Coop-struction: Reclaimed Lumber Coop (aka "crate expectations")

[mrchicks]

Looking forward to seeing it! You must be so happy to have it in place. The chicks must love it too.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Let the flock out to wander around the yard a bit today for the first time. They hung pretty close to the coop, but really seemed to enjoy being out and about. If the weather holds, I should have their run built next weekend, weather permitting...but they'll get to free range when we're home and in the yard.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Started run construction this weekend!

First up, putting the fence up around the coop (try not to mock my inability to drive fence posts in straight):



Next up, adding the ramp:



The ramp lumber is a bit heavier than necessary, but it's what we had handy and "free" beats "100% appropriate" every time! Plus, if the girls all happen to gain 75 pounds, they'll still be able to get up the ramp.

The ramp is covered with treads from an old tractor tire....seems to give the birds a nice surface to grab onto as they climb in and out:



Next steps are putting a top on the run to keep predators out (chicken wire strung over some strong wires) and making a more permanent gate to let flock out to free range when we're in the backyard.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

It's three years later, and I just built a second coop...so thought it would be nice to look back at this point, just a hair over 3 years later.

Here is a picture of the coop today, along with part of the run, which we enlarged when we stopped letting the ladies free range around the entire yard.