Construction finished on my Silkies coop expansion

[NNYchick]

We finally finished the expansion. Started with 16ft long by 8ft wide. We did 8ft on the left end and 4ft to the right. Every opening is covered with hardware cloth and dirt floor with hardware cloth apron buried around the perimeter.
Before

After, we still have to paint this weekend.

This is the 8x8 end, we added roosting shelves instead of regular roost because my Silkies won’t use roost so I’m hoping they will use shelves if not at least it gives them vertical space to use during the day. They are naughty and had taken to all huddling in nest box at night, so more than likely they will sleep under the shelves. We have windows hinged on the top on each wall so I can adjust ventilation in there. We are adding led strip light in there and a half gate (to keep them from migrating back to nest box at night).

In the middle of the breezeway “run” is the dust bath area with a feeder and water station to each side. Last year we put plastic on the large windows in the front and most of the back open area I’m hoping I won’t need to do that this year, but we’ll see.

The 4x8 area is for nest box and storage. In the winter I’m storing the broody buster, extra shavings
And bagged fall leaves. In spring I will remove those and put my chick brooder there. I may add short roost to the front of the windows because when I had the stumps there my roosters really liked to get up there and look out (crow).

I really do love it and my husband for putting up all my changing my mind and better ideas. BTW my husband says I’m banned from this site because there is just too much helpful ideas that he has to build. LOL

 

[snow5164]

It looks beautiful, go higher too. My silkies like to jump from tree stump to tree stump , I also have a few branches they like to perch on . Definitely put up the roost my boy likes to be the king of the mountain

As long as they can see and you need to trim around their eyes for that ,they can be adventurous little babies

I saw a silkies coop with 8 inch shelves all around it with a ramp at each end with cleats . I haven’t had the nerve to suggest that yet .

All the pictures wouldn’t load but now that they have !! You have the shelves , I love them so creative ...put a board across it and they might roost on it, or put some treats up there they’ll find them


Mine all sleep on a shelf with a 1x1 board on the edge of it , it’s 12 inches off the ground

 

[NNYchick]

It looks beautiful, go higher too. My silkies like to jump from tree stump to tree stump , I also have a few branches they like to perch on . Definitely put up the roost my boy likes to be the king of the mountain

As long as they can see and you need to trim around their eyes for that ,they can be adventurous little babies

I saw a silkies coop with 8 inch shelves all around it with a ramp at each end with cleats . I haven’t had the nerve to suggest that yet .

All the pictures wouldn’t load but now that they have !! You have the shelves , I love them so creative ...put a board across it and they might roost on it, or put some treats up there they’ll find them


Mine all sleep on a shelf with a 1x1 board on the edge of it , it’s 12 inches off the ground

Thank you for your input and feedback. I agree after studying the pictures I am going to move logs around and add some higher ones so they can jump from one to the other.
It has been a challenge to find examples of coop set up for silkie's needs. I have been researching for more than a year now trying to figure out what would work and what would just be a waste of lumber, which we found out about shortly after getting silkies -a raised coop with ramp and roost bars just wont work unless I go out every night to put them in (which I did for 7 months straight before I said enough is enough).
I don't show so I do keep their crest trimmed back away from their eyes.

 

[snow5164]

I’ll try and remember to get pictures of my set up , we had to add a coop and run when my nasty big birds starting picking on my silkies .

My daughter gave me them as a gift needless to say it became an expensive present ....

I just had my hubby make their shelf longer because they were all squished in a pile at night on their 2 foot shelf , so he added a foot and guess what ? Yup all squished into a ball last night carlos and carol in front with the two black babies in back ... so funny .


We put ours outside in a moveable tractor all day .. I’ll go take pictures

 

[aart]

Nice enclosure!
Lots of room and partitions to play with.
I would think you'll have to cover a lot of the big meshed openings to keep snow out?

 

[NNYchick]

I’ll try and remember to get pictures of my set up , we had to add a coop and run when my nasty big birds starting picking on my silkies .

My daughter gave me them as a gift needless to say it became an expensive present ....

I just had my hubby make their shelf longer because they were all squished in a pile at night on their 2 foot shelf , so he added a foot and guess what ? Yup all squished into a ball last night carlos and carol in front with the two black babies in back ... so funny .


We put ours outside in a moveable tractor all day .. I’ll go take pictures

I would love to see you set up. Maybe it can give me more ideas for my husband to build.

Nice enclosure!
Lots of room and partitions to play with.
I would think you'll have to cover a lot of the big meshed openings to keep snow out?

I know it’s wishful thinking on my part. Is it ok if it gets a little blowing in the middle part as long as it’s no build up or drifts? Last year it only came on the window sills and very edge of the floor in front of openings. If the 8x8 stays completely dry for roosting at night is that enough or should my aim be to have no snow.

 

[aart]

I know it’s wishful thinking on my part. Is it ok if it gets a little blowing in the middle part as long as it’s no build up or drifts? Last year it only came on the window sills and very edge of the floor in front of openings. If the 8x8 stays completely dry for roosting at night is that enough or should my aim be to have no snow.

I guess you'll just have to wait and see...are you close enough to get lake effect levels of snow off Lake Ontario?

 

[NNYchick]

Tonight everyone except my 4 oldest were in the 8x8 area were they are supposed to be. Of my rooster, hen and 2 laying pullets were in nesting box so I relocated them to the 8x8 area, maybe some day they will get the hint nest boxes are not for sleeping.

 

[NNYchick]

I guess you'll just have to wait and see...are you close enough to get lake effect levels of snow off Lake Ontario?

Yes I do get lake effect but my house is about 30ft in front of coop and a thick tree line that makes a u shape around the open area of the property, so it does tend to block a lot of the big gust.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

what a beautiful coop! I like that you have an area for food and cleaning supplies in the coop as well. I am working on doing that as well!!