Consolidated Kansas

[LN2008]

Quote:
It's at Lowes! And you have to go clear back into the lumber section and it's all against a wall. They have siding, roofing- all kinds. Plus, they even have colored plastic for roofing and clear plastic for sunlight! They had a great selection- even that new Ondura stuff I was interested in (corrugated shingle material). Hopefully yours has the great selection that mine has. Oh- and they just have examples of the metal stuff on the wall- you choose which one you want and then they have to drive out back and pick it up for you out there.

Thanks, Renee- I'm glad to hear that watery poop isn't all bad- or at least isn't always caused by disease. I've noticed my turkey doing it sometimes even when the mister is on her- and it's like 110+ outside. I think it's just hard on it her. After reading all of the disease horror stories with everyone's birds, I was starting to worry that she may have something she could pass on to my new chicks. I won't be putting new baby chicks with her right away, of course. But they will be together after they have gotten a bit older and I can be sure that Seymore won't hurt them.

Be careful with the clear plastic, the sun will warp it. I was going to use it on my chicken tractors but after I bought some I got to thinking that it would act like a green house and fry my birds.

Yeah, I'd prefer the tin since my coop is going to be getting a lot of sunlight. Lots of ventilation and it should be perfect. Any idea how large of sheets they sell it in?? I unfortunately drive a hatch back the size of a work boot. I can only get so much in there before I have to tie it up top.

 

[justinwrites]

LOL.

As big as my back yard is, fenced and all with tons of food and scratch and water, my alpha hen and her little click hopped the fence and walked all the way around my house to sit on my front porch and look at me through the office window like "won't you invite us in?"

 

[Hawkeye95]

oh, I'm covering my roof with plywood too! And then I'm going to lay the roofing over that. I'm going to build this thing to withstand a tornado... Kidding!! No, but I was idly thinking that a clear roof section over the run might not be bad. But I really need the shade where I am at. My horse barn has the clear panels for "skylights" in the roof. But obviously, it does not make it hot in there- the barn is just too darned big to make any difference.

LN2008- I'm with you, I want to see what this thing looks like finished, too!!

BTW- when are you going to start on yours? I'm curious to see what kind of coop you are going to build! If your DH has the tools, I'd say jump right in! As for the sheeting--- uh, it's not going to fit in your car. It may not even fit ON your car. Do you have a friend with a truck you can borrow or they can take you? Or someone with a flatbed trailer?

thank you so much guys! I'm struggling out there, for sure. You would NOT believe all the wrong cuts I have made and all the boards I have had to unscrew to try to make things right. I'm inside for a mini water break. I got a little too excited and cut a board an inch too long- which means that the other side is an inch too short. So I have a worthless piece until I can find a use for it. I'm kind of mad at myself- since I'm getting low on lumber and really was hoping not to buy anymore. If it hadn't been for all the mistakes the last few days, I would have had plenty! Figured that was a good time to come in and take a breather and get some cold water.

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Quote:
Be careful with the clear plastic, the sun will warp it. I was going to use it on my chicken tractors but after I bought some I got to thinking that it would act like a green house and fry my birds.

Yeah, I'd prefer the tin since my coop is going to be getting a lot of sunlight. Lots of ventilation and it should be perfect. Any idea how large of sheets they sell it in?? I unfortunately drive a hatch back the size of a work boot. I can only get so much in there before I have to tie it up top.

26inch by 8, 10 and 12 feet

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogD...l&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&N=0

They also have Ondura Red Corrugated Roof Panel 79" x 48"
http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogD...f&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&N=0

 

[Hawkeye95]

Okay- question about the vents. I bought two metal sliding floor vents from Lowes. Or they might be wall vents.. they are square and I liked the slider on them better than the others. So I'm going to put one on the South side... and then am trying to decide to put the other on the West or the North side. Would the west side be too hot?? And would the North side be too cold?? I would like to just leave them open... I'm leaning toward the north side, because most of our heavy storm fronts come in from the west. I can't put it on the East side- as the roof line will come down too far and there isn't enough room up there. Or should I not put one on the North or West at all?? I can always return the other vent?? I just figured two at the top of the roof would be good?

 

[chicken danz]

I think I'd avoid the north side just because it is more likely to let in cold and snow. Other than that it doesn't matter much. Remember most storms come in at an angle rather than straight. You can leave them open. It won't hurt a thing. I have one on my hen house that is on the east I left open all winter without loosing much heat. You might want to partially close them when your chicks are tiny if the weather gets cold. You don't want them to get drafts.
I was out feeding and watering this morning and found a baby guinea floating in the water bowl for the big guineas. (I have a chick waterer for the babies to use.) I let my hens hatch a batch of eggs and they are trying to raise them. Anyway the poor thing had it's head thrown back, was gasping and looked gone. I brought him in, dried him off, and put him in my incubator. He is now yelling his head off. He's ready to go back out. Yahoo!
My DH decided to help me yesterday morning and started watering and feeding. I went out and took care of the brooder and some ducks and pheasants he hadn't gotten to. We had to go to KC and on the way, he said "I spent 3 hours just watering and feeding and you still had to finish up." Of course I replied, "Yeah, and you don't think I do anything all day!"
Actually he is just slow, but I think maybe he realizes now just how much work I do. Now he is saying I need to downsize before winter. He's probably right.

 

[Ivywoods]

Oh, yes. I'm getting ready to downsize for the winter, too. Speakinofawhich.... I have a variety of chickens people could choose from. There are silver, lavender, black and wheaten ameraucanas from two great breeders. I have quite a few black copper marans to downsize along with some pretty golden lakenvelders. There's one buff ameraucana rooster and a few bantam partridge wyandottes. There are also a couple buff orpingtons and black jersey giants.

If anyone is interested, send me a PM and we can arrange a time. I will have to know ahead of time due to my crazy hours and many of my chickens are free ranging right now. It's easier to catch them when they go in to roost.

 

[LN2008]

Quote:
Yeah, I'd prefer the tin since my coop is going to be getting a lot of sunlight. Lots of ventilation and it should be perfect. Any idea how large of sheets they sell it in?? I unfortunately drive a hatch back the size of a work boot. I can only get so much in there before I have to tie it up top.

26inch by 8, 10 and 12 feet

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogD...l&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&N=0

They also have Ondura Red Corrugated Roof Panel 79" x 48"
http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogD...f&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&N=0

Another stupid question. Do you think this stuff is flexible enough that I could bend it slightly if I had to? Not much, just enough to get it through my hatch.

 

[Hawkeye95]

the Ondura was really flexible- and I bet the metal is too. that is- it will flex in the middle along the ridges, not against them. Did you decide on a design yet???

 

[chicken danz]

There's a few different weights of tin. I would recommend the type that is light weight and has a wider ripple pattern to it. Three reasons. It is easier to move and handle, it is easier to cut, and it is much cheaper. You should be able to get it through an opening as long as it isn't the heavy weight kind and your opening is big enough. Spend the extra money to get the nails or screws that have the rubber washer already installed on them They cost a little more but are worth the difference.
On another note I went to town while ago and pulled weeds in my mother's flower beds (no time to do my own). I stopped at Sonic during happy hour on the way back and got a route 44 limeaid cause I was dying of thirst. It ended up being 99% ice so when I got home I dumped it in a large bowl out back. I had to laugh at the chickens. They are picking up those tiny little ice balls and acting like they have homemade veggie stew. They think they have a real treat. They weren't keen on the limes however. It was more like: grab one, make a face and drop it.