Building a new area for the birds - Please Help me do it right.

[Enchanted1s]

Those babies! Last night - they decided to roost on top of the removable divider wall! I thought it was a small enough space that they wouldn't but they did. Silly birds - it had to be colder up there! I fixed it this morning so they can't do that again. It was only about a 6 inch space at the roof!

Didn't get a lot done today. BUT, I am really hoping that it is finished next week! The structure that is. I am still not 100% sure what I am going to do with the pen/run. I think they enjoy being able to roam.

Thought I would put a side by side. Looks a little different I got MOST of the lumber (minus the OSB & doors) from the free playhouse we picked up on Christmas Eve.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Those babies! Last night - they decided to roost on top of the removable divider wall! I thought it was a small enough space that they wouldn't but they did. Silly birds - it had to be colder up there! I fixed it this morning so they can't do that again. It was only about a 6 inch space at the roof!

Didn't get a lot done today. BUT, I am really hoping that it is finished next week! The structure that is. I am still not 100% sure what I am going to do with the pen/run. I think they enjoy being able to roam.

Thought I would put a side by side. Looks a little different I got MOST of the lumber (minus the OSB & doors) from the free playhouse we picked up on Christmas Eve.

View attachment 1268247 View attachment 1268242

It’s looking great! Are you going to combine the two groups of chickens into one flock?

 

[Enchanted1s]

It’s looking great! Are you going to combine the two groups of chickens into one flock?

Oh yes - they are pretty much together now. We have been letting them work things out for themselves this week. The babies have been (for the most part) unsupervised and hanging out in the old coop most of the time. The two older pullets have been over to the new structure several times, but I am still out there a lot during the day. So far, the older ones have shown little interest in going into the babies house, and the layers don't seem to mind that the babies stay in their house and watch while they lay. We don't know what's normal behavior, so as long as no one is being mean to anyone - I consider it a successful start. Rudy has shown little interest in the babies. The babies don't follow when the older ones leave the area - yet...

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

So how many chickens do you have now? Are you going to combine the two coops into one large coop with attached run?

 

[Enchanted1s]

So how many chickens do you have now? Are you going to combine the two coops into one large coop with attached run?

I cannot decide! Is it weird that we are thinking that we will let the chickens decide? I cannot for the life of me decide what to do with a run - or no run??? I was initially thinking it would be nice to have them in just one coop, but the older ones seem to want to stay in the old one. We now have a total of 7 - Rudy & Tootie are about 1 year. Tina and Rosie (the twins) just started laying this month, and the three babies [12 weeks Tuesday].

Windy today and worse tomorrow so I cannot finish the roof. Almost have the door in, so just the nesting boxes and all the little things like feeders, PVC water system etc. Oh, ya - I have to put the doors on my storage unit side still too. It was dark and raining when I came in so the pic is bad - I will put a better one up tomorrow. The space between the door and coop door is framed in hardware cloth. I was going to fill it in with wood, but decided there should be a tiny bit of light from the front?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I think you should attach the old coop to the new coop and make the old coop into a run. That way if you ever have to lock them all up for an extended period of time they’ll have enough room to be comfortable

 

[Enchanted1s]

I think you should attach the old coop to the new coop and make the old coop into a run. That way if you ever have to lock them all up for an extended period of time they’ll have enough room to be comfortable

I had thought about that and dismissed it as a dumb idea. Looking at it again, but not sure I left enough room for an access door under the nest boxes. It sure would be a pain to change that! So far, I am not seeing a way to give them access to go from one to the other... I was already thinking about connecting the roofs...

Weather still not cooperating. I don't like roofs to begin with, so I am not even attempting it with 20mph winds. Finished the door and called it a day.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

You could make a covered corridor to connenct the two coops.

 

[Enchanted1s]

The problem is - there is no place to put a corridor that would not be blocking access to a door. We have to get into the area between the two structures as the laying boxes will be there. I was hoping perhaps under the nest boxes - but that would be a very small access portal for them.

LATER SAME DAY - I am still revisiting this idea, and I think I may have found a way.

Just when I was thinking we were about to get these chickens settled... tonight, Tootie did not go to bed! We noticed she had been in the nest box most of the day, but she would not leave the box to go to bed. The babies have been spending most of their time in the old coop/run with the girls when they lay their eggs. It looks like spending all this time with the babies has stirred up her motherly instincts.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Tonight will be Tooties 5th night in the nest box on her eggs. We discussed it and decided if she wanted to stay there while we work around her - then she can be a mother, at least once. I am already regretting that decision, but she is still there. I am going to continue working her direction.

I have the two roofs connected, but the wind continues to win the battle for the roof. I am just too small to fight the wind. BUT, oh what a find my better half found on OfferUp this week! FREE, well almost - I had to rent a trailer and drive to the city for it - 16 foot long tongue and groove planks. 1x6, look like the have been outside but unused. One has a small corner damaged but 8 were still bundled. We got 16 boards total. Now those would have been great for this coop, but I am sure I will find a use for them!

I remember just a few months ago complaining because I didn't have my wood pile anymore (after relocating). I'm getting there