Coop Completed

[Erikalpowers]

That is one sweet coop...Nice Job!

Agrees with concerns about the edges of linoleum...and the spacing of the roosts.
Also you don't need that ramp to lower roost, they can jump up there, it's too steep anyway.

One thing caught my eye, I'm trained to look for stuff like this.
Red circle, is it an optical illusion or is that 4x4 at an angle?
Hope it's securely bolted to the framing.
Also ground under that concrete block looks shaky...beware, chickens will dig under it.
Blue circle, is some digging in there?

I'm not sure what your looking at? "Red circle, blue circle"?
The linoleum will be covered with Sweet PDZ.
I moved the roosts 12 inches from walls today. I will take down the ramp.
Not sure what 4x4 your talking about? EVERYTHING is secure. My husband owns a framing company and builds custom homes for a living.
The ground is not shaky. Everything here in Greenefield is rock. We brought in fill today and leveled everything out. We put rocks all around the bottom of the coop but their run wont allow them access to the bottom of the coop anyway.

 

[aart]

I'm not sure what your looking at? "Red circle, blue circle"?

Oops, sorry, missed pasting the pic.

 

[aart]

The linoleum will be covered with Sweet PDZ.

It'll get under the edge of the linoleum if you don't cover the edges.

 

[Erikalpowers]

Oops, sorry, missed pasting the pic.
View attachment 2076700

Blue is where we had to move a giant rock!! As I said its ALL rock where we live. Red is a bad picture angle.

 

[Erikalpowers]

It'll get under the edge of the linoleum if you don't cover the edges.

Ah! Ok. I'll add a little trim! Thanks. How do you feel about sand as a substrate?

 

[aart]

How do you feel about sand as a substrate?

On the coop floor? It stinks(literally) and would probably freeze in your climate.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[Erikalpowers]

On the coop floor? It stinks(literally) and would probably freeze in your climate.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

WOW! Fantastic! Thank you SO much!