California - Northern

[Americangame]

Thank you I have a few but they are young so they not laying and my uncle game me eggs so I'm trying not to let them go to waste

 

[MonsterClucker]

Monster - my friend Mary bought hose same coops. With the open fronts, she has been dealing with super early crowing. Depending how rural you are, it may not be a huge issue.
I would put some hardware cloth to protect them. I once had a raccoon pull a fully grown Orp through a 1 inch by 2 inch opening - piece by piece. It was not pretty.

Oh wow! Nice! Is she happy with them? Or is early crowing a problem for her? I'm pretty far out and I havemt had any complaints, yet. But I don't mind that. How has she handled them crowing so early? I'm definitely gonna reinforce with hardware cloth, for sure. I could have had him put it on for a extra $50.

Is there just one roost bar down low? I would add higher roost bars for birds who need it (not silkes or very heavy orps etc). My birds generally are ok fliers, but do like to roost at the highest point. You might also find some chickens sleeping in the nest boxes if they don't have options to roost higher up than the nests. If you ever have a predator problem, you could also easily replace the 2x4 wire with hardware cloth. Another option would be electric fences a very good dog etc.

Other than that they look like pretty nice coops It  almost looks like you could attach wheels or skids and be able to move them when needed.

Trisha

Hey Trisha. Yes he did put the roosts a little low. I'll make sure to tell him for the next 2, to put them up higher and another roost on the back wall.
I do have my 2 dogs Cajun and Zulu who chase coyote on occasion. I have been thinking about a dedicated LGD for my chickens. More than likely ill get one. I live dogs anyway!

I love the wheel idea, but they are ridiculously heavy! But I could think about a idea for that I'm sure!

 

[zooweemama]

Pics of the new coops!

Here you can see the hoop coops on the left and right side of the 2 new coops. Eventually, all my breeders will be in the new style coop and the hoops will ne used for other holding places.
Also the fenced in run on the left hand side hoop coop, will be on every coop. I put together another one today in the storm lol

Curious Basque chickens checking out the new coops!


The nest boxes are really nice. They have a reflective insulated cover to keep warmth in and reflect off the sun rays.
And there latches on both sides to make sure no egg thieving is going on!

I had him put the door and nest boxes on the same side thinking I could place the coops horizontal facing with a run in the other side, but seeing how the weather comes from the southwest, which would have blown rain into the coops. I just placed them facing long ways to have the fully protected side facing southwest.

And here's the inside. Nest boxes to the left, roost to the right. I'm gonna have to build another roost on that back wall and cut a chicken door below it.
I like them a lot. What'd ya guys think?
Any suggestions? Criticism? Scrutiny?
I'm trying to come up with a pretty final idea on my housing situation So I would appreciate ANY food for thought.
Thanks
Mike

It looks great! I def agree that you need hardware cloth on the bottom. And as I have found out- wood on dirt makes a wet floor so you might want to dig a trench leading water away if you have an issue with that (we do *groan*). I really like these! How many chickens can you fit into 1?

 

[ronott1]

Thank you I have a few but they are young so they not laying and my uncle game me eggs so I'm trying not to let them go to waste

Where do you live? There is probably someone close to you with incubator space.

I have one running and live in Woodland.

 

[zooweemama]

Hello ca People I'm new to the site an looking to start hatching eggs with incubator, does anyone have broody hens in the northern ca area ? I have a few eggs I want to hatch out

Hello there! Welcome to the chicken club!

 

[zooweemama]

great ideas Ron!. I think it would be a little easier to put wire on the bottom than to dig trenches. Hardware cloth around the bottom going around the runs or on the floor?
I still have some customizing to do to them. I like this guys skill level of work he does. Real sturdy and high quality.

We did hardware cloth up 2 feet on the sides and the entire floor. The thing was fort knox for vermin wanting to come in. We didn't dig though. We made a frame thing with the cloth and then put it inside. If that makes sense.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Attach hardware cloth a couple of fee high to the existing wire. Like happy chooks posted, Raccoons will pull the chickens through the big gaps. It sounds pretty gruesome too.

Also like TLS_Ranch said, give them some high roosts too. Also, make sure you have 1 foot per chicken of roost.

I like them!

 

[Miss Molly]

Pics of the new coops! Here you can see the hoop coops on the left and right side of the 2 new coops. Eventually, all my breeders will be in the new style coop and the hoops will ne used for other holding places. Also the fenced in run on the left hand side hoop coop, will be on every coop. I put together another one today in the storm lol Curious Basque chickens checking out the new coops! The nest boxes are really nice. They have a reflective insulated cover to keep warmth in and reflect off the sun rays. And there latches on both sides to make sure no egg thieving is going on! I had him put the door and nest boxes on the same side thinking I could place the coops horizontal facing with a run in the other side, but seeing how the weather comes from the southwest, which would have blown rain into the coops. I just placed them facing long ways to have the fully protected side facing southwest. And here's the inside. Nest boxes to the left, roost to the right. I'm gonna have to build another roost on that back wall and cut a chicken door below it. I like them a lot. What'd ya guys think? Any suggestions? Criticism? Scrutiny? I'm trying to come up with a pretty final idea on my housing situation So I would appreciate ANY food for thought. Thanks Mike

Very Nice Mike...and just in time! Congrats on your New Chickens Very Exciting!

 

[MonsterClucker]

It looks great! I def agree that you need hardware cloth on the bottom. And as I have found out- wood on dirt makes a wet floor so you might want to dig a trench leading water away if you have an issue with that (we do *groan*). I really like these! How many chickens can you fit into 1?

I think I can fit about 7 birds in there at night. They are out at dawn. I don't think Ill have a issue with flooding because we are on a hill and the ground here soaks water like crazy. our pond has filled in a bit, but not much else. I guess this week will be like a test.

We did hardware cloth up 2 feet on the sides and the entire floor. The thing was fort knox for vermin wanting to come in. We didn't dig though. We made a frame thing with the cloth and then put it inside. If that makes sense. 

Do you guys have a lot of trees and shrubbery around your place? My place is literally open plains. I can count the number of trees in about a 30 acre radius. We have like 5 trees on my property! It sucks. But the only benefit I have actually noticed were fewerr predators. Their around, but the most problem I've had all year were hawks. My Doberman and bull dog roam around my entire 5 acres. I've seen them chase 1 coyote. And I font think any raccoons live around here. Thank god I've been spared as far as predators.

Attach hardware cloth a couple of fee high to the existing wire. Like happy chooks posted, Raccoons will pull the chickens through the big gaps. It sounds pretty gruesome too.

Also like TLS_Ranch said, give them some high roosts too. Also, make sure you have 1 foot per chicken of roost.

I like them!

I can have the builder customize pretty much any feature I need changed. Im going to make a list from the ideas here to have work into the next coops.
Hardware cloth*
Higher roosts*
And I'm going to ask him if there's a way to move them around. either wheels or skids I really like that idea too.

I was thinking ventilation at the roof also

 

[MonsterClucker]

Very Nice Mike...and just in time!
Congrats on your New Chickens Very Exciting!

Thank you Molly!

JUST IN TIME!! No Joking!