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

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Looks good so far. Can’t wait to see it when is completed.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Any updates on the coop build?

 

[Enchanted1s]

Not much I was hoping to be further along, but it has been a difficult week. I had a doctor's appointment Friday. It was the nicest day we had all week! My doctor is an hour and a half drive - one way. So, that always kills pretty much the whole day. AND, we are getting really low on firewood - so Saturday we had to deal with obtaining more. Today, we have 25mph winds.

The back wall is almost finished. I'm hoping things will go faster after I get that wall up. I didn't leave myself enough room to build on the back wall! We will have to complete the entire exterior of that wall and then stand it up.

The babies will be 8 weeks Tuesday. They REALLY need to go outside! We take them out during the day so they can be seen but not touched - but I am so afraid I will stress them out or kill them, that we bring them inside when we lock up the flock. All of the big birds go to the babies cage and drink their water. None of the big birds seem aggressive towards the babies. The don't make any noises around them - a good sign??

 

[Enchanted1s]

Well, finally a little progress! We have the back wall up! I couldn't leave myself enough room to build the back wall so close to the fence. But, I wanted room for a small run for them and I only have a few feet behind the Leach Field. I am a little concerned that I put the floor of the coop at 36 inches. I did this for me and my bad back but they are not going to have much room to fly down or climb up. I will have to build a series of ramps for them to get up and down. Hopefully that works.

ALSO, Ventilation QUESTIONS - Did I do enough? I put a 1 foot hardware cloth vent across the top of the back up to the coop (38"). Across the back wall of the coop (36:") I put four six inch vent holes. The south end of the structure will be a small storage area - sharing the south wall of the coop and enclosed from the roof down to the floor of the coop. I plan to put vent holes OR the 1 foot by 3 foot vent panel above the front door of the coop. Under the coop will be enclosed with hardware cloth panels 3 foot tall, which I am going to cut metal panels to attach for the winter. ALSO, on the north wall - I will be putting the nest boxes. I was planning to put a 1 foot high hardware cloth panel across the bottom of that wall (with the stored metal panel for winter). Should I do that? OR should I just enclose it? The back wall is enclosed and the front wall will have the door.

One of our pullets laid her first egg Monday, and her second today. Both laying hens are sharing the same nest box, but I did put a second, identical, nest box in their structure. The two pullets are the same age, so we are hoping for 3 eggs a day soon

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Looks good.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Well - I got ZERO replies to my ventilation questions - I hope I am getting it right! I keep going back and forth as to wether we should make the structure completely enclosed - or with hardware cloth screens for the bottom... I am concerned if it is completely enclosed, they may not want to be in there much (too hot)?

Slowly but surely - hoping to get back out there today.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

It looks good so far. Keep up the great work

 

[Enchanted1s]

It is starting to look like ? something LOL. Floor is done AND, I finally have a plan for the run! The run has had me stumped for weeks. We just don't have any room without dealing with the leach field. I got that great deal on the industrial weight gate panels... I am going to use one of them to secure the First Coop - the South Wall & for the run fence on that side. The first coop was thrown together very quickly during some pretty intense storms here in late Sept. It is not very secure, but was only meant to be temporary. So, an additional day or two of work, but has to be done at some point, so may as well get both done.

Anyway - my update pic - The Floor

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I like how you used the metal roofing for siding. Very resourceful.

 

[Enchanted1s]

I like how you used the metal roofing for siding. Very resourceful.

We just got a new roof on the house and the corral - I kept all of the metal from the old roofs, so we have an abundance of it! I am planning on using it as an insulation layer and sand/dirt barrier under the wood too. Here is what the back wall (that no one will ever really see) looks like. I am also cutting metal panels to cover the hardware cloth in the winter - a couple of screws to remove for the rest of the year.

Another nice day - I better get out there!...edit...

I got the winter panels attached on the sections that are built. Almost have the shelves in the storage unit and have their access door framed and stained. Getting there.