First coop- Newbe questions and request for feedback

[SelfSufficient]

Looks good, and looks like you've got a good helpers ther, too'!!!

 

[MarcBinNC]

day 2 of construction. putting the pieces together

 

[MarcBinNC]

Looking good! Hope you give them some outside time cause they're crowded in that brooder. Crowding can cause problems with picking, etc.

yea we take them out everyday. also looks like the weather is going to be nice enough to put them outside in a make shift chicken wire corral (supervised) for a few hours this week...i tried to split them into two totes this past week but they went crazy all night being separated. no picking or anything yet...

 

[SelfSufficient]

Looks good!!! Have you gotten any more done since? Can't wait to see.

We stopped for spring break ( coop done need run ) and haven't gotten going again. They are having a blast in the coop but really want to come out so gotta get moving again soon.

 

[MarcBinNC]

Looks good!!! Have you gotten any more done since? Can't wait to see.
We stopped for spring break ( coop done need run ) and haven't gotten going again. They are having a blast in the coop but really want to come out so gotta get moving again soon.

I had to stop for the workweek. I have an hour or 2 of daylight when I get home each night but Ive had so many other "must do's" that I havent been able to do much. I plan to go at it full bore again this weekend. Im hoping to have doors, siding, and trim done over the weekend and if possible, even get started on the run. because of our busy schedules, we did decide to go with the automatic door from http://automaticchickencoopdoor.com/ which came in this week so hopefully I can also get my electricity run buried and the coop wired this weekend as well. Ill post picks over the weekend as i progress.

Do you have any pics of your coop?

 

[SelfSufficient]

Totally understand!!! Auto door sound sweet. I'm hoping our run ends up secure enough that I can leave the access door open 24/7 then they can come and go at will instead of waiting on me though I go out as soon as the sun comes up just to look at them. Not obsessed at all.

I do but I don't get in the PC long enough to upload (can't figure out how to from the iPad, if it's even possible) . I will try later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[honeynajar]

Hey Galanie... my babies are 3 weeks old tomorrow and are in a 2 1/2 x 3 dog kennel. - would it be ok to put them in the run for a bit? The run at present is just that - a run No coop attached yet. They would be safe from predators, I just wasn't sure if they were old enough. Since they are getting bigger, your words give me a touch of worry. Thanks!

Looking good! Hope you give them some outside time cause they're crowded in that brooder. Crowding can cause problems with picking, etc.

 

[MarcBinNC]

Hey Galanie... my babies are 3 weeks old tomorrow and are in a 2 1/2 x 3 dog kennel. - would it be ok to put them in the run for a bit? The run at present is just that - a run No coop attached yet. They would be safe from predators, I just wasn't sure if they were old enough. Since they are getting bigger, your words give me a touch of worry. Thanks!

After Galanie gave me advice about my small brooder, i started putting them in a chicken wire "ring" with a make shift roof for a few hours but have since given up on the trouble of setting up the ring each day and now im just letting them "free range" under supervision. I also moved them to a $16 plastic kiddie pool in the garage as their brooder. my chicks are 2 weeks old and are loving their "free range" time. they are learning to "scratch" in the grass and seem to be eating tiny bugs....its so cute to see them strut and scratch. Now that my 15 are consuming 20+ lbs of food a week, we've also started giving them some leafy greens from the fridge and some bread. havent had any problems.

 

[honeynajar]

OH THATS GENIUS! I have one of those pools! & the design you have with the cardboard and chicken wire is perfect! Thanks! MAN I LOVE THIS SITE!

 

[MarcBinNC]

OH THATS GENIUS! I have one of those pools! & the design you have with the cardboard and chicken wire is perfect! Thanks! MAN I LOVE THIS SITE!

I wish i could take credit for it but I saw a pool used somewhere else on this site a few weeks back. I love this site too!