- Nov 5, 2009
- 105
- 2
- 134
We are new to having chickens. We got our chicks 2 weeks ago and are converting our metal shed to a coop. Here are some pics of the progress so far. I still have to cut an opening to an outside run, build 10x20 enclosed run (we have hawks flying around all the time and all we have are pullets), build a new door on the front of the shed (going to build the door and resheet the front with T111 like I used on the lower part of the inner coop wall), and vent the coop.
This first pic is looking into the metal shed. I built the wall, coop door and nesting boxes about 3 feet inside the shed so we could get in without the chickens getting out lol.
These are the nesting boxes from outside the coop area. There are 6 nesting boxes total. 3 on each level.
I made access doors from outside the coop area with pull out boxes for easier cleaning on each level.
This is the nesting boxes from inside the coop. The bottom level is 2 ft off of the ground and the second level is a little over 3 ft. Should I make a short roost about 1 ft off of the floor to make it easier for the chickens to get into the nesting boxes or is it ok the way it is?
I built 2 roost. 1 along the back wall that is 4 ft high x 8 ft long and 1 on the left side that is 2 ft high x 6 ft long. Will the chickens be able to get on these without a ladder/ramp?
If I need to add a ramp or ladder, I figured I could add it here on the left end of the shorter roost. How much of a slope should the ladder/ramp be?
This is the wall where I am going to cut in the access opening to outside once I get the run built. My coop has a concrete floor in it. How far up the wall should I cut the opening? I was thinking about 6 to 8 inches with a ladder/ramp on each side.
As far as venting goes, with 16 hens I know I need ATLEAST 16sq/ft of venting and with a 7ft x 8ft coop, that will be cutting most of the upper walls out. Has anyone one ever used an exhaust fan like for a bathroom? (wouldn't think it would cause to much of a draft if I put in vents in the gable ends). Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
And last but not least. Here is a pic of our girls.
Thank you for your time looking at my post and for any advice given.
This first pic is looking into the metal shed. I built the wall, coop door and nesting boxes about 3 feet inside the shed so we could get in without the chickens getting out lol.
These are the nesting boxes from outside the coop area. There are 6 nesting boxes total. 3 on each level.
I made access doors from outside the coop area with pull out boxes for easier cleaning on each level.
This is the nesting boxes from inside the coop. The bottom level is 2 ft off of the ground and the second level is a little over 3 ft. Should I make a short roost about 1 ft off of the floor to make it easier for the chickens to get into the nesting boxes or is it ok the way it is?
I built 2 roost. 1 along the back wall that is 4 ft high x 8 ft long and 1 on the left side that is 2 ft high x 6 ft long. Will the chickens be able to get on these without a ladder/ramp?
If I need to add a ramp or ladder, I figured I could add it here on the left end of the shorter roost. How much of a slope should the ladder/ramp be?
This is the wall where I am going to cut in the access opening to outside once I get the run built. My coop has a concrete floor in it. How far up the wall should I cut the opening? I was thinking about 6 to 8 inches with a ladder/ramp on each side.
As far as venting goes, with 16 hens I know I need ATLEAST 16sq/ft of venting and with a 7ft x 8ft coop, that will be cutting most of the upper walls out. Has anyone one ever used an exhaust fan like for a bathroom? (wouldn't think it would cause to much of a draft if I put in vents in the gable ends). Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
And last but not least. Here is a pic of our girls.
Thank you for your time looking at my post and for any advice given.
