Barn Lean-To Coop Build Thread "Coop Knox"

[BaaKaaawk]

Day 9: Ok really starting to come together! Coop doors done. Trim accents done. Battons done. Almost all paining done. Was hoping to finish up this weekend but wasn't in the cards. Still, good progress. I'm literally down to the two run doors and the wire screening on the run. I got the terrible part done which was 300SF of DIRT! Wow, you talk about a pain in the back... literally. But all good now!

 

[aart]

I'd suggest you put some higher boards(8-10") along the side of the run,
or they'll scratch a good bit of that dirt out thru the mesh.
Will you add some bedding in there too(like wood chippings to break down the poops)?

 

[3KillerBs]

Impressively perfect match on the color and styling.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I'd suggest you put some higher boards(8-10") along the side of the run,
or they'll scratch a good bit of that dirt out thru the mesh.
Will you add some bedding in there too(like wood chippings to break down the poops)?

Thanks Aart. Will be doing a lot of cleaning out and adding more dirt over time I suspect. Will be some bedding, but mostly will rake. Also going to *try* free-ranging and see how if goes... although I have a million predators- only the hawks seem to be out in the day and they seem to really like the field mice.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks Aart. Will be doing a lot of cleaning out and adding more dirt over time I suspect. Will be some bedding, but mostly will rake. Also going to *try* free-ranging and see how if goes... although I have a million predators- only the hawks seem to be out in the day and they seem to really like the field mice.

Are there plenty of hiding places in the ranging area?

I have a pallet up on blocks as a hawk shelter in my pen and some other useful clutter too.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Are there plenty of hiding places in the ranging area?

I have a pallet up on blocks as a hawk shelter in my pen and some other useful clutter too.

There are quite a few bushes/plants close but not specific shelters other than the barn (there's a lean-to on the other side as well that is all covered). I'll have to watch them closely when we first start and see where they tend to go and put up some shelters.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Day 10 - Coop and Run are done! I will add some decor / design elements over the next few weeks- but the birds are in and loving their much more free life than a 110 gallon bin! I'm really pleased with how transparent the black hardware cloth is. From a distance you can't even tell it is there. I will add sand under the coop, but for now while the birds are small I have cardboard down over the wire so they can easily walk in there. Tonight starts the fun part of putting them in the coop for bedtime... until they get it themselves. Since I have no adults currently- may take awhile!

 

[3KillerBs]

Beautiful!

I like the chicken observation area too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Really beautiful. But, dumb question - where's the ventilation? Only in the floor? It looked like you had some great gaps to work with in the original framing to put some up high.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Really beautiful. But, dumb question - where's the ventilation? Only in the floor? It looked like you had some great gaps to work with in the original framing to put some up high.

The entire bottom is open, yes. The "ceiling" under the lean-to is a ventilated soffit material that is breathable. I'm going to see how well that actually ventilates... in theory it is about 10% open on the metal, which would equal a 5SF opening in total, which would be plenty of ventilation. If it doesn't ventilate well, I'll drill some 4" holes in the back all the way at the top above the nest boxes since the prevailing wind comes from the other side.