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

[aart]

and as inexpensive as possible.

Especially if you have a crane/tractor/lift
I didn't realize that the roof was already built and ready to pop up there.
Doing the floor without roof in place had me concerned.
I should have known you'd have all your ducks(chicks?) in a row.

 

[Ted Brown]

Especially if you have a crane/tractor/lift
I didn't realize that the roof was already built and ready to pop up there.
Doing the floor without roof in place had me concerned.
I should have known you'd have all your ducks(chicks?) in a row.

The directions in Woods book are pretty complete/accurate and I have followed them almost exactly - floor goes in before the roof. Only issue I have found is the drawings/measurements do not account for the overlaps of 1" boards on the ends over the sides on front and back. Normally this would not be an issue but I built an elevated frame that was exactly 10' by 16' so had to shorten the front side panels by 2"

Woods says make the floor out of three panels and double planked, I just did it in two sections directly on the beams, seemed simpler.

He also says that "two men or one and a boy" can assemble the whole thing by hand. This may be true if it sits "on the ground" rather than 3 feet up. Even then the two large side panels are big and heavy...

 

[Ted Brown]

New arrivals.

 

[Ted Brown]

My sister and BIL tarped the temporary cage (rain, thunder and lightning expected tonight), added food and water plus various bits of vegetation along with the cardboard boxes they arrived in. Angie (at the feed store that supplied the chickens) said that they would be stressed by the trip from the hatchery and any further disruptions so getting them into a fixed location as quickly as possible was important. I added a half dozen fern branches a wee bit later.

The hens took 10-15 minutes to emerge from the transport boxes but began to wander about the cage thereafter, some more bold than the others. They quickly ate some dried mash and drank water which I took as a good sign. The pine chips seemed to hold as much interest as the watermelon and cantaloupe slices that were spread around - perhaps insects and such embedded?

Very few sounds from them, although one did cluck loudly as I walked the house so guessing I will hear more from them as days go on. No idea what are the signs of stress but if strutting about, eating, pecking at the cardboard boxes are normal I would say they are adjusting to the new habitat.

Viewing arrangements also in place.

 

[aart]

rain, thunder and lightning expected tonight

Oh Bummer!!.....did you cover your floor?

 

[Ted Brown]

Oh Bummer!!.....did you cover your floor?

Four inches of pine mulch on the temporary cage.

Did not yet get the BJ57 on the coop floor since the fiber had separated and settled to the bottom, had to buy a spiral paint mixer. If it does rain the coop floor will have to dry before application.

 

[aart]

If it does rain the coop floor will have to dry before application.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

 

[Ted Brown]

Despite forecasts to the contrary we had a quiet night with only a sprinkle of rain. The next week is to be sunny and around 70F so should be in the clear.

Up several times to check on my "Group of Seven", everything good I will unwrap them shortly. My neighbor Anne has already picked her favorite and named her Grace, I need to learn to distinguish which is which.

 

[jthornton]

I need to learn to distinguish which is which.

Their combs are like a fingerprint, I know all mine by name as each one has some unique feature on their comb. Their name would help me remember who is who by the feature I named them after. For example Molly (Hatchet) has a feature in the back of her comb that looks like an axe...

JT

 

[aart]

I need to learn to distinguish which is which.

Or you could use leg bands..and make notes... if you CRS like me.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/