First Chicken Coop coming Thursday!!

[townchicks]

If your hubby is good with modifying this coop, I'd recommend that you get a shed and modify it with windows and roosts, rather than get another prefab coop. That way the flock can stay together. You can get heated dog dishes for water, or you can make one. There are several posts on here how to do that, but I'm not good with making links. Just do a search, though. You will not have room in the coop for food and water, those will have to go in the run. Make a covered area for a feeding and watering station.

 

[blackdog043]

Yes I will have electric, to the coop. Where can I get a heated waterer is there any you recommend I’ve never seen any before but have heard a lot about them.

Edit: Link for article I just made, so I don't have to type this out again.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

I use a DIY 5 gallon bucket, gamma lid, horizontal nipples and a stock tank deicer for my heated waterer. I like to use horizontal nipples, because they keep your water clean 24/7 and should not freeze during the winter as long as you have a heat source at the bottom your waterer. If you use the horizontal nipples, drill an 11/32 hole and screw the nipple in leaving 2 -3 threads showing, do not screw them all the way in. When the deicer is not needed(after winter), I put a piece of tape over the rubber grommet to keep any dirt from getting inside the waterer. Also, under the waterer is a plastic planter saucer I got from Lowes. The nipples don't drip water, but when the chickens use it, some water can drip and get the bedding wet. This is the only heated waterer I use in the winter, I have a 14 gallon non heated horizontal nipple waterer inside the run, but take it out during winter.

To keep the waterer filled during winter, I carry a couple gallon milk jugs to the coop and pour the water through the 2 inch hole the grommet is in. I don't usually clean out the waterer during winter, because it stays clean inside.

I bought these parts from Lowes, to put the cord through. I drilled a 2 inch hole for the computer grommet(on right) to sit in, then sliced the rubber grommet so I could put it around the cord.

250 Watt Stock tank deicer that I use

2 - 3 threads showing

 

[StephanieRose44]

I assembled the chicken coop I have pictures just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on it. It has plexiglass on the bottom section of windows and wire on top, I’m going to put locks on the nesting boxes, and better locks on the chicken door and side door.

 

[123RedBeard]

Does the plexiglass open?

That is hardware cloth, but looks like the thinner wire variety, and not secured very well, best way is to take some strips of wood, and cover the edges of the wire, secure with either screws and big washers (fender washers), or use machine bolts (w/washers on both sides)

I'd get 5 - 8"X8"X16" cement blocks, put one under each corner, and set the ramp on the fifth one ... the chickens will have a nice little hidey spot that they will love!

 

[aart]

Not sure those HC'd windows are gonna be viable ventilation....snow/rain might come in readily. You might need to cover them up.

I'd get a multiple louvered vents and stick them in under the roof overhang on the sides and ends. Something like this but they do come in different sizes and materials.

 

[townchicks]

I second the suggestions on securing the hardware cloth and on the venting. You might also consider running the roosts lengthwise to accommodate more chickens. It might be wise to put hardware cloth over the plexiglass also. It's hard to tell from the pictures how it's secured, but I know with my prefab, that it doesn't take much to punch it out. It's a cute little coop, I hope it works out for you for the winter, but start working on hubby to do a shed for you, you'll be glad if you do.

 

[feathermaid]

Holy smokes that is a tiny coop! Looks like the inside is only 2 feet wide... the nest boxes don't count as living space. If by chance it really is 3 feet across, there's only 2 roost bars... which total 6 feet! Each bird needs at least 12-15 inches of roost space to sleep comfortably without fighting or banning some flock members from the coop.

It's pretty much guaranteed your chickens will not spend any time in there unless it's for laying eggs or sleeping. I had a prefab similar to that (rated for 9 hens) for only my 3 girls and it turned out to be too small. Mine was 3'x3' (not counting nests) with a 3'x8' attached run space, and my birds never ever went inside for any other reason than to lay eggs or go to bed.

I free ranged my girls every day until I found a better solution. Sounds like you've got a great garden space for them to spend their days, but all 12 chickens will not fit in that coop at night. Maybe 4 to 6 max. They'll be a little more tolerant of each other while they're young, pretty soon they'll start hashing out their pecking order and some pullets should start laying by about 6 months. But by 10-12 months that tolerance for being crowded goes away and only the top birds will be allowed inside, if they don't decide to roost in trees, so make sure you definitely get another coop by then. I second @townchicks idea to modify a large walk-in shed, then your whole flock can stay together. There's many people who have done that here with really nice results.

Also, have you read these articles?
How Much Room Do Chickens Need

Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

Predator Proofing

They contain all the basics of the most important things to keep in mind for your coop. Don't worry, lots of folks start with a prefab... it'll make a good brooder or separation pen in the future if you ever need one!

Reminds me of a great thread with tons of lessons people have learned
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...orst-mistakes-when-you-first-started.1283540/

 

[Eilsel]

I would put one roost lengthwise across the whole thing, at the same height as the top of the nest box opening. Once you put bedding in there those roosts that are just inches off the floor won’t even be visible.

 

[StephanieRose44]

I would put one roost lengthwise across the whole thing, at the same height as the top of the nest box opening. Once you put bedding in there those roosts that are just inches off the floor won’t even be visible.

Yeah I know the roosts are very low to the floor, that was my plan I agree put one straight across right above the nest box. Thank you

Does anyone recommend a way to seal the wood, Is a softwood not pressure treated so it needs to be sealed with something, than painted. * trust me I know I should have this should’ve been done assembling it but I had to leave for the weekend, when I came back it was Xmas eve and there it was with a little bow on top.

 

[blackdog043]

If you want to paint it, just get a good quality paint. I used Valspar Duramax on my shed and some crawl space doors 13 years ago and they still look good. If you don't want to paint it just coat it with Thompson's water seal or something similar.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Valspar-Du...r-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-116-fl-oz/3091559