Coop Progress

[sals_chicks]

Another weekend, another update!

What got done today: Soffits are done. Trim is done. Roof is about 98% done (just a few more shingles to attach over the ridge vent.). While husband worked on that, I worked on finishing the interior painting, and staining all of the posts/legs and the trusses that are built so far. (No, the trusses are not attached upside down, they are just resting there for now.)

I also set up the coop/run cameras & played with the bluetooth hygrometer too... I love gadgets, so those were a must.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Lor]

Nice coop! Love the color.

 

[aart]

Soffits are done.

Those few small holes in the soffit are not going to offer much ventilation.

 

[sals_chicks]

Those few small holes in the soffit are not going to offer much ventilation.

Thank you @aart we are planning to monitor the humidity and temperature in the coop with a bluetooth hygrometer. If we are finding the soffit's, ridge vent, and gable vents to not be enough, we can always drill more holes.

 

[aart]

we are planning to monitor the humidity and temperature in the coop with a bluetooth hygrometer.

Will you have a sensor outside the coop to so you can compare and see that they remain close to the same?

 

[sals_chicks]

Will you have a sensor outside the coop to so you can compare and see that they remain close to the same?

Yes.

A starting point is just a starting point, more can always be added, and I understand (fully) the importance of ventilation. Heading into warmer months with 4 windows, 2 gable vents (not yet installed, but soon), ridge vents, soffit holes, temp/humidity monitoring, and a brain, I feel pretty good about where I am at.

 

[sals_chicks]

The latest update!

We are gaining ground on the run! The trusses are all up (though I couldn’t keep up with the staining so I’ve still got a few to stain as you can see) and we’re started getting the roof up. We did decide to roof the whole run, so that will add some time.

Started framing out the run door today!

PVC coated hardware cloth going up with massive staples and also bolts & washers. It feels really secure in the areas we’ve completed. Decided to cover the rails on the interior with another 2x4 to give it a nicer finished look!

Drainage system and dry well are below that rock bed. I think eventually we will do crushed rock all around the exterior. Entire perimeter has 2.5ft of predator apron secured as well!

And of course I added some window boxes!

Still lots to do but every day is a little more progress! The chicks are 2 weeks old today, so the clock is ticking!! But… Not too shabby for a couple nerds who don’t know how to build stuff??

 

[sals_chicks]

Memorial Day weekend update!

The end is finally near on this 4 month project! We worked our butts off this long weekend and here’s where we landed…

The run (8x20 plus under the coop) still needs a door, shingles, and one small section of hardware cloth but is otherwise usable! We let the girls run around in it (supervised) a bit this weekend. Chairs are only in there temporarily. I think eventually we will hard scape on the outside with something other than crushed granite, but it’s not bad for now and will help with drainage. Inside has a layer of coarse sand over the native dirt, and a bit of mulch on top.

I managed to get most of the latches and handles installed! And I hung my dorky hand painted sign. You can see the baby chicken feets in the sand under the coop.

I got all of the roof panels and trusses stained. In the future, I’ll do the staining BEFORE they are hung. Going up and down that ladder a billion times was not very efficient! Also got most of the touch-up paint finished.

My artist daughter started her hand painted floral/ botanical murals on the interior. She is home from college and in need of a summer project! I told her to have at it and paint to her hearts delight!

The coop itself still has some finishing to be completed… We need to build a door for the nesting boxes. Obviously still need to build a ramp and roosting bars. Hardware cloth for over the windows. Gable vents still need to be cut in and installed, and a bit more siding needs to be nailed up.

It truly feels like the never ending story… But it’s getting there!! A couple more weekends of hard work and we should be able to move some chickens in!

Pic of the girls in the run and in the grass just for fun.

 

[jthornton]

Looking like a resort house!

You could put a landing outside the coop door and a ramp down to the right to another landing then down to a brick or something, be less in the way for humans.

I had one that went straight out but I kept bumping into it so I put a landing and ran it down to the nest box.



JT

 

[sals_chicks]

That's actually a really great consideration, @jthornton - we haven't built the ramp yet, so maybe we will route it to the side like you did!