Authentic Woods KD (Knock Down) 10' by 16' Coop Build

[Ted Brown]

Rainy cool day but I undid the previous attempt and started on modifications that will :

• extend the enclosure to ten feet from six
• extend the ramp from five feet to eight
• add an fold down access panel
• add a roof over the full enclosure

Today I extended the enclosure frame and the ramp.

 

[jthornton]

That looks real good to me. It's fun to address the challenges of keeping chickens safe and happy. Looking forward to the updates on your build.

JT

 

[Ted Brown]

The older pullets have been in the coop full time for almost six weeks, now sharing with the eight chicks. We want to start to integrate the chicks so need to get the older ones outside to begin the process.

Also the coop is beginning to smell because of constant usage, another reason to get the older ones outside during the day and then change the bedding inside; hopefully it will be months before I have to do it again.

This 1st run episode, along with the in-coop brooder and electrical deployments, have shown that building the coop proper against an existing plan is "easy" compared with the fine-tuning that creates a full spectrum "system" that actually works.

 

[aart]

This 1st run episode, along with the in-coop brooder and electrical deployments, have shown that building the coop proper against an existing plan is "easy" compared with the fine-tuning that creates a full spectrum "system" that actually works.

'Field Design'...pretty much inevitable... but, yeah.
How are the poop boards working out?

 

[Ted Brown]

'...How are the poop boards working out?

Very well, now part of the morning collect eggs routine (7am-10:30am like clockwork). The issue is the daytime hours because the older ones are coop bound, should be able to change that starting today.

 

[Ted Brown]

Beautiful day here, sunny and 15C mid-afternoon. Managed to get a lot done AND get the older ladies outside for most of the day giving free run of the coop to the chicks.

As the pictures below show I got the ramp enclosure substantially complete including a coat of metal oxide primer on the roof panels. Also caught the late afternoon sun shining in under the coop. The ladies seemed to enjoy both the new ramp and the sun.

I did not expect to get primer done but with the weather we just went for it. Very happy I am.

 

[blackdog043]

That looks like it will work well, with the modifications.

Do the chicks have the hang of going in and out of the brooder doors?
Will you try integrating this week?

 

[Ted Brown]

...Do the chicks have the hang of going in and out of the brooder doors?
Will you try integrating this week?

The first time I opened the small enter door in the brooder the eight of them lierally burst through and out in less than ten seconds. They have not used the smaller doors (I have three) to re-enter as yet and I expect that they will have to be trained.

My sister will leave one of the older pullets in the coop while the chicks are out tomorrow. She and BIL leave next Tuesday and she very much wants to have them integrated by then.

 

[Ted Brown]

@blackdog043

My sister spend a couple of hours this morning enticing the chicks in and out of the brooder area using food/water. She then sat back and watched while most of independently went back and forth. As usual some that take longer than the others but once one has something down the rest learn quickly.

 

[aart]

@blackdog043

My sister spend a couple of hours this morning enticing the chicks in and out of the brooder area using food/water. She then sat back and watched while most of independently went back and forth. As usual some that take longer than the others but once one has something down the rest learn quickly.

The 'training' is just to get them to 'learn' where the doors are...
....after that they should be good to go.