Coop/Run in-progress - Pic Heavy!

[MistyValley]

St. Hubert

super nice job. Wonderful use of space, and cute little ladies. Just remember in a about a year you will go well, shoot I could have done that..............

We just remodeled here and just keep getting more great ideas. You've have added even more enjoy. And I totally understand wanting to move a cot out there!

 

[Bob L.]

That was a cool ideal.
Worked out great!

 

[St-Hubert]

MistyValley, thank you! ....there are already some things I *should* have done differently! The good news is I have another half of a covered porch to work with for the next batch of chickens!

Bob L., thank you very much!

 

[St-Hubert]

Ok....so tonight's the night. The girls are going out to their new home. I've still got a bit of work to do to prevent the rain from creating a mudbath of the run, but the coop is nice and dry.
*sigh*
Why do I feel so nervous about this?

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

That's just normal. Whenever I put chicks out for their first night or two I'm up just about all night(like I go to bed early anyway...lol.) Seems like I hear every noise outside within 10 miles. They and You will be OK. It will take them a day or two to get adjusted to their new surroundings so they may act a little strange at first. Are they used to having a light on at night? If they are I would put a small one out there for a few nights and gradually wean them off of it. Good luck and keep us posted.

Now it's time to get some more chicks and get the porch aviary started!!!

 

[Annabella]

What you have done is so great !

I was just saying to DH the other day that having a coop/run set up under the deck would be a great use of space. He wasn't excited about the idea - but then neither was he adverse to it.

I will show him your photos it will help him visualise!! Thank you so much for sharing this.

Hope your gorgeous chicks settle in well.

 

[St-Hubert]

Thank you for the support!

Chook-a-holic....I have actually decided that quail will be the next step, and I have begun closing in the upper deck. I'll see about posting photos of that in the next few days. You did set that idea in my brain....and I appreciate it!
We have been weaning them off the light for the past week or so. We moved them into the guest bedroom and pretty much let natural light take it's course. They are used to light and dark. It's still a little cool here at night (high 40's to low 50's), so we might end up leaving a light in there for warmth. Looking into one of those red lights....

Annabella, a word of caution; the coop and run are actually under the porch of our "storage" house on the property. Not that it would make much difference, because I think if we didn't have a dog, I'd have put the coop and run next to the house we live in.

I'm glad we were an inspiration....and let your DH know that he will at least save a bit of money on building a roof for the chickens!

 

[BankerJohn]

wow, you your project has morphed into such a wonderful new home for your birds. This is an aviary to be proud of !!!

Would you mind adding to this post with all of the pictures in progression to share with all of us again the before, during and present? We also want to see the girls in their new home!

Have you started a pool for the date of the first egg to be laid?

 

[chickencoop13]

real nice!

 

[St-Hubert]

Thank you all.

No pool on the first egg yet....we're still a little new at chickens to be able to guess. I can tell you that it will be a happy day, though!

Ok, so the chickens spent the weekend in the coop....and they spent a little time investigating the run. The good news is they like it and seem pretty comfy out there. The bad news is the massive rain storm we had last night overwhelmed my berm-building skills and flooded out the run. So, back to the drawing board on keeping water out....might be time to dig the dry moat.
The coop stayed nice and dry, though, and that was my major worry. I consider that part a success at least.

Photos of the mad construction before the rain this weekend. Everything that's not painted grey will be painted on the next dry day we get.

I added overhangs and built a peaked roof to cover part of the stairway. I also added hinged "flaps" to the upper part of the deck to help deflect the rain.

This is the inside of the coop (with the cleaning door open).

And, of course, photos of the girls enjoying the run.

I has a stick!

And proof that man was not the only creature to walk on the Moon.....

I have a bit of digging to do over the next few days to figure out the water-flow problem, but then I'll get back to finishing off the coop proper. About the only thing left I have to do as far as construction will be the gangplank and a few shelves in the run. Maybe a few 2x4's for the girls to hang out on as well.