FREE chicken coop plan (nice one too) on the Purina Mills Website

[LostMindPleaseFind]

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That's one STRANGE LOOKING CHICKEN!

 

[hondo58]

Here's my 4' x 6' coop and 12' x 12' enclosure.

I modified the back door to open up, lowered the nest boxes on the front and moved the chicken door to the right side.

 

[EweSheep]

Hondo, do you have a metal roosting pole? If so, if you dont live in cold areas, it would be ok but for those who do live in the areas of snow and freezing temps, it would be a BAD idea because it would be very cold for the birds to perch on it. Other than that, its beautiful setup!

 

[BooBear]

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I agree. Also, what about ventalation? Did not see any vent areas for good air flow. Without ventalation ammonia will build up inside which is harmful to chickens.

 

[hondo58]

It is scuffed PVC.
At 25°C (2°F) the thermal conductivity of wood is 0.17, PVC is comparable at 0.19.
For reference Aluminum is 250.
Chrome Nickel Steel (18% Cr, 8 % Ni) is 16.3
Steel, Carbon 1% is 43.

The entire top is ventilated by design. I'll see if I can get a good photo of it. You can see the overhang all around. The top sits on the corner posts so the 2 x 4s (3rd photo down on original post) allow spacing from the sides, front and back to the roof. Plus the translucent panels are set off of the roof top plywood so there is additional ventilation through the skylight. It is exceptionally bright inside and no smell other than the pine shavings. If you look at the photos depicting the skylight from the inside you can see the ventilation openings where the front meets the roof. The same openings are in the rear.

Here's a photo of the gap under the roof overhang where the front and back meet the roof.

A pic of the ventilation bay front to back at the roofline.

Skylight roof bay ventilation.

Translucent panels set off roof top.

 

[audioguy]

Nice pics. We built the same one and modified it for our needs, just like you did!

Its a great design. All my wood was donated in exchange for eggs once they start laying in September.

My girls have been in the coop for about a month and they still do not go inside at night. They huddle together in a corner of the run. I sometimes find them in the coop during the day, but not at night. Maybe once it snows they will get the idea to go inside.

 

[hondo58]

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I see you lowered the nest box and set the door to the side also. Beautiful! Our hens decided that the coop was so nice that they didn't come out for two days. We now move the water and feed out of the coop during the day and then back in before they go in at dusk so maybe that is why they go in and out so easily now. They go in each night at dusk like clockwork.

 

[hondo58]

The hens on the roost.

 

[NevadaRon]

Very nice!

I really like the design of your run; I've never seen one quite like that. You must be a structural engineer or similar, eh?

 

[audioguy]

Quote:
I see you lowered the nest box and set the door to the side also. Beautiful! Our hens decided that the coop was so nice that they didn't come out for two days. We now move the water and feed out of the coop during the day and then back in before they go in at dusk so maybe that is why they go in and out so easily now. They go in each night at dusk like clockwork.

Yes I made those mods after reading on this board that have the roost above the nest boxes is a must. The original plan did not include it. I also built a poop shelf and use old cookie sheets to catch it. Now if they would only go inside!!

Roost above the shelf. Its a 2X4 ripped in half.