Das Hühnerhaus

[Trefoil]

Just found this thread. Your coop really turned out. Thanks for all the pics, hope you don't mind if I steal a few of your ideas i.e. hardware cloth in the door & trim.

 

[huklebry]

Looks great! I'm building a coop this weekend and I'm sure my chicks will forever envy your coop.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Thanks for the positive feedback, it's nice to hear. And feel free to replicate anything on here, as most is stolen from other build pages! I don't have any chicken friends in "real life," to give feedback.

Made some more progress picked up 2,200 lbs of sand from a place on the Tennessee River for $17 (Baker Sand & Gravel). I was going to put it in the coop as well, but we now plan to put shavings in the coop until spring, since its so cold out. 5" in the pen.




Made a poop board and retainers for all the openings. The poop board is 26" wide. Still trying to figure out the spacing of the roost bars (2x4s).


I started to put sand in, and changed my mind...


Rented a trencher to run the electric and to outline the extended run, so I can bury the HW cloth. It was $160 for the day. Never used one before, but it was very simple.





Outline of the extended pen. Adds about 150 sq ft of pen space and some room for them to scratch real dirt.


We'll make a Chunnel between the main pen and the extended pen.



Any recommendations on roost spacing??

 

[aart]

Since a roost works best at about 12" from the wall, I'd run the roost right down the middle of and 8" above the board.

How long is the board and how many chooks do you plan?
12" of roost length per bird is a good rule of thumb.....
.......they'll huddle together and not use it all when it's cold, but the 'extra' space is beneficial when they are getting settled in and when it's hot.
Some may roost on the front edge of the board, several of mine do that....some roost right on the board behind the roost too.

Not sure if your ramp is hinged, but it might be a good idea to cut enough off the end to prop it up on a concrete block sitting tall if they have trouble with the steepness of it.

 

[N F C]

Since a roost works best at about 12" from the wall, I'd run the roost right down the middle of and 8" above the board.

How long is the board and how many chooks do you plan?
12" of roost length per bird is a good rule of thumb.....
.......they'll huddle together and not use it all when it's cold, but the 'extra' space is beneficial when they are getting settled in and when it's hot.
Some may roost on the front edge of the board, several of mine do that....some roost right on the board behind the roost too.

Not sure if your ramp is hinged, but it might be a good idea to cut enough off the end to prop it up on a concrete block sitting tall if they have trouble with the steepness of it.

That's the way our ramps work too and it seems to suit the birds well (only we use large wooden blocks instead of concrete).

 

[Alabama Jack]

It is hinged! LOL. Wasn't sure why I was doing it, but I saw it somewhere and figured it was a nifty idea, but never knew why.

As to the roost, it is 6' long. We planned on 8 chickens, but ended up with 12 for now (we have at least one rooster). The poop board does have nice 2x2s on the perimeter.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Pulled the electrical through conduit. Learned lots of info about electrical code, that I had no clue about. Like you're supposed to have all your conduit glued and in place, and then pull through the entire length. There is also a special lube/soap for getting the cable through (yellow 77). Anyways, the point is, not as simple as I thought.

Got the first GFCI outlet mounted.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Girls are definitely ready to move out. I want to finish running the electrical first though. Just need time...

 

[aart]

Girls are definitely ready to move out. I want to finish running the electrical first though. Just need time...

Don't we all!!

 

[Alabama Jack]

Don't we all!!

Never ending story aart!