Another Newb gets under way...

[MrTattoohead]

Hello all!

Southern Indiana here, starting down the path to the Cluckpocalypse...

Looked at some coop pictures and ideas on here, then jumped in with all appendages. With pretty much just a napkin scribble. So here's the bare bones:

The side presented will be for the nesting boxes (we're allowed 5 pullets). So putting in 2. Side on the left will be doors for mucking out. Side on right and back will be attached run or food and water.

Question: is it ok for a run to be on an incline, or should that be avoided?

The coop is 4' x 4' and 3' 8" tall. It is raised 2' off the ground. That's all for now, more as the situation develops!

Mr. Tattoohead

 

[rhoffart]

cool another build thread ... I'm subscribed

 

[4 the Birds]

A sloped run is OK and actually nice to have so that water will drain off during big rains.

 

[MrTattoohead]

I was wondering about that. We have red clay in the backyard and it gets mushy. I have an incline or a flattish spot to work with. The only thing is the incline will guide the water under the coop. Is that ok?

 

[4 the Birds]

Your run will quickly lose its grass and become dirt. That will become mud with a lot of rain. I combat the mud with straw, pine chips, and I lay scrap plywood on high traffic areas. The birds like to scratch and dig down. You could add plywood covered pallets under the coop to keep down any mud. Many people use sand but I don't. Hope this helps.

plywood covered pallet to the left.


Run floor..... straw/pine chips added

 

[MrTattoohead]

Very much so! I just want the birds to be happy and healthy!

 

[MrTattoohead]

So here's stage two.

Coop frame embiggened and strengthenated.

Back wall and nesting box wall cut and mounted.

Nesting box aperture cut out with laser like precision...

Tomorrow: cutting nesting box bits and attaching them. Maybe get the run wall and door in place...

 

[MrTattoohead]

Today's additions to Coopocalypse 2013:

Cut and attached the nesting box.

Tomorrow will be figuring out the hatch to get into it and mounting the two roosts.

We're in town, so we have a 5 hen limit. Hopefully, 4x4x3.66 feet is enough space in the coop so that they won't start roosting in a box.

We're going to have a black jersey giant, a salmon faverolle, a barred rock, a buff orpinton, and a silkie! (First timers so we're inordinately excited )

 

[HangingLoos]

Great start! I really do need to use your build energy as an example and get myself to move from planning to making the first cut.

 

[MrTattoohead]

Thanks! Jump in! It's pretty forgiving so far. All I have is a tape measure, a jigsaw, and a drill. It doesn't take much to get going!