. I've got 8 chickens all just over a month old. I have 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Production Reds, 2 Black Sex Links, and 2 Barred Rocks. There are three nesting boxes currently installed, though I am wondering if this will be enough. Let me know what y'all think. Still a work in progress however. Need to put the metal roofing on, add wheels to the nesting side, and add a hanging feeder and waterer. Though I am very pleased with the coop, just as it seems the girls are! Please leave your feedback, but be easy! I would really like to know what ya'll think about the nest situation. Goal is to be able to have up to 10 hens. Thanks y'all. Enjoy!

 

[tx203grower]

So I figured it was time to post the finished product. Let me know what y'all think. I'm brainstorming feeder ideas for my next project.

Door side view. Far left are the handles for moving the coop. Rigged over it is an extra waterer I keep out for extra simply due to the extreme Texas heat. Inside you can see my newest addition which is the watering system. Literally only a few days old. Everyone's still adjusting, but making great progress! Gonna be a great system: clean water with less maintenance, plus a larger supply.

Back side of nest area: egg door. Texas registration of course!


The nesting area and upper roosting bar. There is also another roosting bar below it set about 12 inches back; more or less under the nesting box.

This shows the inner left half of the coop. The "water tank" and upper supply line of my watering system, along with my, still, old school feeding system. **Brainstorming** any and all ideas welcome! Thinking something with PVC again.

This is the other side....the lower end of the watering system: four watering nipples, and a capped end. There is a shut off valve located at the "water tank" as well. This allows me to shut off the supply and then drain the remaining line. This is handy for "nipple maintenance", no pun intended. The poultry nipples are screw in, so I would imagine adjustments and replacement of the teflon tape may be needed. Just to the right of this photo is the nesting area, and the lower roosting bar as I previously explained. Sorry for the lack of a photo. ***NEED TO ADD***

This is the handle side. These handles provide a nice and easy way to move the tractor coop.

This is a better, sun glare-less view. This also shows how I rigged up the extra watering station.

That does it. There is my thus-final project. Improving is always a must. I hope you all enjoy. Please leave any questions or comments as I am very interesting in hearing them. Be kind. Thank you!

 

[JanetS]

Looks great!! You did a good job. My only questions is there enough room for 8 chickens to roost? Looks a little tight to me.

 

[tx203grower]

Yes, the coop is 4x8x4 good for about 6-8 hens. My current number is 11 at the moment, though I will thin out to 8 hens and 1 rooster within the next 6 months or so. However, my birds are all free range and are never locked in the coop. With the two roosting bars on the nest side, as well as the cross support for the handles on the other side of the coop, I believe there is plenty of room. They all fit in happy as can be. They spend the majority of the day roaming my yard and return either at dusk to call it a day or to eat and drink.