Helpful hints for building coops

[Sally PB]

A good chiropractor is worth his weight in gold.

And I feel very blessed that I have one of those!

Shameless plug alert!

Dr. Benjamin Gillis
Gillis Family Chiropractic

 

[3KillerBs]

And I feel very blessed that I have one of those!

Shameless plug alert!

Dr. Benjamin Gillis
Gillis Family Chiropractic

I hope he's as good as Dr. Tommie at Pinehurst Chiropractic Center.

 

[CapricornFarm]

My truck got hit by another truck in Lowes parking lot! I am going to be without my truck for at least 3 days, while hubby is out of the country.

 

[CapricornFarm]

And tonight I went out to the barn. What do I see in there? Something I have never seen before, a COPPERHEAD! Made me glad i had jeans on.

 

[3KillerBs]

And tonight I went out to the barn. What do I see in there? Something I have never seen before, a COPPERHEAD! Made me glad i had jeans on.

You're having a too-eventful day.

 

[Molpet]

And tonight I went out to the barn. What do I see in there? Something I have never seen before, a COPPERHEAD! Made me glad i had jeans on.

Heck of a day. Hope your truck gets fixed sooner than later. Glad you didn't have a closer encounter with the copperhead

 

[Swbertrand1]

Rule of twos....
Make it twice as big as you think you need, walk in....
Put in twice the amount of ventilation you think you need.
It will cost twice as much as you planned.
It will take twice as long to build as you thought it would.

If this is your first flock build coop first, then get chicks.
Since you built it bigger build in a in coop brooder/chicken jail.
Dirt floor for DLM

Gary

Yep! ...except for the dirt floor

 

[Swbertrand1]

If possible, plywood floor with linoleum on it for easy cleaning. Deep Litter method works!!
Consider poop trays under your roosting bars. They work too!
As mentioned earlier, VENTILATION!!!!! More than you think.

My bf built a slide-out tray/floor under the roost bars. He lined the drawer with removable linoleum that can be cleaned as needed during two-per-year HEAVY cleanings. Each week, he pulls the drawer out and scoops the waste out, puts new pine shavings in, and closes the drawer.
Here's a few photos. In the 4th photo, you can see the 3/4" strips attached to the sub-floor on which the drawer slides.

 

[CapricornFarm]

My bf built a slide-out tray/floor under the roost bars. He lined the drawer with removable linoleum that can be cleaned as needed during two-per-year HEAVY cleanings. Each week, he pulls the drawer out and scoops the waste out, puts new pine shavings in, and closes the drawer.
Here's a few photos. In the 4th photo, you can see the 3/4" strips attached to the sub-floor on which the drawer slides.

Nice job!

 

[CapricornFarm]

So yesterday I went to see if any more chicks had hatched under my broody bantam cochin. There , in the nest box was a four foot black snake! Two hens were watching with concern as it had already eaten 3 eggs, or chicks. I grab the snake. Looked for the other hen, she was in the run where he had killed her!!! I was mad for the rest of the day. Now I am putting mesh over the entire outside of the run. This is the second time this has happened in this coop. Last time I put lots of mesh up, but ran out and had other things to do. I never used to hate snakes, since I found them interesting and I know they eat rodents. But I am tired of them stealing eggs and chicks, and killing hens.