Coop Reconstruction All suggestions and help welcome (IMAGE HEAVY)

[kowgurl62]

I just found this thread and thought I'd post how neat. This looks exactly like something I'd probably be doing if I had to go buy a new place, lol. Which would be an OLD place. Just a few comments on the meat bird thing, and that really really cool roost. Keep the roost. It is awesome. Don't do more than 10 meat birds at a time and I kept mine in with my regular chickens, no special feed, and they were fine. If they are cornish rock crosses, they aren't going to roost anyway, they aren't going to move around much , maybe from one side of the feeder to the other, lol. Plus, they won't be around long enough to justify splitting up a coop for. Why only 10, or less? Well, we processed 19 or 20 in 1 day, and let me tell you that is a job and made for a realllllly long day. It will be a lot easier to do the few. Buy a few more to raise, butcher, freeze. Repeat .

 

[Sweetened]

Update time, as progress has been made over the holidays!

I've managed to push all the dirt that's not tightly compacted due to years of wet-dry-wet-dry from point a (where it originated) to point b (a pile within the space where it originated). Now that I think about it, I'll be digging everything twice, but it'll be easy going and already loosened to get it all where it needs to be. The rest of the dirt (about 1/4th of the entirety of the coop) will be dug and dumped either into a compost pile or into the farmer's junk pile that's not far from our property line. I've pulled out all three nest boxes, one of which snapped when it was removed, and I don't think I will be re-using them as cleaning them might be a little difficult -- we will see. In addition, I've removed some of the ceiling board that was up along with the remnants of insulation. The beams look in relatively good condition, though we will be sisdering them up with another board just to help with stability and aesthetics as we'll be leaving the ceiling open. Pictures below!

The view from the door -- I still have to clean out under the roost, so I'll be taking that out so I don't bang my head! To the right is the dirt pile, the mess on the bottom is debris from the roof and on the left side, all those cat food bags, will be used as planters for potatoes next year using the dirt!

This is where the 2 coops used to be, and above it is where the part of the ceilign was hanging down. All gone!

Helper dog -- not so helpful really.

This is the side of the roof that the window is on, now exposed. Doesn't look too bad, needs new roofing!

Lastly, this is where that terrible rotten part was that was hanging down. Doesn't look too bad, I'll be cleaning the wood in the peak there to make sure it's salvagable -- hopefully, as otherwise siding starts getting ripped off and I'm not prepared for that.



My questions on this update are thoughts of paint/sealing. I would like this to be pleaseing to look at as well as easy to clean, so I was wondering if I can paint the walls (not right now of course) with out-door high gloss paint? Would that seal the wood, or should I just leave the wood out and use like... a deck sealing compound on it?

Thanks!

 

[zzGypsy]

nice progress!

a note on your open ceiling... if you leave rafters exposed, chickens will roost there. you'd be surprised what they can reach and some are committed to roosting high.
on the paint... I'll listen in to see what others suggest...

 

[Sweetened]

Quote:
Hi zz!

Is it a bad thing if they roost up there? Will they be hurt do you think? what considerations should I make on these rafters? I didn't even think about them getting up that high!

 

[hemet dennis]

I would use the exterior semigloss paint. If you have a airless sprayer or can rent one you can get it done in 2 or 3 hours.
Good luck

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
Hi zz!

Is it a bad thing if they roost up there? Will they be hurt do you think? what considerations should I make on these rafters? I didn't even think about them getting up that high!

not a bad thing. however, part of putting roosts where you want them is to put the poop piles where you want them! if you're going to leave part of the rafters open, and have ceiling in part of the space, I'd close it off so they can't get up on top of the ceiling section. would hate to have them decide to lay up there.

anyway, if you decide to keep them, open rafters are fine, some birds like the extra high vantage point.

 

[hemet dennis]

So anymore updates ?

 

[Sweetened]

Oh my goodness!

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'll be taking some pictures after this weekend. I have most of the ceiling torn out and have decided I'll keep it open but covered with chicken wire to prevent high roosting. The "Chute" in the original pictures turns out to actually be a way for air to flow through. What a mess up there! Years of mouse feces all crammed into the insulation.

There is no insulation in the walls, save for the area that had the electrical unit, but I will have to saw the walls off because the nails are so old I can't pull them out without their tops breaking off!

It's just been slow going so I haven't updated!

Thanks for your re-interest. Will post pictures soon.

 

[abChicken]

 

[The Lazy L]

Patiently impatiently waiting for updates too....