Coop improvements are done! Yeah, right...

[dclark]

OK I am just over a month into backyard chickens and on BYC and I think it may be safe to assume coop improvements and renovations are sort of like chicken math, it doesn't end! We started off buying a mobile chicken coop, sort of like a tractor but partially enclosed with nesting boxes and perches. We also picked up 12 pullets, 10 RIR and 2 Black Beauties that were 6 weeks old





Well I thought the chickens would want more room and we aren't going to let them free range so I decided to make a run with some portable panels to be able to move the coop as desired. One day I came home and counted 11 chickens! Ack!! A predator from above snatched one! I need a roof over the run! After a few weeks with a temporary roof of some old lattice I had laying around, I decided to make some roof panels with greenhouse panels, mainly to keep the dirt dry! I also put some 2x4s across the run for some perches.



And of course I had to install a nipple watering system and the bucket outside the coop for easy filling:





Here is the only one I have named so far, "Chicken Little" since she's smallest of them all.



And I had to add an automatic door with a solar charger that I got from chickendoors.com:



The final improvement to date, a gate to get into the run to rake, open and close the door when needed, etc



Also had to add signs to the coop to make it look classy. Here is how it looks today with front row seating



I bought the coop already built and I built the run panels and other things. My wife said I could have built the coop myself but if you notice the fit and finish of the fence panels, they are not perfect, I draw things for a living, I don't make them. If you've ever seen the Simpsons episode where Homer builds a spice rack, yeah that's my spice rack, too!

"Measure once cut twice, sometimes thrice!" is my mantra unfortunately... But I am having a blast doing it!

Thanks to the BYC and all the cool ideas folks post! I am excited to be part of the BYC community!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Very nice coop and run! Your girls look happy too!

Yes coops are never done...and when you are finally satisfied with your pens and coop then you still end up tweaking things out of necessity I find.

Keeping chickens is very good exercise and entertainment!

 

[vehve]

Looks good, two things stand out to me though. The net in the run could be covered so that the chickens don't tangle up in it with their feet. Also, is the roof of the run at all angled? You don't want rainwater to stand on it. Otherwise looks very nice.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Looks good, two things stand out to me though. The net in the run could be covered so that the chickens don't tangle up in it with their feet. Also, is the roof of the run at all angled? You don't want rainwater to stand on it. Otherwise looks very nice.

Good idea. If you are not going to move your tractor around anymore, you can put some sand down to make a cushion for them. You can use a kitty litter scoop after raking it to get the poo out (wear mask). If sand gets wet it will be messy and stinky though, and very difficult to get the poo sorted out from the sand.

 

[kadoer12]

While reading about your coop additions, I realize it had a "If you give a mouse a cookie" style to it

 

[dclark]

Thanks for the comments! I am totally addicted to it and wish I could sit here all day watching them!

The roof is sloped slightly for drainage, I tested it with a the hose when filling the water bucket and it rained a few hours after I was done. I'm thinking of a small rain gutter on that edge now, it certainly does not end...

I do plan on moving the coop two or three time a year so I will probably put some type of cover down, would sandy loam be good enough?