prez2028
In the Brooder
Ok, so a few weeks ago I had asked for some ideas on how to build a coop on a budget since everything pre-fab was either too small or way too expensive. I got a few great ideas (like the hoop coop and converting an old kids playhouse) and realized that our neighbor was trying to give away their old wooden swing set/fort! So we are currently in the process of converting said play set.
My husband (who is a welder and has worked on random wood projects with his dad in the past) drew up some rough sketches to figure out what he would need material-wise and a general idea of what we are doing. it will be about 25 sq. ft when we are all said and done and are building an A-Frame run from the old swing set part with a portion of it covered. Here is what I have already told him I need:
- 2 doors (one on each side of the coop) for cleaning out the coop
- wire cloth for the run and to cover vents/the window we are putting in and to go under the coop
- one window for the summer
- 3 nesting boxes (we only have 6 chickens but they are RIRs/ISA Brown so I want them to be comfortable)
- roosting bars
- potentially poop boards
- pop door (which I would like to be automated if possible)
- space for water/food in the coop
- area for dust bath
- door to the run that I can walk through if need be
- vents in the coop
- insulation (between sheets of plywood)
If there is anything I am missing, help a girl out!
Here are some things I know I need some help with though. I am a visual person and I have found a lot of articles and commentary on the these subjects, but I really need to see these in action, so if you have examples, I would love to see them!
1) Roofing - We live near Kansas City (United States) and we have anywhere from mild-single digits in the winter time and very humid summers with the average temperature being in the mid to high 90s depending on the year. (our weather is crazy. For the last 2 months it has snowed at least a little every Thursday, lol). So I need a roofing that will keep rain out and keep the temperature semi constant. The shape will be more like a normal housetop. What roofing do you use?
2) Floor of the coop - Since we are planning on putting the hardware cloth on the bottom of the run area, what should we put down over it? As I mentioned their will be a potion of the run that is covered for shade/weather protection and the rest would be exposed. Under the coop part, I was thinking we would do the dust bath since it would be more protected. Thoughts?
3) Dust bath - what do I use for that?
4) Latches - we do have raccoons around here and I would like to have some good ideas on predator proof/highly resistant latches for the Nesting box, the 2 doors and the walk in door to the run.
5) Vents - I see so many articles about the importance of vents and an idea of where they need to go, but I have yet to see examples of what those vents look like, since they need to not be drafty but still keep the air fresh. Our weather typically comes from the west/southwest (northwest in the winter time). Also, while I like the idea of the Deep bedding method, I don't think I would have the ability to stay on top of it like I needed to, so I am planning on cleaning out as needed.
6) Ramp from the coop - So the run will be about 10ft long, and the coop is about 4ft off the ground. I have read you don't want to have the pitch too steep without having extra slats, but I also don't want to have the ramp go from the coop to the end of the run. Thoughts?
7) Feed and water in the coop/run. Is it good to have both food and water out in the run, or just the water? Any great solutions that make it hard to scratch out the food? We have been looking at making a food box/PVC piping in the coop for the food, but my concern is it will take up too much space. Thoughts are appreciated!
Currently, those are all the burning questions I have been trying to figure out! I have tried to look stuff up on here as much as possible, but with two kids under 3, I can only spend so much time! Thank you so much for bearing through my newbie questions and dilemmas and I look forward to seeing responses, examples and inputs!
Here is the before before pictures, and I am excited to see the finished product!
My husband (who is a welder and has worked on random wood projects with his dad in the past) drew up some rough sketches to figure out what he would need material-wise and a general idea of what we are doing. it will be about 25 sq. ft when we are all said and done and are building an A-Frame run from the old swing set part with a portion of it covered. Here is what I have already told him I need:
- 2 doors (one on each side of the coop) for cleaning out the coop
- wire cloth for the run and to cover vents/the window we are putting in and to go under the coop
- one window for the summer
- 3 nesting boxes (we only have 6 chickens but they are RIRs/ISA Brown so I want them to be comfortable)
- roosting bars
- potentially poop boards
- pop door (which I would like to be automated if possible)
- space for water/food in the coop
- area for dust bath
- door to the run that I can walk through if need be
- vents in the coop
- insulation (between sheets of plywood)
If there is anything I am missing, help a girl out!
Here are some things I know I need some help with though. I am a visual person and I have found a lot of articles and commentary on the these subjects, but I really need to see these in action, so if you have examples, I would love to see them!
1) Roofing - We live near Kansas City (United States) and we have anywhere from mild-single digits in the winter time and very humid summers with the average temperature being in the mid to high 90s depending on the year. (our weather is crazy. For the last 2 months it has snowed at least a little every Thursday, lol). So I need a roofing that will keep rain out and keep the temperature semi constant. The shape will be more like a normal housetop. What roofing do you use?
2) Floor of the coop - Since we are planning on putting the hardware cloth on the bottom of the run area, what should we put down over it? As I mentioned their will be a potion of the run that is covered for shade/weather protection and the rest would be exposed. Under the coop part, I was thinking we would do the dust bath since it would be more protected. Thoughts?
3) Dust bath - what do I use for that?
4) Latches - we do have raccoons around here and I would like to have some good ideas on predator proof/highly resistant latches for the Nesting box, the 2 doors and the walk in door to the run.
5) Vents - I see so many articles about the importance of vents and an idea of where they need to go, but I have yet to see examples of what those vents look like, since they need to not be drafty but still keep the air fresh. Our weather typically comes from the west/southwest (northwest in the winter time). Also, while I like the idea of the Deep bedding method, I don't think I would have the ability to stay on top of it like I needed to, so I am planning on cleaning out as needed.
6) Ramp from the coop - So the run will be about 10ft long, and the coop is about 4ft off the ground. I have read you don't want to have the pitch too steep without having extra slats, but I also don't want to have the ramp go from the coop to the end of the run. Thoughts?
7) Feed and water in the coop/run. Is it good to have both food and water out in the run, or just the water? Any great solutions that make it hard to scratch out the food? We have been looking at making a food box/PVC piping in the coop for the food, but my concern is it will take up too much space. Thoughts are appreciated!
Currently, those are all the burning questions I have been trying to figure out! I have tried to look stuff up on here as much as possible, but with two kids under 3, I can only spend so much time! Thank you so much for bearing through my newbie questions and dilemmas and I look forward to seeing responses, examples and inputs!
Here is the before before pictures, and I am excited to see the finished product!