Excited Newbie

[asphaltwarrior1]

This is what I'm thinking till I move the run to the back shed. The whole roof will be metal roofing , the sides will be 1/2 hardware cloth with the bottoms buried under ground. The garden fencing would need to a lot of work to make it predator proof so I chose this route till spring. Any thoughts?

 

[feathermaid]

This is what I'm thinking till I move the run to the back shed. The whole roof will be metal roofing , the sides will be 1/2 hardware cloth with the bottoms buried under ground. The garden fencing would need to a lot of work to make it predator proof so I chose this route till spring. Any thoughts?

I think that shed is gonna make an awesome coop! (Don't forget to add some extra ventilation- you can never have too much) Your little coop is almost exactly the same as my old one. I kept them inside that tiny run area for like 2 weeks before I couldn't bear them being so cramped... then they had all day access to my backyard... which got destroyed in about a year.


So then I had to move it to the side of my house where they could have their own space all day and not eat all my plants! Kind of like your run area you're building. Except my "run area" wasn't covered and they hopped up on the roof and then hopped over the fence to the neighbors yard.

Chickens are a constant learning curve, I think mostly you have to figure it out as you go.

That little coop didn't hold up very well, so I just recently built a new one that still fits in the same area. And now they can't reach the roof!!


So anyway.... It sounds like the winter setup you're talking about will be fine. And if you plan on moving the run eventually, I wouldn't bother with burying the hardware cloth. After 2 years that stuff will start breaking down/rusting and will lose it's strength as a barrier. Another just as effective protection is making a hardware cloth apron about 12-24" wide that surrounds the perimeter. I used metal garden pins to fasten it to the ground then just covered it with gravel or wood chips (depending on where it was located). Digging predators won't think to start digging so far away from what they're trying to get under. And if it does start to rust, it'll be much easier to replace.


Oh, and one more idea I learned: I don't know if you can see in my pictures, but I built my structures on top of treated 2x6s made for ground contact. That not only helps preserve my actual structure, but also makes the run space deeper so it can hold in a lot more bedding (ie. deep litter, shavings, leaves, grass clippings etc). The composting action brings in bugs and worms, lots more fun for the chickens to scratch through.

(Sorry I'm so chatty)

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

I think that shed is gonna make an awesome coop! (Don't forget to add some extra ventilation- you can never have too much) Your little coop is almost exactly the same as my old one. I kept them inside that tiny run area for like 2 weeks before I couldn't bear them being so cramped... then they had all day access to my backyard... which got destroyed in about a year.
View attachment 1582638

So then I had to move it to the side of my house where they could have their own space all day and not eat all my plants! Kind of like your run area you're building. Except my "run area" wasn't covered and they hopped up on the roof and then hopped over the fence to the neighbors yard.
View attachment 1582637
Chickens are a constant learning curve, I think mostly you have to figure it out as you go.

That little coop didn't hold up very well, so I just recently built a new one that still fits in the same area. And now they can't reach the roof!!
View attachment 1582649

So anyway.... It sounds like the winter setup you're talking about will be fine. And if you plan on moving the run eventually, I wouldn't bother with burying the hardware cloth. After 2 years that stuff will start breaking down/rusting and will lose it's strength as a barrier. Another just as effective protection is making a hardware cloth apron about 12-24" wide that surrounds the perimeter. I used metal garden pins to fasten it to the ground then just covered it with gravel or wood chips (depending on where it was located). Digging predators won't think to start digging so far away from what they're trying to get under. And if it does start to rust, it'll be much easier to replace.
View attachment 1582656

Oh, and one more idea I learned: I don't know if you can see in my pictures, but I built my structures on top of treated 2x6s made for ground contact. That not only helps preserve my actual structure, but also makes the run space deeper so it can hold in a lot more bedding (ie. deep litter, shavings, leaves, grass clippings etc). The composting action brings in bugs and worms, lots more fun for the chickens to scratch through.

(Sorry I'm so chatty)

Please I'm fine with all this wonderful help. Thanks for the ideas of the hardware cloth and the stories of your chickens adventures lol. I can see the 2x6 and I made the lower section of the run out of the same. I know some don't like the pt being used but this is left over decking that has been rained on for months and should have all the chemicals leached out by now . Newer pt is less toxic anyway with the new treatment process.

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

Making some progress, need to add some more braces, finish the hardware cloth on run and around base, and roofing.

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

I rotated it to complement the rest of my landscaping.

 

[happy duck]

Glad to meet you and glad you joined!!!

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

I've made more progress on the run. All the sides are covered in 1/2 hardware cloth and the back wall had a piece of old fence to aid in cutting down the wind blowing against the coop at night. I have bracing to add to the middle of each wall, the roof and sealing up between the rafters, the hardware cloth around the perimeter and the creative covering idea i came up with for said perimeter .

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome! Looks great! Your chickens will be happy

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

Well all the bracing is done and all predator proofed , I just have the roof to put on and seal the spaces between the rafters.

 

[asphaltwarrior1]

Just visited our babies at their surrogate parents house. They are getting big and two have names already. The biggest cockerel will be named French Toast and the smallest Hen will be named Saltine, thanks to my middle daughter .. Lord help me , my kids are gonna be mad when I gotta butcher any other roosters as there is atleast two of not three with combs pronounced already and the others are not showing yet. Our friends who own the Momma are helping us so much with getting started .