Criticize My Coop!

[Roach]

You can not please everybody when it comes to a build. I personally thought your first drawing was good to go.  If you decided at a later date chickens are not for you; Your first design on Craig List would be an attractive acquisition to some one else for any number of reasons and pets.

I'm glad so many people like the first design, but I just want to make sure there is enough coop space for my girls.

 

[Kikiriki]

Thanks for your concern Kikiriki, but The yard already has no grass, and has holes dug by dogs all about. (From the previous renters).

Thanks for the advice on the compost pile, but I'm hoping with additions, I'll be able to use their run as the initial compost by amending the soil as I go. Then moving it to a hot compost bin I'll be building. If I can't accomplish this, I'll just be putting the waste in sealed containers and possibly bringing it to a local community garden. Maybe I'll even trade for some veggies!

As far as egg production goes, my partner and I each eat 2 eggs for breakfast, as well as 5 (Large, who knows how many mediums) eggs a week for bread. That's 33 eggs a week, and if you consider my flatmate and his partner, not to mention, buying off neighbors... I'm not worried about an excess of eggs.

Is there a good composting thread on here?

Yes, you can find composting info under the gardening thread on BYC.

Things to think about:
Consider a skirting for the ground if your neighborhood has predatory animals that could possibly get into your yard. I have seen people on here extend the fencing so it drapes a foot or two out on the ground to inhibit diggers. I have concrete pavers. You will also need either an area that is shaded from direct sun, or a tarp that will provide shade. In the summer they will not want to huddle close in a small spot of shade, or go up into the box due to heat. You can get a tarp that is reflective on one side and dark on the other: good for flipping for summer cooling and winter warming.

You will have to watch how the shade changes during daylight hours as the seasons change and the sunlight angle changes. I saw a dog kept in a raised cage: the owners had placed the cage under a tree, but due to the angle of the sun, the poor thing was roasting with no place to escape to shade. They moved the cage when I left them note about it (they were not home).

 

[Roach]

I just looked at the price of OSB, and holy crap, I need to find a cheaper way to build this coop.

Any clever ideas, or people getting rid of ANYTHING that could be used as or with a coop?

I already ordered my 100' of 3' hardware cloth. So that expense is done, it was cheap with fast shipping on amazon. Any other suggestions?

 

[Toshi]

Try pallets, wooden pallets check around where you live.

 

[Roach]

That's what I want to do, will it be okay as far as temp goes?

I live in hardiness zone 4-5.

 

[Roach]

It looks like in my area pallets are $2 a piece. Is there a good way to make sure they're not treated with super harsh chemicals?

 

[Toshi]

You can always use insulation or something. As for chemiclas i don't think they put any in them that they wouldn't put in wood.

 

[Kikiriki]

It looks like in my area pallets are $2 a piece. Is there a good way to make sure they're not treated with super harsh chemicals?

There is code stamped in that tells you if the pallet was used for hazardous chemicals, but you"ll have to research it...I do not know anything else as someone told me about it.

Look on craigslist in your area under "free"... People here are always giving away big old entertainment centers, piles of wood, as well as pallets. If you do a search within craigslist it shows surrounding areas too. I like to check it daily, even though I never go get anything! I drive a tiny car with no room....

Another place to check is freecycle. i used to belong but they went from yahoo to facebook and I will not have a facebook account.

You can also post onto both sites to ask specifically for what you are looking for...

 

[Roach]

I bit the bullet and spent $100 on new lumber.

My coop is built with recycled rubber sheeting, solid core doors, and paint from my local dump.

What do you all think?! I'll post a picture of the interior soon!

 

[Roach]

Can I at least get one "Good job"...? ( ._.)