From tool shed to Coop?

[aart]

What did you have doubts about @aart ?

TWG

Oh, I'm just a natural born skeptic
..and actually looking back now, it was another shed build that started about the same time.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

No doubts here, your a good carpenter and a free thinker.

You do need some kind of photo for your avatar instead of the rooster shadow...

JT

Indeed. I will work on that this weekend. I may offend some people . . . .


TWG

 

[jthornton]

Indeed. I will work on that this weekend. I may offend some people . . . .
TWG

It could be a chicken...

JT

 

[sealer39]

You coop is turning out real nice. Have you noticed a reduction in temperature on the inside after you painted it? Going from a brown to white roof should have helped some I would think.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

You coop is turning out real nice. Have you noticed a reduction in temperature on the inside after you painted it? Going from a brown to white roof should have helped some I would think.

Definitely a reduction in temps and just as important, much lower humidity. Not sure if it's the white paint itself, or all the windows I have added. Probably both.

TWG

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Power has been officially turned ON in the Coop. I threw the switch on the Disconnect after breakfast this morning. No fires. No sparks.

Time to get some supplies and get to work on modifying the Run to accommodate the higher Pop door on the new Coop.

TWG

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Good progress today, despite the 100 degree ambient temps. Note to self: when it's this hot, DON'T GO OUT AND WORK ON COOPS! I feel like a baked ham. Got a cold shower, and am now sipping some nice Texas wine....

Having said that, the Run has been modified to butt right up against the new coop. We will move the Run tomorrow after church.

I added a 10" LED internal light to the coop, with a caveat: We wanted to be able to turn on the internal Coop light from the outside of the Coop. Too much trouble to have to go inside the Coop, then switch on the light. The solution was to locate the power switch for the light on the outside of the Coop, in a water-proof cover. Success. Get this - I was trying to decide on how long of an LED light to buy, with choices of 10", 16" or a 22" LED fixture. I opted for the 10". Let me assure you all that the 10" is more than adequate for this 8 x 10' coop. That thing is bright!

Other news: we have our first egg!!!!!

The Ameraucauna came through! A nice, hard shelled aqua colored egg, in "her" nest.

Tomorrow we will "make the move" to move them into the new coop, with the existing Run attached. I need some guidance as far as how to make this transition.

Should we:

1) Place them manually in the new Coop and let them exit to the existing Run if they desire, or
2) Should we place them in the Run, and let them go into the new Coop when they desire?

Note: When I was working on the internal electrical for the Coop the chickens were out in the yard, and watching me very carefully. They spent most of the day VERY close to the new Coop watching me go in and out of the structure. At one point, the dominant hen actually hopped up into the new Coop and took a look for a few minutes.

So, I need some guidance as to how to make this move.

Some pics below of the day's progress. A good day. Got everything done needed for "the move", and got our first egg!

Texas Wine Guy
@jthornton
@aart

 

[aart]

I'd move them into the coop at night, put them on the roosts after dark, then open the door to the run once it starts to get too hot in the coop the next day.
Can you get in to the run in case you need to fetch a bird or egg?

 

[TexasWineGuy]

I'd move them into the coop at night, put them on the roosts after dark, then open the door to the run once it starts to get too hot in the coop the next day.
Can you get in to the run in case you need to fetch a bird or egg?

aart,

That's the one negative about the existing Run design - only 2 entrances to the run: one through the pop door, and the other is a door on the opposite end of the run. We would have to belly-crawl into the Run to retrieve an egg or a sick hen. The new Run, which I will build in early October will be a 7' tall walk-in.

I can place them on the roost after dark, block the pop door exit, then let them out in the Run the next morning after daylight.



TWG

 

[aart]

The new Run, which I will build in early October will be a 7' tall walk-in.

Good...look forward to seeing that!

I can place them on the roost after dark, block the pop door exit, then let them out in the Run the next morning after daylight.

Might leave them in the coop for a day or two, to 'home' them to the coop....which might lessen the chance you have to do any belly crawling.

Does your pop 'door' have a door that closes... and locks?