Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

WOW!!

So you've traded poultry math for goat math?

I had loads of goats in TN. Hubby says maximum of 6 goats here. It really is plenty for someone with my low energy level.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Lol. And goats are just the next stage in the progression. In the family cow world, people suffer from CALPC syndrome: cows are like potato chips

Hubby doesn't like the cow patties, so no cow. Plus i don't want to wrestle big animals

 

[CapricornFarm]

Wow, Cappy, or is it Heidi ? what are you feeding those goats ?
I had goats, but never even had triplets. mostly twins.
If I was starting all over, I would have goats and guineas.
today is my first half of my 6oth high school reunion. tomorrow we have the big meal. In the invitation they wrote,
"this is your last reunion"
hmmm, what do they know that I don't know ?? lolol
then sunday is my 8oth birthday
Monday I go in for an EKG . Only because it has been so long since I had one.

I feed them pelleted goat feed , hay, and whatever they can find to eat in the pastures. I had two sets of triplets on the same day in TN. But these are the first quads.

 

[CapricornFarm]

My son and his family are coming to visit Thursday. So we are getting ready for that. And the huge swap is coming up on Saturday.

 

[jvls1942]

Cappy, I hope you have a nice visit with the Son and family.
We haven't seen our son for over four years. His SO has health problems and can't ride for more than a few minutes.
and she can't be left alone for too long
Are you taking goats to the swap ?
there are no swaps around here any more.
it is cloudy today. no rain in the forecast. Yesterday it was hazy. they said it was from the smoke from the wild fires .

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Ok so winter is just around the corner here in Tennessee...I'm hoping yall can help me figure something out for my coop.
The coop and run are all together with ½" hardware cloth surrounding them. I have Silkies, D'uccles, Satins and Cochins all bantams.
My oldest is 11 months old and youngest is 8 weeks old. I have 12 in total. Coop is 4x10 and roost bars are 24" from coop floor.
I'm wondering if the roost bars need to be wider...they are 2x2. Then I know I need a light in there cuz it gets dark in there before it gets dark outside. They go in the coop off and on all the time...just don't sleep in there unless at the doorway as you can see a few right here.

Our weather is so hot and humid the coop porch sleeping is fine...but winters can get cold and breezy at times.
I haven't cut a window in the coop still cause unsure where to cut it and my skills aren't the best I'm the world. I don't wanna mess this up like I did my original run.
Any suggestions yall have.would be greatly appreciated. My youngest that are cochins have been trying to roost in the rafters of the run! So I thought surely they would be the first to roost on the actual bars inside coop...but nope. They jumped down after few minutes and went for rafters. They've only done this 3 times so it's not like they've been doing it for weeks or anything.
Thanks yall!

 

[jvls1942]

I assume the roost is the 4ft way. I would add another at the same height and about a foot between them.
if the coop is lighter than the outside, the chickens are more likely to go in at night. You might have to make more venting to cool it off for them. I suspect that is why they sleep at the doorway.
I would cut a slot as high as possible on the wall and cover it with hardware cloth. that would give you ventilation plus let in some light.
Or a window on the south wall .
It doesn't have to be a large window.

 

[3KillerBs]

if the coop is lighter than the outside, the chickens are more likely to go in at night. You might have to make more venting to cool it off for them. I suspect that is why they sleep at the doorway.

Good point.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[CapricornFarm]

I went to the ceramics place today and loaded the kiln. It looks big inside, but fills up fast. I ended up taking my goose out and putting the werewolf in.

Cappy, I hope you have a nice visit with the Son and family.
We haven't seen our son for over four years. His SO has health problems and can't ride for more than a few minutes.
and she can't be left alone for too long
Are you taking goats to the swap ?
there are no swaps around here any more.
it is cloudy today. no rain in the forecast. Yesterday it was hazy. they said it was from the smoke from the wild fires .

I have one buck left from last time the does kidded. He is going, my last 2 rabbits are going, and a whole lot of chickens.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I assume the roost is the 4ft way. I would add another at the same height and about a foot between them.
if the coop is lighter than the outside, the chickens are more likely to go in at night. You might have to make more venting to cool it off for them. I suspect that is why they sleep at the doorway.
I would cut a slot as high as possible on the wall and cover it with hardware cloth. that would give you ventilation plus let in some light.
Or a window on the south wall .
It doesn't have to be a large window.

I wish my DH would just hire someone to do it...I'm so afraid of screwing it up that I keep putting it off...
It has 2 roosts bars on the 4' way.
Theres also a dadgum wasp nest that continues to rebuild in the same spot over and over again. Would that deter them from sleeping in there even if it is up high?

Good point.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Yeah I've read and re-read this awesome article you did!