First Coop Under Construction -Suggestions, Comments- *PICS*

[Ole rooster]

Are you really considering heat in the coop? It's not needed. But I would insulate as best I could to allow the body heat to provide all it could.

On the roost I've found the round side is best on the top and smooth surface makes it hard on the chickens to grip. In the wild when they roost tree bark is always on the roost to grab on to. It just works better.

You little coop look good. I was wondering if the cracks or spaces on your floor boards is going to stay. I think on any raised floor a vinyl covering is good for easy cleanup when those days roll around. The cracks will make it a little harder to cover.

But the coop looks very nice and compact.

 

[UrbanBYC]

I guess I shouldn't worry so much about the heating but wouldn't it be a good idea to put a LED bulb for light? In the winter our days can get really short, it might be light from 7:30 to 4:00. I was going to go to HD this week and look at vinyl so I was thinking about that but the gaps are not very big maybe 1/8, few might be 1/4.

 

[UrbanBYC]

Tomorrow I am planning on putting in the doors. I will try to get some pics up of the progress.

 

[ScottM]

You can adjust their cycles with a light on a timer, but yeah Seattle doesn't get cold,

Depending on your sqft per bird ratio inside, you might want to keep the water outside, and use a PVC homemade feeder inside. I like how they take up so little space when hung on the wall.

Scott

 

[UrbanBYC]

Depending on your sqft per bird ratio inside, you might want to keep the water outside, and use a PVC homemade feeder inside. I like how they take up so little space when hung on the wall.
Scott

I was going to make a box feeder to fit it inside the studs, I think it would be easy to refill since it would be right next to the door and save space. I might put a waterer inside and outside for the summer, I have over 4sqft per bird and can only keep 6 birds. I have about 25-26sqft, nesting boxes not included so haveing a little waterer inside wouldnt be a big deal.

 

[ScottM]

I saw a great box feeder built between the studs that took an entire bag. Looked like they just dropped a bag into it and cut along its bottom to get it started.

 

[thebanthams]

Looking great! I would love to see the finish work! I love all the free stuff youre getting !, I built mine all out of free pallet boards, (I am a Lady and did it without help)

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

love your coop looks great be sure to consider clean up, very important. I figured some of this out the hard way.

 

[UrbanBYC]

Update with Pics!

Got the doors in yesterday, but it was too late to take pictures because it got dark out. Took some today:

The roof there opens up for head room to make cleaning alot easier. I had to use an OSB board for the main door as we ran out of big CDX pieces. I would say it is recycled as we bought it last year for the shed and we ended up not using this sheet.



This is how the barrier for keeping in the bedding stay in place. I added this so that I can use deeper bedding without it falling out when I open the door. (Sorry for the blurry pic, I was taking the picture from outside the coop.



This is the bedding barrier when being opened.



I got the siding in on the front top part, Its made out of pallet slats cut to size, It has a nice angle on each of the siding pieces for a nice look and to keep the rain from dripping between board. I caulked between the cracks to keep moisture out.



The back side of the coop is facing a place between the shed and the fence which is storage so I didn't bother putting siding becasue it would take too much time and I was running low on pallet slats.



I know that the siding looks ugly with all the smeared caulk and the black spots on the plywood, but it turned out really nice once I painted it, even though I only put on grey primer.

Tomorrow I am hoping to get the roosts in, the front chicken door and window in as well as the nesting boxes floored and separated and install cabinet doors on the storage space underneath the nesting boxes. I also have to cut the trim and install it and then its time to paint it.

How High do you recommend I put the roosts up off the floor?

 

[UrbanBYC]

New pictures, What do you all think?

Installed shingles, still some cutting on some corners to do to make them cross over nicely. Also have to put some tar between the shingles to seal them. Later this month, we are going to apply a coat of aluminum UV protector to our new roof (you are supposed to after a month or two, and I will re-coat the shingles on the coop too, as you can see, the old alumnum on this roofing is chipped and peeled).
I also installed some trim on the front side, still have the side to do.




I got some dividers in the nest box and the roof on them too, as well as put the hinges, so the storage part and nest box open separately.