Coop Questions

[AuntJessie]

I finally convinced my DH to let me have chickens (I grew up on a 20-acre hobby farm). We have some spare lumber that we have from taking down a wooden porch/ramp that was on our house when we bought it. I was wondering if someone with more building expertise than I thinks that the 1"x6"x4' flooring boards would be too much of a pain to use as siding? Should I buy similar boards to finish the siding, or should I try to convince DH to invest in a different type of siding? We live in Northern Arkansas, about 100 yards from MO, and winters can be cold, but summers get hot and humid. I plan on having an 8x8 walk-in, dirt floor coop with an 8x16 run. I also plan on using the deep litter method.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[tracecom]

Are the boards made of treated lumber? If so, most think that they wouldn't be suitable.

If not, you could certainly use them. If they are straight, they would fit tight enough together that a little caulk and/or paint would seal the gaps. You could also rip some to use as battens over the cracks.

 

[AuntJessie]

I'm n

Are the boards made of treated lumber? If so, most think that they wouldn't be suitable.

If not, you could certainly use them. If they are straight, they would fit tight enough together that a little caulk and/or paint would seal the gaps. You could also rip some to use as battens over the cracks.

I'm not sure if they are treated or not, but they are pretty straight. The caulk idea was something I hadn't thought of, and solves the draft problem I was thinking of. DH wants it to look nice, but not break the bank.

 

[AuntJessie]

Here is another question...

Our entire property sits on a slope. I would like to build the chicken coop in the side yard, where the slope isn't quite as steep and there's more sun, but DH would like to build in the back, farther away from the neighbors. However, that's the steepest slope, and under a huge oak. There would probably only be 2-3 hours of direct sun on the coop, maybe more on the run. So....

Suggestions? Wwyd?

 

[Ridgerunner]

On coop position my first consideration is water. A wet coop and run is a disease waiting to happen, plus it will probably smell. No that’s wrong. It will smell!!! So position it so water does not run into it or use berms and swales to keep water out. And position it so it will drain dry.

More chickens die from heat than cold. Many more chickens. I’d think the shade from that oak would be a blessing in the summer.

 

[AuntJessie]

On coop position my first consideration is water. A wet coop and run is a disease waiting to happen, plus it will probably smell. No that’s wrong. It will smell!!! So position it so water does not run into it or use berms and swales to keep water out. And position it so it will drain dry.

More chickens die from heat than cold. Many more chickens. I’d think the shade from that oak would be a blessing in the summer.

Our garden doesn't have a drainage problem (and it's leveled by a retaining wall) so I think the coop and run would drain pretty well. I am worried about water running through the coop though. And I hadn't thought of heat, and these AR summers get hot and humid... Yuck! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I was wondering if someone with more building expertise than I thinks that the 1"x6"x4' flooring boards

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I think you have an excellent material !!

I would run your boards vertically and side using the batton method personally.







Check out the link for more images.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=sidi...ytVOK3Is6GyAS30oCgBg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_

 

[gusthebrowndog]

Remember when it come time to paint go to Habitat recycle center ,they have some very good deals on paint. It might not be the color you want but the cost it very low. Also Lowes has some paint they mixes and the people did not like the color. In Springfield Mo the paint is about $5.00 a gal.
Lots of used lumber at Habitat at times. Plan ahead. PP

 

[LipsChicks]

Don't go crazy with the caulking. If its sealed up too tight, moisture will be a problem and may lead to a muddy mess. It took me almost 20 years to convince my husband that I NEEDED chickens. I drug in some ugly little pens/houses and of course he didn't want them on the property so he bought me a new barn shaped storage building (10x12) to use for my new coop! It's more in the sun than I like in the summer but I'm really appreciating it in this extreme cold. I give them a lot of frozen treats in the summer.

 

[AuntJessie]

Remember when it come time to paint go to Habitat recycle center ,they have some very good deals on paint. It might not be the color you want but the cost it very low. Also Lowes has some paint they mixes and the people did not like the color. In Springfield Mo the paint is about $5.00 a gal.
Lots of used lumber at Habitat at times. Plan ahead.  PP

Thanks for the tip, but I would spend way more in gas to drive the 3 hours to Springfield for the paint lol. I bet I can get some pretty reasonable around here. Maybe I could stop by the store if we were already there though!