Building Our Coop - Follow Our Progress!

[mcf3kids]

You guys are pretty funny with the rent out the hubby to build coops - if I did the poor people I sent him to would be POOR! He doesn't know how to do things half way so this coop we are in to for $2500 now - we better LOVE these chickens!

Sadly one of our 24 five day old chicks died yesterday for no apparent reason - she was really healthy and active and had no poop on her butt. We let each of the kids pick out a chicken breed they wanted and name theirs. This one was my oldest daughters and it was a buff polish and sooo cute

My youngest son found it dead where it usually sleeps. A kind of crib (brooder) death? And then there were 23

 

[Chocobroc]

Sorry for your loss of your little chick.

I am so amazed with this coop/run design. It is absolutely beautiful. I could only dream of affording the materials to build it. But... when there is a will there is a way, right?

Look forward to more pics!!

 

[kayla_sayswa]

You've got a freaking awesome coop and run! Can't say that I've seen one built as strong, straight, and beautiful to look at, too!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

WOW, that's gorgeous!! Great job!!

 

[Want Less]

Wow what a coop!!!

 

[Noymira]

This is looking beautiful!

 

[diggergal]

Sorry about your loss. It makes it harder when you have kids involved, unfortunately it is something they have to learn if you want to raise chickens. I had that happen to me. The chicks were three days old and thriving and then on the fourth morning found one dead. The remainder of my chickens are now 5 weeks old and all doing great (knock on wood).

I posted before that we are building a similar run. Your trusses seem close together. Looks like an elephant could stand on your roof. How many feet apart are the trusses set? Really admire your husbands workmanship. Your paint job looks great!

Can't wait to see photos of your chickens in their new coop.

 

[mcf3kids]

The trusses are 16" apart and when he was up on top of the structure securing the roofing I was happy it was nice and strong.

There was a lot of side to side movement at that stage and it was nerve wracking watching him up there - that metal roofing is pretty slick stuff. Now there is no movement at all.

Still working on just how to lay out the roosting bars and looking into that "poop hammock" that was suggested. Liking the idea of that vs. the poop boards which I was thinking could be heavy to take in and out for cleaning/maintenance (although I was thinking I would scrape daily and thoroughly clean weekly/bi-weekly or monthly depending on how much it needs the thorough cleaning).

 

[arodnlys]

Wow Very Nice!

 

[copperpot]

We need to see pictures when your 'Ladies' move in too!