Another new Aussie

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[liz9910]

 

[LordCluckington]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Also good to hear from a fellow Melbournite "thehappyeggs". Yes we have foxes where I am also (Gowanbrae...near Airport West before you ask). We have lot's of open space, rabbits & hares as well as a wetland close by with ducks. Prime fox country. Fortunately I have built my coop with that in mind and Millie (Millicent) and Ticia (Morticia) are locked up safely at night.

 

[sorie67]

I love your chicken tractor and my father has graciously volunteered to build one for me. I wondered if you have plans for recreating your coop here in the states?

 

[sorie67]

To clarify- plans that I could purchase from you so that I can recreate a coop here in Florida.

 

[sourland]

Hey, Lordd C, glad that you have joined us.

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

 

[LordCluckington]

Hi sorie67,

I appreciate your interest, however, I don't have any detailed plans for the coop. I have a couple of overall concept sketches with the sizing but I actually changed the design as well as construction techniques whilst I was building it, as I came up with additional ideas as well as had to overcome some unforseen problems. In addition, the construction techniques I used ended up being quite time consuming and did use a lot of timber, such that if I were to build one again I would probably use different techniques.
Having said that, I am happy to provide more details, sizing and pictures if you would like.
Just note that to make the coop I made extensive use of a bench mounted saw, free hand router, bench mounted router, compound mitre saw, biscuit joinery, dowelling, pocket hole joinery.
One of the issues I had to overcome was that I planned to make the coop using pocket hole joinery which is a quick and easy technique I have used successfully in softwood timbers like Radiata Pine which is a common building timber here. However, with the hardwood decking timber (Merbau) it had a tendency to chip out and split so I switched to other techniques which are more time consuming. If you have available a cheap, exterior rated softwood timber to use for the framing and doors then I would recommend pocket hole joinery. I use a Kreg jig for this.

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!