Building my first coop! - progress thread

[K0k0shka]

Got an updated 'as-built' floor plan showing doors and windows with some dimensions?

Here's an updated plan. The inside coop dimensions are exactly 5x7. I'm going to put the nesting box by the windows with a flat top, so they can hop up there and look out the windows

Any interest in a poop board?
Could help block drafts from pop door.

No, I don't want a poop board. I'm gonna do what CompostKing does - collect a manure pile mixed in with lots of pine shavings to keep it dry, then occasionally shovel it out when it starts to build up. But now I'm wondering if I could put a shelf type of overhang thing just above the pop door on the inside, to help block drafts....

How many birds will(do?) you have?

The target number is 4, but I'll temporarily have more until I cull the roosters (I'll be hatching so I'll inevitably have extras and roosters for a while). But at that point they'll still be small... and I might add a temporary roost if they don't all fit, until I eat the extras/roosters

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I think your coop is beautiful. Keep doing what you are doing. You have some very good ideas. I have an idea you are somewhat OCD. I know I tend to be as well. I felt like the roosts were better in the first picture. The nests will be great under the windows. Are you going to have hanging feeders and waterers? Are you going to pipe in water and run electricity?

Karen

 

[K0k0shka]

I think your coop is beautiful. Keep doing what you are doing. You have some very good ideas. I have an idea you are somewhat OCD. I know I tend to be as well. I felt like the roosts were better in the first picture. The nests will be great under the windows. Are you going to have hanging feeders and waterers? Are you going to pipe in water and run electricity?

Karen

Thanks Karen! I'll have a hanging feeder, not sure the waterer needs to hang as well. I was thinking of placing the waterer on a stump, with horizontal nipples. The coop is pretty close to the garage, so I'll run a heavy duty outdoor extension cord from the garage to the coop for electricity. I have a solar light there already, so I'll really only need electricity in the winter, to keep the water from freezing.

I think OCD is a bit much I just want this to look nice and be done well, because I love building and am doing this as a fun activity for myself (the building and the future chickens both). Figuring out all the little details and getting it just right brings me a lot of joy. Some people like shopping or watching football to decompress... I like building things

 

[K0k0shka]

Progress from the past few nights’ worth of work: I built the nest box! I really liked @aart ’s round entry openings so I borrowed that idea I cut out another set of circles to layer on top and make the rim wider, so the edges would be more comfortable on the chicken’s feet (I used leftover pieces of the 1/2” OSB boards for the box). I have two nests in there and the two round openings side by side were too tempting... I couldn’t help myself and gave them a beak I may scallop the overhang of the top (it will eventually open so the overhang is for easier grabbing), and will paint it all in red and white for a leghorn look. I’m really having fun with this!

 

[aart]

I couldn’t help myself and gave them a beak I may scallop the overhang of the top

go for the scallop, comblike.

What are the dimensions on that W x D x H and Dia?
You know they're gonna poop up the top?

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Thanks Karen! I'll have a hanging feeder, not sure the waterer needs to hang as well. I was thinking of placing the waterer on a stump, with horizontal nipples. The coop is pretty close to the garage, so I'll run a heavy duty outdoor extension cord from the garage to the coop for electricity. I have a solar light there already, so I'll really only need electricity in the winter, to keep the water from freezing.

I think OCD is a bit much I just want this to look nice and be done well, because I love building and am doing this as a fun activity for myself (the building and the future chickens both). Figuring out all the little details and getting it just right brings me a lot of joy. Some people like shopping or watching football to decompress... I like building things

I don't think you are totally OCD, just kinda. I'm constantly finding new projects for my chicken coop. I know how you feel.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Progress from the past few nights’ worth of work: I built the nest box! I really liked @aart ’s round entry openings so I borrowed that idea I cut out another set of circles to layer on top and make the rim wider, so the edges would be more comfortable on the chicken’s feet (I used leftover pieces of the 1/2” OSB boards for the box). I have two nests in there and the two round openings side by side were too tempting... I couldn’t help myself and gave them a beak I may scallop the overhang of the top (it will eventually open so the overhang is for easier grabbing), and will paint it all in red and white for a leghorn look. I’m really having fun with this!
View attachment 1949366

Very nice!

 

[K0k0shka]

What are the dimensions on that W x D x H and Dia?
You know they're gonna poop up the top?

The whole box is 24"W x 14"D x 16"H, and the openings are 9" in diameter.
I thought a lot about what to do with the top. I know they're gonna poop all over it if it's flat, but at the same time, I wanted to give them a place to hop up and look out the window. Because of the geometry of where things are and my constraints on where I can put the doors and windows, I wasn't able to give them a window in the roosting area. I know chickens like windows, so I wanted to give them some access to a window. I don't have enough room for an additional piece of furniture or perch by the window, so I decided to combine the window lookout with the nesting box. I'll take pretty pictures of it after it's painted and ready and looks like a chicken face, and then I'll hang a scraper next to it and let them poop away.

 

[K0k0shka]

Alright, new roosting setup. We went for a walk in the woods and the kids helped me pick out a bigger, longer branch for a new roost. It spans the whole length of the coop, so if it gets too cold or drafty near the pop door, the chickens can just move over to the other end. I put the farther, more sheltered end higher up to entice them to roost there. The second branch slopes down and will serve as a ramp up/down. Do you think that would work? Does it look practical in terms of getting up/down, maneuvering, and drafts? There’s about a foot between the top roost and the wall, and it’s at the same height as the horizontal 2x4 support so they can step on that as well while getting in position.

 

[K0k0shka]

Went log hunting. I’m starting to plan the run, and want some stump stools for us to sit on while hanging out with the chickens. I also want to build them some kind of climbing/perch structure out of logs and branches.