Getting Started, New Coop, New Pullets

[BBKT]

Hi!

I'm Kerrie in WA. I'm getting set up with a new coop and three Buff Orpington pullets on Tuesday and I'd like to get some input from you all if I could. This is the coop I'm getting:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/grd/3082311074.html

It's the red roof one with the external nestbox.

I'm assuming Ishould anchor this coop down somehow, but I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe some sort of long bend spikes to pound in the ground? Or something like croquet hoops holding it down?

I was thinking about painting the exterior. Any paint types you could recommend? I was thinking low VOC exterior flat latex. Would this type appropriate? I wasn't going to paint the interior, but I may in the future. My problem is I have no where to put the chickens while I'm painting. I was planning on letting them free range in my small fenced backyard while I'm at home (after they get used to their coop). So my only possibility would be to paint while they are out of the coop free ranging one day. Would this be safe? Would the fumes still linger much? Should I plan on keeping the chickens away from the coop for several days while the paint dries and sets?

I bought a bail of straw today to use as bedding, as well as a bag of poultry feed and a steel garbage can to store it in. I know this isn't the feeding/watering forum, but I also had questions about here to put the feeder and waterer. I'd like to eventually set up a nipple watering system, but for now I was going to use water bottles (like large rabbit and guinea pig water bottles). I have several of them in my closet. Would these be appropriate waterers? I'd hook them to the outside of the coop, on the lower underneath part. Or should I have them inside the coop itself? Same question with the feeder. I have a bucket type gravity feeder hat I don't think will fit inside the coop. I was going to put it underneath.

I've raised chickens before and I'm really excited to get them again. When I was younger, we had a flock of Buffs we kept in our barn. I remember what worked and didn't work with that flock, so I'm trying to come up with something different this time around. Any other tips or tricks you could give me? I love this site! SO MUCH INFO!

Thanks!

 

[joan1708]

I think that is a good coop for the money. I would use good quality exterior high gloss paint. I would also paint the inside a high gloss paint to help keep it cleaner and less inviting to mites.

As far as the perimeter goes. Consensus thinking recommends digging down 18 inches or making an 12 to 18 inch apron around the bottom of the coop for protection from digging predators. In your situation I think I would make a foundation for it of cinder blocks, so the wood doesn't sit on dirt. That and paint should help your coop last longer. The whole thing needs to be a bit elevated so water doesn't stand in it. Make sure roof water drains away from the coop.