I've been working on my coop and made pretty good progress! The chickens have been in it for two weeks now, even though it is not yet finished. Ivetried to list pics several times here but always give up ue to the frustration. I use an I phone or kindle fire for Internet and have been unable to post...
Anyway, sorry about getting sidetracked.
The structure of the coop is complete. Four pallets nailed/screwed together for the floor, each wall is made of four pallets. I made the roof out it pallet boards and plywood and shingles it. This didnt work to well due to the weight of the shingles bowing the roof. I will most likely tear this roof off and use corrugated steel.
I made the perimeter of the door from an old bed frame. I nailed pallet flats horozontally to complete the door. I then used pallet flats for siding of the coop. I have the front wall, and a side wall sided. I still need to side the other two walls and make the coop door.
I still have a lot of work to do but it's going good so far!
Before putting the chickens in the coop I put mesh over the windows to keep ou predators. I also put a 1 1/2x1 1/2 roost about 18 inches off ofthe floor. I put it that low due because the chickens were a lot smaller when I put them in the coop. I left the heat lamp on above the roost to keep them warm as they slept.
Last night was the first night for them with the lamp off. This evening I turned the light off and tucked them in for the night. About 9:30 I went out to check on them and freaked when I looked into the window! One of the chickens had climbed onto the top of the mesh that covered the light, beneath the window. It had stuck its head trough the mesh and its head was hangin down like it was dead! Then I saw two more next to t, near the window!
I quickly figured out that it was not dead! I went into the coop and saw the chickens tucked into weird spots and realized the roost was too low to the floor! They have grown quite a bit over the last two weeks and needed a higher roost. So I added another roost about 5 1/2 feet high. I put them all on the perch and they seemed quite content!
Anyway, sorry about getting sidetracked.
The structure of the coop is complete. Four pallets nailed/screwed together for the floor, each wall is made of four pallets. I made the roof out it pallet boards and plywood and shingles it. This didnt work to well due to the weight of the shingles bowing the roof. I will most likely tear this roof off and use corrugated steel.
I made the perimeter of the door from an old bed frame. I nailed pallet flats horozontally to complete the door. I then used pallet flats for siding of the coop. I have the front wall, and a side wall sided. I still need to side the other two walls and make the coop door.
I still have a lot of work to do but it's going good so far!
Before putting the chickens in the coop I put mesh over the windows to keep ou predators. I also put a 1 1/2x1 1/2 roost about 18 inches off ofthe floor. I put it that low due because the chickens were a lot smaller when I put them in the coop. I left the heat lamp on above the roost to keep them warm as they slept.
Last night was the first night for them with the lamp off. This evening I turned the light off and tucked them in for the night. About 9:30 I went out to check on them and freaked when I looked into the window! One of the chickens had climbed onto the top of the mesh that covered the light, beneath the window. It had stuck its head trough the mesh and its head was hangin down like it was dead! Then I saw two more next to t, near the window!
I quickly figured out that it was not dead! I went into the coop and saw the chickens tucked into weird spots and realized the roost was too low to the floor! They have grown quite a bit over the last two weeks and needed a higher roost. So I added another roost about 5 1/2 feet high. I put them all on the perch and they seemed quite content!
