Building my first coop! - progress thread

[K0k0shka]

Should be ok.
How big are the openings?

1/2 inch. Too small to stick a head through. The lower edge of the netted sections is 3 1/2 inches off the floor of the box, so they can't accidentally shove a foot through the netting and get it stuck (or kick out the bedding). The only thing I'm thinking they could do is flutter up and get a foot caught in it that way... but the netting is pulled taut so it won't tangle around them like loose bird netting does, I'm hoping they can pull their feet/toes out easily?

 

[K0k0shka]

It’s 99% done. I still need to put in the last finishing touches and take official photos (and to build the run...), but here’s what the coop looks like now!

 

[K0k0shka]

I finally set my eggs today (wohooo!!!) and started my hatching thread. I'm going to document my experience with pictures and explanations, so it can be helpful for others as well. This will be the experience of a first timer dealing with less-than-ideal conditions, and trying to make it work

 

[K0k0shka]

@aart I decided to go your route with the brooder plate

 

[K0k0shka]

The brooder door is done.



The hinges are zip ties:


Has a knob left over from another project, for easier opening:


And this kind of locks:

On the other side, there’s a thin board going across and the lock pieces are screwed into it, sandwiching the cardboard, for better durability:

Everything feels sturdy. All it needs now is bird netting across the top.

 

[K0k0shka]

Here’s my brooder plate!

Taller at the front, shorter at the back.

Now I just need to figure out what to put on top of it to protect the bungee cords and the ends of the pad from the onslaught of poop. I cut the board narrow because I wanted a bit of the pad to hang down on the sides... to make it cozier and to keep the heat in. The front and back are open so chicks have more than one way out.

The bungee cords... have HUGE hooks I bought them on Amazon though, and it was hard to tell from the picture. Now they’re really in the way. I’m leaning towards cutting a second board and drilling in the same places so I can thread the bolts through and attach it on top, then putting shorter, angled boards along the sides to cover the pad ends. I’ll drill holes and zip tie them to the top board because I don’t feel like figuring out angles and putting in extra work for this With boards, I can just scrape the poop off. I don’t really like the towel idea from the cave system... Even with press-and-seal around it, it still seems messy to me.

 

[K0k0shka]

Well I just went and did it. It ended up way overbuilt, compared to my original plans, but I like building and problem solving, so it’s cool. I enjoyed the process and am happy with the result. The top board protects the bungee cords, and the side boards protect the pad ends. I nailed some wood on the sides between the two horizontal boards, so chicks can’t squeeze between them. The front and back have overhangs so hopefully they won’t be able to get in from there.

I shall call it The Airplane Brooder Plate✈

 

[rdcowman]

It’s 99% done. I still need to put in the last finishing touches and take official photos (and to build the run...), but here’s what the coop looks like now!

View attachment 2067264

That's amazing!! hoping to build a new coop soon too

 

[aart]

so chicks can’t squeeze between them

Don't count on it....they are very good at climbing into all kinds of gaps, then getting stuck.
I'd add wood, like the sides, to front and back gaps between boards...
..... and lose the 'wings'

 

[K0k0shka]

and lose the 'wings'

Awww but they’ll poop all over the pad ends! Why?