Finally the Grand Opening

[canesisters]

Fantastic! I'll be setting out the posts, etc this weekend to see what more I'll need.

How did you attach the side posts to the top board? And to the bottom?

I've got 2 6x6's that I think will work nice for the bottom frame on the long sides. Then I can use a couple of 2x6's for the ends. I'm planning to fill the bottom with sand for easy cleanup. How do you get in it? I assume there's a people door on the end?

What's your plan for nest boxes? And a perch? It looks like the lower sides of your roof are hinged? That would make cleaning so easy. And give access to nests if you have them inside the house.

I'm in VA so heat and humidity are a problem during the summer - and we get a few weeks of really cold weather in the winter. I'm not worried about having to insulate or heat the coop - but I'll have to be sure the house is dry. Have you had any problems with leaks at the hinge in the roof?

Oh - I'm SOOO excited. 3-day weekend on the way and FINALLY a plan for the coop!!!

I've been stressing terribly over what I was going to do. They're already big enough to escape from the brooder if I turn my back.

 

[Runawaylobster]

the ridge beam was attached to the rafters by using some leftover 3.5 inch deck screws that i had. both sides are hinged so that i can open the whole thing up if i want to, i am planning to put some slide out boards on the dance floor so that i can just remove them to clean. The
nest boxes are going to run along one side so most likely i will put them under where one side lifts up and have that as the top of the boxes. I can fit 6 boxes along the one side. I havent built the boxes yet, because i was in a hurry and I don't need them for a l little while.

the deck screws are great they hold really well. i also used some construction corner brackets at the base, it helps to keep it square.

most of them are outside now the bucket worked.

I plan to cover the hinge on the roof with a flexible flap, attached at the top and the bottom will be open. i have been keeping a tarp over the roof until i get time to paint and waterproof it.

no perch yet but there will be two running lengthwise inside.

there is a person door at one end that i made from leftover 2x4's from another project and i used the corners cut off from the rafters to keep it square.

attached all the hardware cloth with a power staple gun, and the plywood with staple gun and screws.

 

[Runawaylobster]

Thought I'd just post here a couple of things that could be improved that i've discovered
after a while of use.

1. Because the base is so much wider than the coop, i have to lean on the side in order
to clean which is a pain. You can't stand a step ladder close enough to the top if you need
to work on anything there because of the wider base.

2. i'm having some issues waterproofing the area where the flaps hinge...

3. It's permanent there's no moving this thing!


well that's all, just thought i'd put this up...for people who may look at this thread.

 

[canesisters]

Still LOVE your design.
I was wondering if you could have dropped legs down below the coop part and only wired in the lower rectangle that was directly under the coop floor? That way you would still have the stability of the wide base - but could step inside the base boards and be closer to the coop for maintenance and cleaning.
I ended up being given a wonderful 8x8 shed. It's a blessing but comes with it's own list of issues.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I found some pvc interior wall panel stuff that was flexible so I covered the dance floor in 2 big
squares so that when i clean all i have to do is slide them out with the edges curled up a bit
and then shoot the whole thing into a garbage bag... it's still a bit of a pain but better than it was
at first. Also i found i can open up both flaps and blast it all the way through from 3 ft away with
my pressure washer LOL!!! (now that part is fun, at least the first time...)


i'm glad you got a shed, i think a shed is probably much better........

i'm starting on coop #2 this weekend.. this one will be PVC because i want to move it around.

but i'm glad you liked the design, even with the downfalls it looks pretty and the chickens are
happy in there.....