First Coop - Comments

[Dustoff79]

My wife said she wants chickens, so I figure I will build her a coop. I am using my old wood fence for the outside. 4x4s for base and bolted 4x4s for the corner braces, it is 6'x8'x6.5'. The room is metal over OSB.

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t349/dustoff79/DSCN3340.jpg

I am wrapping the outside with #30 felt then wrapping wire mesh on top of it. I will then cover it with my old fence pickets. I am doing this to make it predator proof.

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t349/dustoff79/DSCN3342.jpg

the windows are about 22'tall, and from front to back on both sides. I have covered them with 1/4" hardware cloth anchored with roofing nails then the wood pickets.

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t349/dustoff79/DSCN3341.jpg

this third pic shows the inside. sorry I cannot rotate it, I am sheathing the inside with OSB and some plywood. I am putting hardware cloth over the front gable for ventilation.

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t349/dustoff79/DSCN3347.jpg

I will put the nest boxes on the right and the roost ladder from top rear to front.

Guess my question here is should I cover the two back side windows with plexiglass, as a roost will be at the same level?

I am in san antonio so it is warm during the summer at night (upper 70's)

The space between the wall and below the roof will also be covered with wire mesh to keep out rats etc... and provide more ventilation along with the front gable when I cover the windows with plexiglass during winter.

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t349/dustoff79/DSCN3344.jpg

Please Comment and As I progress (hopefully next weekend) I will add more Pics.

Doug

 

[redoak]

Looks nice so far. I like the overhanging roof for the coop door. I think plexiglass would work just fine, I put chicken wire on the inside of my windows that don't open but then again they are glass.

 

[pkeeler]

I would put hardward cloth on all openings, even if you will put on plexiglass. That way, you can take down the plexiglass in warmer weather.

I don't see a chicken door, are you going to put it in the front?

How many chickens do you plan on putting in there and will they have a run/free range?

 

[Dustoff79]

I would put hardward cloth on all openings, even if you will put on plexiglass. That way, you can take down the plexiglass in warmer weather.

I don't see a chicken door, are you going to put it in the front?

How many chickens do you plan on putting in there and will they have a run/free range

I am putting hardware cloth over the three windows, secured by roofing nails and then covering the sill with recycled fence pickets. I will fashion plexiglass windows that will fit on the inside and use them when/if it gets really cold, the chicken door will go on the side (I have to cut it out).

the number of chickens...........well that is a good question. I understand the consensus is 1 per 4 sq ft of coop space so I figure under that I am good for 12. However, I plan on letting them free range (I have 4 acres that is fenced against dogs - 2"x3"x4' in most places one side is field wire 8' high) all day and only lock them up at night.

Is is likely I can reduce the sq ft requirement (also I am in San Antonio) due to their free range lifestyle and mild winters (I do not expect to keep them "cooped" up for long periods of time)?

I hope to work on the coop more this weekend and will post some more pics.

D​

 

[Jenski]

Wow! Very nice setup. One of our coop modifications is to build "tracks" for plexi or plywood windbreaks, so we can slide them in or out seasonally. That might be an option for your plexiglass; it would certainly allow you some flexibility in dealing with weather changes.

I like the ventilation you are providing in the upper half of the coop; this is a great way to allow air flow without having direct wind on the chickens. Very slick.

Thanks for sharing your work!


Jen in TN
~:<>

 

[pkeeler]

I think you can increase the density of chickens if you are free ranging. They will all be in there are night, so don't reduce the roost space per bird (~9" ).