Design - Predators - Thoughts

[clarkbre]

The girls are in their new home!

 

[clarkbre]

More work done today! We prefabricated the walls for the run in the garage. The run will be 10' wide by 8' deep.

My ground crew worked with me to set and level the 2x6 foundation. Once it was parallel to the coop and squared up, we set the walls.

Walls set in place and the roof rafters temporarily placed, you get the idea of how big it will be. The roof will be a 3/12 pitch and have opaque PVC panels to let light in but still protect the birds. The way the coop and run sit now, they face directly east. They will get full sun in the morning and in the afternoon and evening shade. There is still one opening on the side of the run that will connect the coop and run together. I'm so excited to have this thing coming together!

This is the view into our backyard from the kitchen window, patio and family room.

 

[clarkbre]

More progress from yesterday. Got the rest of the hardware cloth, door and roof installed. We were even able to move the hens out for a couple hours to explore their new run.

 

[21hens-incharge]

More progress from yesterday. Got the rest of the hardware cloth, door and roof installed. We were even able to move the hens out for a couple hours to explore their new run.

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This has turned out very nicely.

Will you be adding a way to connect the run and coop? Like a "chunnel" (chicken tunnel)?

 

[clarkbre]

This has turned out very nicely.

Will you be adding a way to connect the run and coop? Like a "chunnel" (chicken tunnel)?

"Chunnel" Yes! I like that term. I have an Omlet solar door that will be added to the side of the coop and the last two pieces to be built are the tunnel and nest boxes.

For the tunnel, I left an opening in the run that was about 42" wide and 30" tall. The run is 36" away from the coop. That ground will add another 10 sq ft to the run, giving the hens a little more room.

 

[21hens-incharge]

"Chunnel" Yes! I like that term. I have an Omlet solar door that will be added to the side of the coop and the last two pieces to be built are the tunnel and nest boxes.

For the tunnel, I left an opening in the run that was about 42" wide and 30" tall. The run is 36" away from the coop. That ground will add another 10 sq ft to the run, giving the hens a little more room.

That will be very nice for them.

I didn't come up with that term by the way.
It is a pretty good description though.

 

[clarkbre]

That will be very nice for them.

I didn't come up with that term by the way.
It is a pretty good description though.

Installed the Omlet door and "chunnel" yesterday. The hens gave it a try and have caught on to it very fast.

Completed tunnel:

Omlet door installed with tunnel sides in place:

First one out!

The view of the coop and run from my family room window:

 

[21hens-incharge]

I absolutely love what you have built here!