Coop Project: Maken the Plunge & Getting Chickens

[Rock Home Isle]

The ducks that we have are Kaki Campbells. The Campbell is a good egg breed of duck, unfortunately these were strait-run, so I'm hoping that at least one of them is a hen. They have been a real hit with the kids. The darker one is named "Gerty" and the lighter one is named "Other Duck"...The intent was that "Other Duck" would be a temporary name, but it seems to have stuck.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Currently, I have pulled wiring for the coop and it has been insulated. I still need to insulate the roof and install the lights and heat lamps. I have installed a box for the thermostat, and I should finish all this over the up coming weekend. I hope to have the siding done by next Monday, and then get started on painting. Once the coop is in place I can start fencing the run.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

That is probably enough for now. I'll post a few more updates tomorrow. Those should bring my project up to date.


I hope that you don't mind that I'm including information on both the coop and the flock in this thread.

 

[destinidawn]

Love it.. Very nice. My boyfriend wants to run power out to our coop. And to think a few months ago he did not even want chickens

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Awesome...I just figured out how to edit the title of the thread. Now it doesn't look so hokey with those weird characters in the title.

Good to Know.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I mounted the box for the thermostat inside the main door of the coop. That way I don't have to enter the coop to adjust the temperature that I want to maintain for the chickens. Most likely I'll have to install a wire cage of some aort over the thermostat so that the chickens don't peck at it and change the tmeperature setting in the coop. The thermostat that I'm using is designed for an electrical register heating system and will control the temperature inside the coop to a 5 degree swing. it will control a heat lamp.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have mounted a metal powerbox on the outside of the coop. This is where I'll bring power into the coop during the winter. I've selected a controller that I can program when the lights in the coop will turn on and off. The thermostat and the heat lamp are also wire through this box.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I wanted a hinged powerbox for the outside of the coop, but Home Depot doesn't carry that model...Oh Well, this will work. Instead of screwing the door shut I'll uses a karabener to hold it shut when not in use during the summer months. I'm thinking that I'll only need to power the coop during the late fall through early spring....mostly regulate lighting so that my chickens will continue to lay as the days shorten heading into winter.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Prsently the chickens have started feathering out nicely and are spending their days exploring the backyard and hitting the garden hunting for grubbs and worms. They start their days congrated around the feeders, then they head out with the ducks usually in the lead to do their forageing.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

The ducks have shown the chicks that some of the best grubbs can be found where the concrete meets the grass,