future coop and run

[PilatesGal]

PapaChaz, Blooie and Art .... I've been off the forum for a long time and finally came back on. Thanks to the three of you I have managed to lose an entire afternoon as I greedily devoured your build reports. What an excellent thread - thank you.

Now to figure out how to convince hubby that I need to build a new coop even though my original one is only a year old ;-). At the very least I think I need to retrofit a few things.

Thanks for all the fabulous ideas!

 

[PapaChaz]

PapaChaz, Blooie and Art .... I've been off the forum for a long time and finally came back on. Thanks to the three of you I have managed to lose an entire afternoon as I greedily devoured your build reports. What an excellent thread - thank you.

Now to figure out how to convince hubby that I need to build a new coop even though my original one is only a year old ;-). At the very least I think I need to retrofit a few things.

Thanks for all the fabulous ideas!

Great! Welcome back, now get him busy.

 

[Blooie]

Awww, that just warmed the cockles of my heart - and there ain't nuthin' worse than cold cockles! Welcome back!

 

[PapaChaz]

Posting some final pics. I do have a few little nit picky things to do, but for the most part I'm finished with the coop and run. It's been fun, I've enjoyed sharing the process and appreciate all the comments and feedback!

The outside this is the view from our windows (just closer)

I finally got all the scrap picked up and the porch cleaned off!

here's a few of the front and the porch









my hand painted fresh eggs sign show's why I was never a professional sign painter, LOL

the nest boxes from the outside looking in. Lined with some vinyl flooring. Haven't put the bedding in there yet, my oldest are just 7 weeks, I have time:




some inside shots. I did lower the roosts. Built my ramps and landings. I also got the poop board/tray done. bought a few bags of play sand and put in, of course it's wet so I'll let it dry a few days before adding the PDZ and DE to it. I'm going to get some better 2x4's for the roost bars, the current ones are some of the warped 'purple end for 70% off" from the bargain bin and they're a little too warped. Last night was the first night since I put the ramps in and had the roosts in there, I had some 'evidence' this morning at least a few of them used them!







here's my built in brooder/quarantine cage. I have it where I can remove the door very easy. it has access to one of the pop doors, and I also fenced off part of the run. Currently for their safety, I have the 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 week olds in there, the 6 1/2 week old blue americauanas are bossy lil bitties! When I get the permanent nipple watering system put in later, I intend on piping into the brooder and having a few nipples in there as well.






one of our flea market decorations we bought last weekend. The clock doesn't work, but I don't think the girls mind, they KNOW when it's time to go out. Now if I can just get them to learn when it's time to come back IN at night....




I have to do my apron around the whole thing, and then some landscaping. I do have some landscape cloth to put over as a shade/rain barrier. Will probably get that done next week. I'd still like to find some things to hang out on the end of the run.

It's been fun, thanks for all the tips and tricks that have been shared in the thread! I'll be doing a my coop page as time allows, it will probably be a lot of copy and paste from this thread, LOL

 

[aart]

Good Job Chaz!!
pssst...don't worry about slightly warped roosts, they won't care.

 

[PapaChaz]

Good Job Chaz!!
pssst...don't worry about slightly warped roosts, they won't care.

Thank you! you've been a big help and inspiration through my build, that's for sure!

I wonder if it won't flatten out some as it lays. It's curled up pretty badly one one end....but that is the one I had evidence they used last night so maybe it doesn't matter. LOL

 

[Steve P]

Look great you did an awsome job

 

[PapaChaz]

so you build a nice coop and run for the 'kids' to enjoy right. Try to give them all the comforts of home. 16 feet of roost space for 14 chickens............



and once you finally get them all to actually USE the roost, they all crowd together in about 5 feet of it.. ....

yeah, they're just 6-7-8 and 9 weeks old, and they'll spread out as they get bigger and it gets warmer. It's just funny......I had to go out for about 3 or 4 evenings and put them on the roost, each night another 1 or 2 would be up there until finally they all made it! Closing up a few nights ago and listening to them fuss and squawk and move around trying to get as close to the window as they can reminded me of us kids fighting over who would get to sit by the window..........

 

[aart]

Yep, that's how they do!

It's funny to watch what I call 'the roost time rumble'.
They peck and squawk and ***** and moan, jump up and down and back and forth, and finally all cram together and zone out.

 

[Blooie]

Or they decide to roost in the coop framework and scare the pee-waddin' out of you when you go out late at night to check on them. <sigh>