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

[aart]

When did you paint those windows, it's what Dad and I call a 'good red'...
...or is this another CRS moment for me?
Can yo close the windows without climbing onto roof?

How do lights 'protect the ladies'?

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart The windows came already painted from a friend who had cast them off in favour of more modern ones; he (like you it sounds) is a "good red fiend" and has his three roofs the "Bright Red" that is popular in Quebec and elsewhere.

You may be pleased to hear that I will be painting the steel roof panels in the same "bright red colour"; hope to do that next Tuesday/Wednesday when we get temperatures above 10C for 48 hours; will have to erect a tarp over the coop as it is also forecast to rain.

The lights were purchased by sister/BIL and are meant to make us happy not to protect the ladies. Protection will come in the form of a 1.2 Joule fence charger to be delivered tomorrow; 110V style with enough wire to surround the coop and runs several times. @Folly's place suggested baiting it once installed so that the varmints will get "lite up" to match the LED lights around the top. Should be quite a sight...

Life is good when one has chickens!

 

[jthornton]

Getting close to the finish line? Looking real good!

How are the chicks?

JT

 

[jthornton]

Protection will come in the form of a 1.2 Joule fence charger

That's a nice hot fence charger! You will test it only once with your finger...

JT

 

[aart]

baiting it once installed so that the varmints will get "lite up" to match the LED lights around the top. Should be quite a sight...

You'll need a video game cam to catch that action!

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart I have to get on the roof to close the monitor, will fix that next Spring but too many other things to get done that are higher on the totem pole.

@jthornton I thought I was getting close until sister and I wrote a list of everything that yet needs to be done. She and BIL then extended their stay for 10 days to continue their help, good folk them.

The chicks are thriving, at least twice their birth size and seem to grow some everyday. I made a copy of aart's Pseudo Brooder 'Plate', has been a huge success. We have been moving the chicks outside onto the south facing deck for 4-6 hours everyday; they go nuts with pleasure. My temporary cage - lots of space (8' by 3' footprint and 6' high), multilevel roosts, a cardboard Tepee, food, water AND the mama plate. The chicks are up and down off the roosts, fly for close to the length of the cage and rarely stop to rest and/or warm up. Today we had 10C and cooling quickly after 5pm, appears to be no ill effects and hope that the exposure is getting them ready for their move to the coop. Hoping to get that sorted tomorrow once the rest of the PVC conduit for electrical install arrives. The only negative is when we bring them back in at end of day; they protest and then clamour in the morning to get back out.

 

[aart]

hope that the exposure is getting them ready for their move to the coop.

Yes, it's great for them!

 

[jthornton]

The only negative is when we bring them back in at end of day; they protest and then clamour in the morning to get back out.

Have some treats at bed time so they want to come back in like dried meal worms if you can get it. Sounds like everyone is having fun.

JT

 

[Folly's place]

I LOVE your coop!!! Wonderful!
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

@Folly's place Thank you!

The best part is that my seven pullets seem to love the place and expect that the eight chicks will as well. I have eggs from six of the seven on an almost daily basis, I think this is probably the best test.