Exhausting Photo Finish of Coop and my Run!

[Schwartzfarmnc]

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We are going to try the deep litter method, that is why we installed the vinyl floor for easy cleap up, and yes, I have installed the feeders with aluminum stripping to raise and lower and I will put a block underneath to keep it off the shavings. There were so many great ideas on this site, I just kept researching and really came to love the idea of PVC feeders.

I would love to have pictures of the chickies, but we have to wait till March, it is way too cold to try them in the fall or winter up here. We have had 8 inches of snow and high's only around 15 and lows in the single digits, with wind chills near -20 so I have to wait for some warmer weather.

 

[jomoncon]

What a beautiful job!! I'm always impressed by folks who can build from scratch, using all those construction techniques. We were lucky enough to have an old shed we could convert.

Great job. Lots of coop-envy here.

 

[abhaya]

when Can I move in?

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

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That is what my family keeps saying...Mom thinks it's an apartment for her, some say it's my dog/chicken house!

 

[70monte]

Great coop. I also have the exact same feeders made from 4" pipe and my RIR's have found a way to pretty much empty the feed onto the coop floor. I think I'm going to have to cut some pieces of pipe to put in the end so that the opening is not at an angle anymore. I have mine sitting directly on the floor like yours and use pine shavings and the feeders don't get the shavings in the end. Good luck.

Wayne

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

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So, what are your ideas on how to keep them from emptying the feed all over the floor? I plan on putting mine up on concrete blocks where they can just get there heads in it, I can move them up or down with the stripping I have them attached to, do you think it will make a difference if they are moved up to neck level?
Matt

 

[kichohana]

Love your coop and run. Very nice design and layout. Smart move building your coop before winter. I also built my coop before getting the chickens. They grow so fast and I didn't want to get caught with my pants down!

Now comes the hardest part - waiting for your chickies to arrive!

Your feeders are great. Keep them low for now and as your chicks grow, raise them up so they are at "beak level". Same with the waterer. They will get shavings in it if it's kept on the ground. I had my waterer on a cinder block. I switched to a bucket waterer with pvc and nipples. Great setup, but does not work for me in the winter as the water freezes.

I too am in NC; about 40 miles S.E. of Raleigh. You are in my favorite part though... Unfortunately my employment keeps me down here out of the mountains, but your area is where I long to be!

 

[70monte]

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So, what are your ideas on how to keep them from emptying the feed all over the floor? I plan on putting mine up on concrete blocks where they can just get there heads in it, I can move them up or down with the stripping I have them attached to, do you think it will make a difference if they are moved up to neck level?
Matt

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I watched one of the hens as she ate and she was using her beak to flip the food toward herself and out on to the floor. It was like she was digging in the food. I was going to cut a small section of pipe at an angle and install it in the end so that the opening is flat rather than at an angle. Moving it up like you mentioned may help but if they can get there beak into the food, they can probably get the food out of the feeder. I have read some other posts on here from people who have similiar feeders and they said there chickens did the same thing. Other people don't have a problem. It depends on your chickens. I have some caps that I can install in the end of the feeders so they can't get to the food and let them eat whats on the floor.

Wayne

 

[aussiedude248]

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Your Coop is AMAZING love the landscape and the little Stream/creek. I just posted pic in my page if you want to take a look?