Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

Hey Jim, Good to hear you are not frozen solid!
My warmer thing works great. I need to buy 3 more units. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[jvls1942]

I woke up at 4 this morning,
stayed in bed hoping to go back to sleep.
nope,,,got up at 5:3o.. heated a cuppa day old coffee.. too lazy to make a fresh pot..

I could work on my sharpening project in the early morning, but I don't want to disturb the rest of the people in the house..
nothing on TV except infomercials..
don't they know that there are insomniacs out here ?? we pay dearly for the service, seems like we should be able to watch some decent programs at any time of the day or night..

........jiminwisc......

 

[aart]

You can get a lot of programs streaming online Jim.

I am right in the teeth of the lake effect snow machine.
Got another ~7" overnight and more coming, they keep extending the warnings.
I cleared the small shed roof day before yesterday.
Wind is picking up so some drifting too,
coop path was foot deep to dig thru this morning,
that sucker fills right up with the slightest breeze.
Luckily snow is light and fluffy, so that helps. 15F isn't bad either.

 

[CapricornFarm]

You can get a lot of programs streaming online Jim.

I am right in the teeth of the lake effect snow machine.
Got another ~7" overnight and more coming, they keep extending the warnings.
I cleared the small shed roof day before yesterday.
Wind is picking up so some drifting too,
coop path was foot deep to dig thru this morning,
that sucker fills right up with the slightest breeze.
Luckily snow is light and fluffy, so that helps. 15F isn't bad either.
View attachment 1221898

Michigan looks pretty but i am staying in VA. Above freezing today!

 

[Zek]

how many inches up from the ground should nipples on a nipple bucket or water line be for ADULT birds like Australorps, Barred rocks, RIR's. Also, in making a coop with run space under it how tall should the area under the coop be and how high should the inside part of the coop be to keep them from being over heated during hot summers and how close to the actual roof should the highest perch be too keep them comfortable when weather is hot. I will have 2 vents on walls as near the top as possible as well as a window with 1/2" hardware cloth for venting. But these requested measurements are needed before starting an "adult" coop for 4-6 hens. Thanks, Zek

 

[CapricornFarm]

Hi Zek! Welcome to BYC and my build thread. It depends on if the water nipples are horizontal or vertical type.
If you are making a raised coop, you need to be able to get under there to get out eggs or chickens. So measure yourself and others likely to go under there. Roost location is important, they must be higher than nest boxes or the birds will roost and poop in them. I like to be able to stand up in the coop so mine is 8 feet in front sloping to about 6.5 in back. I don't worry about heat and level of perches for summer, they will be in the run most of the day.
Ventilation should be one square foot per bird.
With the waterers i think the regular waters should hang about back height for your hens. Idk about nipple waterers, i only use them for rabbits!

 

[Zek]

Hi Zek! Welcome to BYC and my build thread. It depends on if the water nipples are horizontal or vertical type.
If you are making a raised coop, you need to be able to get under there to get out eggs or chickens. So measure yourself and others likely to go under there. Roost location is important, they must be higher than nest boxes or the birds will roost and poop in them. I like to be able to stand up in the coop so mine is 8 feet in front sloping to about 6.5 in back. I don't worry about heat and level of perches for summer, they will be in the run most of the day.
Ventilation should be one square foot per bird.
With the waterers i think the regular waters should hang about back height for your hens. Idk about nipple waterers, i only use them for rabbits!

Thanks for the in put

 

[jvls1942]

I like snow, as long as I don't have to shovel it; even the light fluffy kind,.
. fresh snow makes everything look so clean and neat.
it made it up to zero today.
no temperature; but it is cold..

I got the jointer blades sanded to their new angles. what a slow porcess that was.. I have them back in the cutter head, but I still have to set them..

.....jiminwisc.....

 

[CapricornFarm]

Thanks for the in put

Let us know how you do. Feel free to post pictures and ask questions.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I did go shopping and got the heat units so i know what i am doing tomorrow.