Finally started building new coop - Will be adding progress photos.

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

Nice going. How wide is the run? There was a tread in here from a lady that had an 8 ft wide run, and she used 14 Ga. 1x2 hard wired for the roof that she domed from the top of the walls. It was really cool and will work for a thin run. I tried it for my run which is 12 ft, but the span was to wide. If your run is thin enough, you may want to find that tread. She did an awesome run with it. Good luck.........

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

6chickens in St. Charles :

Quote:
OMG! I looked at your page and your rooster is GORGEOUS

!! Is that a RIR?

Good luck with your construction. I hope its not to late to mention this, but the posts for your new wall or fence are only about a foot from that privacy fence. I forsee mess inbetween those two which you won't be able to get back there and clean. Unless you are thin with a very thin rake. It could get overgrown with weeds and/or mucky and swampy if you can't get to it.

Thank you 6Chickens! My roosters are Partridge Rock.

Thanks so much for the advice about the privacy fence

There is a little over 2 feet back there, I know it doesn't look like it in the photos (probably from the angle I was shooting). We measured and our push mower will just fit back there.. lol... wanted to make sure I could keep the weeds out. There is not any grass because of the huge oak tree growing over the coop.​

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Newbie in Screamer Al, :

Nice going. How wide is the run? There was a tread in here from a lady that had an 8 ft wide run, and she used 14 Ga. 1x2 hard wired for the roof that she domed from the top of the walls. It was really cool and will work for a thin run. I tried it for my run which is 12 ft, but the span was to wide. If your run is thin enough, you may want to find that tread. She did an awesome run with it. Good luck.........

Hi Newbie!

Thanks so much for the advice!! My run is 10 feet deep and 40 feet long. It will be divided into 4 10'x10' pens with connecting doors. We will be using 2"x4" welding wire fencing 72" high for strength with 1" chicken wire over the top of that. We are using heavy gauge roofing metal for the top.​

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
OMG! I looked at your page and your rooster is GORGEOUS

!! Is that a RIR?

Good luck with your construction. I hope its not to late to mention this, but the posts for your new wall or fence are only about a foot from that privacy fence. I forsee mess inbetween those two which you won't be able to get back there and clean. Unless you are thin with a very thin rake. It could get overgrown with weeds and/or mucky and swampy if you can't get to it.

Thank you 6Chickens! My roosters are Partridge Rock.

Thanks so much for the advice about the privacy fence

There is a little over 2 feet back there, I know it doesn't look like it in the photos (probably from the angle I was shooting). We measured and our push mower will just fit back there.. lol... wanted to make sure I could keep the weeds out. There is not any grass because of the huge oak tree growing over the coop.

Awesome. We have an Oak tree with a Sugar Maple, almost nothing will grow under them, so we have a No Grass backyard too. So, I let a tree guy dump a load of chips so it's all mulched, which accidentally attracted shrews, tunnelling in the mulch. Then, we got chickens. They hunted and ate every last shrew. Y'just never know.

Can't wait to see how your place works out! Looks great!

...and that gorgeous auburn colored roo with the beetle-green tail is a Partridge Rock?

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Quote:
Hello Arlew!

I hope to be able to post links and photos soon.... as soon as I am released from my newbie status LOL

Until then you can see a few pics on my BYC page.
Thanks!!

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

6chickens in St. Charles :

Quote:
Thank you 6Chickens! My roosters are Partridge Rock.

Thanks so much for the advice about the privacy fence

There is a little over 2 feet back there, I know it doesn't look like it in the photos (probably from the angle I was shooting). We measured and our push mower will just fit back there.. lol... wanted to make sure I could keep the weeds out. There is not any grass because of the huge oak tree growing over the coop.

Awesome. We have an Oak tree with a Sugar Maple, almost nothing will grow under them, so we have a No Grass backyard too. So, I let a tree guy dump a load of chips so it's all mulched, which accidentally attracted shrews, tunnelling in the mulch. Then, we got chickens. They hunted and ate every last shrew. Y'just never know.

Can't wait to see how your place works out! Looks great!

...and that gorgeous auburn colored roo with the beetle-green tail is a Partridge Rock?​

Chickens are great for pest control! LOL

Yes, both my roosters are Partridge Rock. They are gorgeous fellas and really big, however they tend to be really protective of their space. You have to been really careful in the pen with them. If you turn your back on them they can be mean. My son and I both go in the pens with them a lot (they are in separate pens and each have hens of their own....we could not keep them together because all they did was fight) and we keep a close watch on them. They have never hurt us, but it is because we are very careful.

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Quote:
Thank you Nostalchic. I agree about reading the "mistakes and advice". It is very helpful. I live in Florida so I don't have to worry about the cold that many of the BYC members have to deal with, but the heat can be fierce in the Summer. That is one reason we chose our current new coop location. It is completely shaded by a huge oak tree, so it will help keep the chickens much cooler in the summer. The privacy fence is on the North side of the coop so that will protect from the cold wind in the winter.

What kind of chickens do you have?

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Here is a pic of the trench for the water line which will feed the automatic watering system.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/80617_20110222_0740.jpg

 

[PartridgeRckgal]

Here is a progress pic.... we are adding the top boards getting ready to start working on the roof. I went to our local Habitat store today and found all the galvanized hinges for the coop doors and several 1/2 sheets of treated plywood for nest boxes... all for only $12.00!!! Woohoo.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/80617_20110222_0748.jpg

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

I just have to wonder: do you find yourself thinking about the blizzard we just had? As you're building your coop and run, is it on your mind?

I am SO GLAD a handyman built this little shed for us, solid. Not a cheap kit. I had no idea it would ever give me peace of mind like it did last month, it felt like our roof was getting blown off! After the storm, junk had blown everywhere, car parts laying in the streets, trees down, siding torn off houses.......but there was our little chicken shed, the snow blown around it like a crater of safety for the birds. We may be moving from this place next year, and already I'm thinking about plans for the next solid coop and run!


So, I'm watching your beautiful place go up! Please share as you go, it will help us plan and build next year. Thanks