Building my first coop

[Jeepman]

Still have not started my coop. Ugggh! The town is taking forever to get me my building permit.

 

[Jeepman]

Donated my wood I just acquired to a friend that had a tree fall into his house during a storm. We had to remove half of a 60' pine from his bedroom and repair the roof and one outside wall.No one was hurt and at least it smelled good.He's been laid off for over 5 months and did not have enough money to get it started waiting for his insurance company.

I bought all but the roof framing and sheathing for my new planned 10x16 coop. Will need to go back for another load later. Finally get to start this weekend!!!

The pool still is not dug as the back hoe that was at my house had mechanical problems(hydraulic pump). So I have a 27' round pool waiting to be installed on my trailer. I'll start that once my coop is able to be occupied.

 

[Jeepman]

Two of three walls all framed out. One more wall and then I can sheath and roof it.

 

[Jeepman]

Walls built and standing still need to put my cement anchors in the bottom plates. Getting the roof framing, sheathing, and tar paper tomorrow.

Weather permitting I may be close to having it being able to be occupied in less than a week. Not bad for working 70 hours a week, coaching girls softball and playing in two leagues myself.

 

[HEChicken]

Walls built and standing still need to put my cement anchors in the bottom plates. Getting the roof framing, sheathing, and tar paper tomorrow.

Weather permitting I may be close to having it being able to be occupied in less than a week. Not bad for working 70 hours a week, coaching girls softball and playing in two leagues myself.

It seems we are on par. Today I got all 4 walls put together, standing and anchored. I will say, the anchoring was quite a job. I put 6-7 in each of the 14' walls and 5 in each of the 10' walls. Went through my 1/2" masonry bit after doing about half of them. After that I used the 3/8" bit to pilot the hole and finished it with the 1/2". By the last two, even the 3/8" didn't want to do it and I had to borrow a 1/2" from a friend to do the last two. Need to get the Drill Doctor out....

Anyway, be prepared with either multiple bits or a way to keep them sharp as you go.

I also got a door framed in and ready to hang. Didn't have the hinges

so couldn't actually hang it. I got the doors for free, so having to invest in hinges for them is still a good deal.

I won't be able to work on mine tomorrow but Wednesday plan to build the roof trusses and (hopefully) get them installed.

 

[Jeepman]

Things are way beyond this point but I've been working 75-80 hours a week and need to take more pics. It is 16'x10' with 8' walls. I'm waiting 3 weeks on the steel for the roofing as I want it done right. PS the studs around the windows has been corrected. They are doubled up now with the inner supporting the headers. Have not done stick built construction in 12 years. lol

 

[HEChicken]

It looks amazingly similar to mine. If you click on the "My Coop" link, you can see my progress pics.

 

[Jeepman]

Not cool a black bear broke into my run not the coop, had himself trapped after killing my whole flock. DNR had to come out and dart him to get him out. Making a run bear proof is going to be next to impossible. Extremely frustrated right now. He crawled over and bent one of my 6 kennel panels and once it was broke he was too scared off it falling I guess to get back out. When I went out to close the coop up all I found were 6 whole ones, the rest were beaks and legs with him standing up snarling and snapping his jaws. Lucky they got here in time or I'd be having bear for dinner. UGGGGH

 

[HEChicken]

So sorry to hear that. Here I am worrying about raccoons which is probably the worst I have to deal with.

 

[Jeepman]

Sad to say but they also had to put the bear down. He had a radio collar and was found to be raiding garages, breaking into homes, campers, and tents when no one was around. He had been trapped and moved before by the DNR and had been deemed a nuisance bear. Knowing that bear is gone I will reorder chicks and will have a 3' wide aluminum panel attached to my kennel panels so the bears and other critters cannot climb the fence. DNR rangers suggest not keeping them in the run but free range with two roosters as they would not have all died as they are faster than a bear. May try that as the feed mill has chick delivery till August 30th.