Anyone else get their MPC special? **Pics and updates**

[shelleyd2008]

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You could make one like this, it was pretty easy! Your DH would just need to help you with attaching the panels, I did this one by myself except for the panels

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I hate pea-combs, they are so hard!! One thing I learned about them though, the males combs go back farther on the head, if that makes any sense. So since you have others to compare with, you should be able to figure it out

 

[Soccer Mom]

I'll stare really hard at combs in the morning. Thanks! I think that I've got two roos. Hickory is certainly a roo and I'm still on the fence about Thistle, but leaning to the roo side. Still very unsure about Blackberry.

Great hoop coop, Shelly. My son is building one for his 4-H Broilers. How long did it take you to build?

 

[shelleyd2008]

it took me about 3 days to get it done, but I didn't have the materials where they were easily accessed

I had to go digging around the yard, in different piles of lumber, then I had to find the staples, screws, zip ties, wire, all that stuff was here, just scattered everywhere

If I were a bit more organized it wouldn't have taken so long. It was still easier than building a coop!

 

[Soccer Mom]

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Heh, you build like we do! DH has everything "somewhere" around the property. 3 days sounds good. The broilers come January 13th. I figure we can brood them in the garage for a couple weeks and then out to the hoop coop they go.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I'll be making some more of these, once I get my real coop done. The coop is for the little (bantam) breeders, the hoop houses will be for the egg layers and big breeders

I'll probably make one or two for the stupid guineas as well, anything to get them out of the barn rafters!

 

[Soccer Mom]

In the rafters? Look out below!

We built an A-frame for the guineas and it works great. Even my donkeys like it. My mini donks can't wait for me to let the guineas out each morning so they can rush in and scrounge up any leftover crumbles.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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Tell me about it, and they seem to wait until I go in there to let 'er rip!!

The chickens and guineas all are in the rafters right now, but that will soon change

I've got the floor and 3 walls done for my coop, so it's almost there! I think making the inside pens will be the biggest pain, but at least I'll be inside, once I get the outside of it done

It's not too cold yet, so I should be all right

My 'coop' is 10x10, and will have 12-5'x3', and 6-4'x3' pens in it. The bigger ones would be for breeders, the smaller for babies. At least that's the plan

 

[Soccer Mom]

Sounds like a great plan. I confess that I"m spoiled by having a handy husband (he's got to be good for something, right?). He likes to build things. Of course he disappears when it's time to clean poo, but

I still think I'll keep him.

I'm in awe of folks who can build all their own things. If I had to do it, I'm afraid all the birds would be sleeping in the garage.

But that hoop coop looks like something even I might tackle if I was so inspired (hint, hint, Tipsydog! You can do it!)

 

[shelleyd2008]

It was pretty easy, I was actually surprised that I did so much of it myself!

My dad had to help me with putting the panels on, I think that would be a 2-person job regardless of who was doing it. Of course I zip-tied the wire on for the most part, so that was pretty easy

I'm the one making my coop right now though, but I did have some friends help with the floor. My dad says he's going to help me with it, I just hope I have the structure of it ready to go before he jumps in. He's the type that just 'throws' things together, then makes the parts fit. I've only got so many sheets of OSB, I'd rather not have to piece it together!

I've got one wall standing (that friends helped with) and one wall laying on the ground, with another laying on the floor of the coop that's almost done. So one more wall, then dad can help me set it up...Of course, I'll 'let' him help with the roof