also spent the eekend coop building...

[WthrLady]

No photos yet. Sorry.

I bought a set of city biddy coop plans. I love the look of the thing. It's built like a fortress. BuT, the instructions are filled with errors and are not at all clear in some places.

So far we have 28 man hours in this, which includes the trip to lowes.

I must be done by tuesday as the trucks need the garage back for storm protection. We are closing on a new house next week, and i am building it now to occupy my time. It's on wheels, so I'll just roll it into the uhaul.

I am also changing some things to incorporate some things from here. Like the 2x4 perches, and a poop tray, and some ramps.

I have a lot of painting and caulking left and need to raise the walls and put on the roofing. It's modular, which is kind of cool.

Eyeballing that auto door i saw on here...but balking at the $$$ for it.

Still need to buy the locks/hasps, hinges, handles and knobs. $$ project but far better than anything on the open market.

Check back for photos in a few days

 

[WthrLady]

day 3 of infuritating directions and redos

 

[WthrLady]

Instruction also claims it costs about $150 in supplies for this simple plan. Not even CLOSE! Unless tou get a ton of it free...double that estimate easily!

 

[WthrLady]

Put away for the day due to severe weather...

Serious issues with the directions...but the bones are good.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sorry you ended up with not so accurate plans.

I looked up the city biddy and could not find dimensions.
What size is yours?

 

[WthrLady]

3 feet by three feet and almost 5 feet tall.

 

[21hens-incharge]

OH my that is rather small. How many chickens do you plan on or already have?

 

[WthrLady]

3 free range

 

[21hens-incharge]

For 3 that should work well. I have a small coop only a bit larger at 3.5 x 4 and there are currently 4 chickens hanging out in it. I had planned on only 3 in it but Pepper missed her coop mate too much so she moved in too.
In the winter it stays about 10 degrees warmer than the outside air.
Ventilation is key in small coops. Drafts are bad as I am sure you already know.
I have vents at the very highest possible points and on the non wind side of the coop.

On the note of cost 150 is a rather low estimate.
I am thinking a more realistic cost would be 200 to 250.

Will be a cute coop when you are done.

 

[WthrLady]

Try almost 400. Oh well, I've got it built like a brick warehouse!
And it's keeping me entertained.