Critique my set up please?

[sdsknifeworks]

Well I have been trying to go about building and planning my coop and run slowly and I'm finally starting to get close to the end. I decided I wanted everything ready to go before I got birds. I'm planning on four to six birds and hope that my plans work out without too much trouble.

My coop is 4 X 8 and raised about three ft. off the ground. The tall side (inside) is about four feet and the short side is about three feet. I'm giving approximate measurements because I had to adjust everything as I built it. The coop sits outside the run so that the eggs can be gathered each day without having to go into the run unless I want to. I still have to add the nesting boxes and those will hang off of the tall side. I'm planning 3 or 4 boxes to start. I can add more later if I decide to get more birds.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/022-12.jpg

The low side of the coop faces west and the door leading to the run will face south. Both ends of the coop are able to be opened up completely for cleaning. I'll be able to stand and shovel/sweep out the interior from one end to the other.

The run has 5 ft. tall 2X4 welded wire and will be topped with aviary netting (should be here this week). I'm going to lay 8X8X16 cinder blocks around the perimiter to hopefully deter digging critters. I had a bunch of those left here when we moved in. The run itself is 20 X30 for a total of 600 square feet. I know this is probably more than I need for a few birds but I figured more is better than less.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/017_renamed_1599.jpg

I need to decide on some shade options and how/where I will place the water source. I also need to place the roosting poles inside the coop and get the nesting boxes attached. Aside from those things I think I'm getting pretty close to being done.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/020-15.jpg

The gate is 5 X 5. I made it large so I can mow inside easily if needed.

I have vents on the top at both ends.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/sdsknifeworks/015-14.jpg

I don't know if this will be enough or if I will need to add more. I need to get everything finished and will see how things look.

I am WIDE OPEN to any critiques or suggestions.

SDS

 

[HEChicken]

Wow. I can't think of a way to critique you - it looks great and it looks like you have given it a great deal of thought. I bet you can't wait to move some birds in there!

For shade, is planting some trees outside the run a possibility? It will be awhile before they provide shade but in a few years they will.

 

[sdsknifeworks]

Well I have to admit to one of those "DUH" moments. I had considered all kinds of plantings and coverings for INSIDE the run but had not even thought about planting outside. In the spring I plan to build raised garden beds along the west side of the run and maybe the south side as well. I may add a fruit tree to the southwest corner for the shade it will provide in a year or two.

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[sdsknifeworks]

Got some work done on my nesting box tonight. I am building it to house three separate boxes inside, each 15" wide by 15" deep. 12" high at the rear and 18" at the front but inside the box there is a lip both top and bottom so it is a little more private. I still need to add the interior dividers, the hinges for the top, and some rubber to waterproof it. I'm also going to caulk around the seams to seal it up against the weather.

Trying to decide if I should add some kind of weather stripping where the lid meets the box to keep out all drafts and light.




I also have to add the door and ramp into the run. Trying to decide how big to make the door.

SDS

 

[Vicky2479]

Everything looks fantastic, I would only suggest thinking about splitting the run in 2 halves that way one side can recover abit while the hens are trashing the other. I only suggest this because it is something I wish I had done to start with, I have 6 hens and about the same size run as you and they have turned the whole thing in to a dust bowl or swamp, It would be a shame to see all that lovely grassed area destroyed in a few weeks.

 

[sdsknifeworks]

Vicky, I had never even considered doing that. I was hoping that the area would be large enough that they wouldn't totally destroy it but it sounds like that isn't going to work out. I will have to see if I can come up with some more fencing to do that with. The materials costs have been a bit higher than I had budgeted for.

I got my aviary netting in today and will be trying to get that strung up. I haven't decided how to extend the center portion vertically but I have a couple of ideas. I'll get out there later tonight when it's a little cooler.

Thanks for the tip on splitting the run.

SDS

 

[Vicky2479]

Mine took about a month to completely dig thier yard over, it is great when you have a garden bed you WANT them to do , I separated mine yesterday afternoon and just used some chicken wire and metal drop posts seems to be working for now

 

[sdsknifeworks]

How tall is the chicken wire you used inside the pen? I have been more worried about keeping critters out than keeping the birds in.

SDS

 

[Vicky2479]

I got the shorter one this time as its not really to contain them just discourage them from going in there so I think it is a touch over three feet.

 

[flewdacoop]

looks good i am also building a coop right now that is 4x8x6 but mine is going to house 15 chickens so i think you will have plenty of room.. and my run is going to be 8ft wide and 12 feet long 6 feet high.. LOOKS GOOD