From tool shed to Coop?

[jthornton]

Well hens don't need any artificial light, but once they are laying eggs if they have 14 or more hours of light that is supposed to keep them laying. But that does not always work... here it is the middle of the summer and mine are laying at 34%. This article from the University of Nebraska seems to be fairly good read Proper Light Management for Your Home Laying Flock. You might note that they mention to not give young pullets extra light as it might stimulate them to start laying early, but I don't buy into that idea because a chick born in the early spring might be 4 months old and still have 14 hours of daylight. My RIR hens were 4 months old when they started laying.

JT

 

[TexasWineGuy]

@jthornton
@aart

Just finished the nest box/poop tray/roost and put on the first coat of Black Jack #57.

I received my 12 Ga UF wire yesterday so I'll probably do some work on the electrical today.

Texas Wine Guy

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update:

Got the power run complete. Also got the cooling fan installed late this afternoon, which took some doing. The fan is designed to be an exhaust fan, where the motor assembly would be inside the "building", but since I'm pulling air in from the outside the entire motor assembly still needs to be inside, but facing a different direction. I had to build a box tunnel to house the motor assembly while keeping everything inside the coop.

I received the 2 coop windows in the mail for that West wall. Those will be tomorrow's project.

Getting close. After the windows I will need some input on a ramp or step design to allow the girls to get to the nest box and poop tray roost bar.

TWG

 

[blackdog043]

Nice job on installing the fan!
I would recommend putting outlet plug covers on any of the outlets that you are not using, to keep the dust out of them. I used a weatherproof outdoor receptacle cover to keep the dust out of mine, it works well, no dust gets inside.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Nice job on installing the fan!
I would recommend putting outlet plug covers on any of the outlets that you are not using, to keep the dust out of them. I used a weatherproof outdoor receptacle cover to keep the dust out of mine, it works well, no dust gets inside.

Good suggestion. I will do that.

Texas Wine Guy

 

[rhart5344]

I was just browsing your post and was thinking. You might want to turn your fan around to draw air out. This would allow you to run the fan even in the rain. You could put the fan on a timer and allow it to run in increments also and not have to worry about turning it on and off. This would also help pull moisture and the ammonia out of the coop. This idea is the same principle as a greenhouse fan. If you are closing the shed doors. Home depot sale flat screen vents really cheap and are really easy to install. Cut the desired size hole and screw the flat panels over the cut out space and your done. Just sharing some thoughts. Great job on your coop.

 

[aart]

You might want to turn your fan around to draw air out.

Blowing air into the coop will push dust and moisture out the other openings,
and protect fan motor from getting clogged with dust(which is a fire hazard).
He has it pretty well protected from rain.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Blowing air into the coop will push dust and moisture out the other openings,
and protect fan motor from getting clogged with dust(which is a fire hazard).
He has it pretty well protected from rain.

I will probably cut a piece of sheet metal and make a home-made awning for the fan frame to further protect the intake from rain.

TWG

 

[HollyHHRanch]

HOJB,

Thanks for the reply. I don't see an awning on yours. Am I missing that?

Also, since I have quite a few native predators I will need some type of run that is fully enclosed. That's the hardest part of where we live - plenty of critters that would love to snack on the hens.

The only way could just leave the main doors open (or removed) would be if I could build a run that would enclose the shed also, Or - I build a run and attach it to the shed with a short hallway/door. That darn 1/2 mesh wire is not cheap!

TWG

 

[aart]

I will probably cut a piece of sheet metal and make a home-made awning for the fan frame to further protect the intake from rain.

TWG

Good Idea...better safe than sorry!