Coop and Run and Done!

[Ryguy3684]

@Malfean

Sorry, I forgot to reply to you when I posted. Hope the ideas help.

 

[Malfean]

Here's pictures of "our" coop.

I'm going to definitely utilize some of your ideas and implement them in my own. I noticed you made two cuts in your coop. One for the run (which you mentioned), and the other for the nesting? I was planning on using a series of milk crates with nesting material on a multi-level storage rack with a small walk way for access from the roost. If that doesn't sound right, I do have enough room to make something similar to what you have off the side. Not sure which way to go on that.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I'm going to definitely utilize some of your ideas and implement them in my own. I noticed you made two cuts in your coop. One for the run (which you mentioned), and the other for the nesting? I was planning on using a series of milk crates with nesting material on a multi-level storage rack with a small walk way for access from the roost. If that doesn't sound right, I do have enough room to make something similar to what you have off the side. Not sure which way to go on that.

That's why I like this forum. Being able to check out other people's setups and making them your own. That and how helpful everyone is. You don't find too many forums now that aren't full of snarky a-holes.
The milk crate setup is a good idea. I already had that box built, thanks to a prefab coop disaster, so I made use of it. I orderrd a prefab that was listed as 6-8 large breed, 10-12 bantam. The "henhouse" dimensions, included the nesting boxes, which I didn't realize. I got the coop in, and the floor space was 8 square feet. I was pissed, but tried to make it work by building that nest box. Then we decided to keep all 10 chicks. We were only going to keep 6, originally. I found that shed and figured it would work great. It's well constructed, as you know. Sorry for the long winded post, I had to vent my irritation with the prefab. Good luck with the new coop.

 

[Malfean]

That's why I like this forum. Being able to check out other people's setups and making them your own. That and how helpful everyone is. You don't find too many forums now that aren't full of snarky a-holes.
The milk crate setup is a good idea. I already had that box built, thanks to a prefab coop disaster, so I made use of it. I orderrd a prefab that was listed as 6-8 large breed, 10-12 bantam. The "henhouse" dimensions, included the nesting boxes, which I didn't realize. I got the coop in, and the floor space was 8 square feet. I was pissed, but tried to make it work by building that nest box. Then we decided to keep all 10 chicks. We were only going to keep 6, originally. I found that shed and figured it would work great. It's well constructed, as you know. Sorry for the long winded post, I had to vent my irritation with the prefab. Good luck with the new coop.

My issue is amusing. So after this Covid nonsense arrived, apparently everyone is doing backyard chickens. There are backorders from breeders going months. I went to Tractor Supply Co, in my area, and due to demand, I had to purchase a minimum of 20. I figured why not... my first time, I'll probably lose half and most people told me to expect the loss of a few. So I got them, and did the whole brooder thing, fed them, kept them warm, etc... in the meantime I bought that shed, and the lumber for the run. So the shed can easily handle 10, 12, 20 chickens, and my roost as well. But my Run is 12x10. That's 120 sq. ft. Too small for 20 chickens, and wouldn't you know it... all 20 survived and are now 11 weeks old and big.

People here are saying the run is too small, so I am not sure what to do at the moment. I have options... everything from toss a few into the pot (which would be a real shame), to give a few to my friends sister who has a farm, or try to keep them all and figure out how to have non-stressed chickens in a space designed for 12. I thought about putting in almost a multi-level aspect, you know, like a platform that would effectively add more sq. ft. within the run itself, but I don't know.

In the meantime, I'm going to replace that plastic 'glass' on the doors with hardware cloth, and I am buying the fan this week. I also am putting down a predator apron. I know chicken wire only buys you time, but since all my chickens go into the coop in the evening I am not overly worried right now. No predator is getting into that thing without really having to put in the work.

 

[Ryguy3684]

The covid crisis really messed up my plans too. We've been planning for chickens for 10 years. My wife ran a home daycare to stay home with the kids, so regulations wouldn't allow birds. Our youngest is going to kindergarten this year, so she planned on closing daycare and going back to teaching. Our long term plan to buy chickens came at the worst time with people going chicken crazy right now. Oh well, enough bitchin from me. Good luck and enjoy your birds.

 

[3KillerBs]

My plan was to buy twice as many as I wanted to keep in case of losses and/or roosters then to eat any roosters and sell extra pullets -- maybe recover the cost of raising them.

I bought 8 and lost one. They're too young to know if I've got any accidental roosters or not yet.

 

[Mamatomany123]

My plan was to buy twice as many as I wanted to keep in case of losses and/or roosters then to eat any roosters and sell extra pullets -- maybe recover the cost of raising them.

I bought 8 and lost one. They're too young to know if I've got any accidental roosters or not yet.

I bought extra because of the same reason. All 7 ended up living and all are girls. Then chicken math strikes and I got 4 more golden sexlinks. I'm only allowed to have 4 we're now at 11 . I'm thankful my husband built a huge coop and run on the beginning. 10x10 coop and 35x25 run.

 

[3KillerBs]

I bought extra because of the same reason. All 7 ended up living and all are girls. Then chicken math strikes and I got 4 more golden sexlinks. I'm only allowed to have 4 we're now at 11 . I'm thankful my husband built a huge coop and run on the beginning. 10x10 coop and 35x25 run.

I will eventually have more, but we have to build a new, larger coop on our new property. I shouldn't have more than 4 in the coop I have. I did have them a little crowded at the previous property, but that was with an attached, predator-hardened run and the pop door open 24/7. With the current situation I can't do that so I have to keep the numbers moderate.

 

[aart]

Definitely too many birds for the size coop.
Should be easy to sell some tho, what with the 'shortage'.

You'll want to have a solid roof on your run to protect from rain/sun/snow and the passive ventilation you need to add.

The stair stringer seems/are easy but the spacing may be a problem.
Top roost should be 12" from the wall and 12-18" horizontally between the other roosts,
to keep them from pooping on the ones below.
Might just move roost to outer edge of 'tread'.

The fan I have is compact, yet made for barns/dusty areas. I'll send a link when I post pictures of my coop tonight.

Fan link amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M049LK4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image.

This is not a 'dust proof' fan.

West of Chicago, by an hour.

Welcome to BYC! @Malfean
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ryguy3684]

I was misled by "barn" being in the product description. However, I've had one of these as part of my wood shop exhaust for a long time now, because it was the perfect size. It's not my home shop, it's my furniture business, so it gets a lot of use around saws. I figure if it can hold up in that scenario, it'll hold up in my coop. Thanks for looking out, though. One of the reasons I like this forum so much.