Getting Started - Just finished the new coop.

Well, I am new to the forum and to raising chickens. I bought 6 light brahmas, 7 amberlinks, and 5 goden comets around the end of March. Since that time, I have been building a coop for them. I have worked off and on for the last couple months to get it finished. I just got the nesting boxes done yesterday. I didn't really have any plans to go by, just kind of came up with it in my head as I went along. I probably should have come here and looked first to get ideas. Having never built anything before, this was my first project. It turned out being a lot more then I had planned for. I initially was going to build an 8X10 A-frame. I had the base made, and then decided to build it more traditional. I am kind of glad now, I have the extra room. If you have any ideas or suggestions as you look at the pictures, let me know. I am still trying to figure them out.

Our plan is to let them free range behind the house to keep the bugs down. So far, they seem to be doing good. They have been on their own during the day now for about 2 weeks, and I still haven't "lost" any. I am still waiting for all of the "free" eggs I have heard I am supposed to get. With the cost of the coop and and feed, They had better give me about at least a dozen eggs a day for about the next 5 years.




Living in Ohio, I had to go for the scarlet and gray. I painted it before all the OSU scandal started, or I may have gone with different colors. They like to roost next to the open windows during the hot summer nights.





Back of coop and nesting boxes. I added one vinyl panel on the roof for a "skylight".





Original run area, until they got big enough to let them roam.





Automatic door. I went with the pullet shut door. So far, it has worked great. We often aren't home until late, so it helps keep out the critters. I covered it to help keep out the weather.





Nesting boxes. For some reason, this one pullet rarely wants to leave the coop. Often she is the only one in there during the day. Here she is checking out the new boxes. I'm hoping they are smart enough to use them. I am wondering if I t built them too high off the floor. I built a little "bridge" for them from the roosting bars. They also seem to like the fan blowing on them at night to keep cool





Chicken door from the inside. I have it set up to run off a 12 volt battery, and have the trickle charger hooked up to that.





Feeding station





Shelf I built to store extra feed and bedding material. Right now, I also have some of my tools stored there.





Roost bars. They were always squabbling over the top bar, so I ended up adding extensions, so they can all fit on if they want. Usually 1 or 2 will still stay on the 3rd bar. I still plan on building a brooding area under the lower 2 or 3 bars. I will put plywood under the bars for the roof and back wall, and hardware cloth for the sides with a door. This way, I am hoping if I get more chicks, the rest of the flock will adjust to them by being around them.





This is where most of the birds are staying during the hot days. They flock up in the brush and sit there most of the day. I am hoping they don't start laying in there.





I think 3 of my brahmas are roosters. This is one of them. Does everyone seem to agree? I am still debating what to do with them. I may get rid of 2 of them if I can find homes. (so far no luck) Or, I will just wait and see which 2 show the first sign of aggression towards me or the kids, and they will end up in the crock pot that night.




Our goldendoodle acting like a cat. I still don't know if she would hurt one or not. She nips at them occasionally, but it almost seems like play. She does keep them off the deck though and keeps the poop further out from the house.




Three of the golden comets. It's interesting how 2 of the 5 are dark red with no white, and 3 are red with white feathers. They looked the same initially. I am wondering if they are different breeds.





Settling in for the night.




Close up of one of the other "roosters".