Here we go again...UPDATE: New questions 6/21

[CarolynF]

Hi,
My coop floor is plywood that was well primed and painted with 3 coats of exterior latex paint. On top I have 2"-3" of sand. It's a snap to clean with a kitty litter scoop. I have sand in their run for the same reason. I don't like having to constantly buy, and mess with dirty shavings or straw.

I wasn't able to do an exterior nest box so mine sits on the floor. It has a slanted roof to discourage the hens from sitting on top. I do put some straw in the nest box rather than sand. (it pleases my senses).

The inside of the coop is only 3' high, so the perch in 18" off the floor. Seems to work ok. (My coop is 3' off the ground, and 3' tall to match the 6' high lid on the attached run.)

I did a lot of buried wire inside the coop and around the perimeter to keep out digging varmints. It's also wired to the bottom edge of the fence. There's a wire lid to keep out hawks. If a cougar or bear get in the yard I'm sunk. They can rip the whole thing to shreds (think of the trash bins at Yellowstone Park). But other than rodents I think I've done pretty well at making it secure. Based on that the pop door stays open at night. I hate keeping them cooped up because I'm in bed. They need the daylight and I didn't do big windows like some I've seen. We also travel and aren't home everyday. BUT, there are several designs for automatic door openers. Search YouTube and BYC for a variety of ideas. Some people use an electric fence, too.

 

[georgiagail]

Again, what you are looking for in the roofing section of Lowes is Tuftex POLYCARBONATE roofing panels. These are not vinyl nor fiberglass:

http://www.tallantinc.com/tuftex/residential.asp

These can be attached with screws with neoprene washers or nails with the same type of washers. The neoprene washers seal the hole.

Gail

 

[Jeffross1968]

Quote:
Ok, I see Tuftex stuff on the Lowes site HERE , but it doesn't say anything about polycarb...just plastic. Is that the stuff we want? I saw some heavier stuff, couple different colors. We were thinking about the red. Wonder if that's fiberglass....guess I'm close to ready for another trip into town

 

[Jeffross1968]

Georgiagail, I think this stuff is what we were looking at. Not a good idea?

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
Your link shows Ondura which is different than the polycarbonate stuff that others are talking about. I used Ondura primarily because the dimension of it's panels fit my coop and therefore cost me less. Their brochure makes it sound extremely durable even in high winds. If that's the one you choose I can offer a couple tidbits.
1) Don't buy the special nails they tell you to use. I did, but later found the same thing (maybe at HomeDepot) without the pretty colors for a lot less. Notice they are VERY long because you're supposed to nail at the crest of the curve, not the valley. We deduced it's to avoid leaks since water will flow to the valley, not the crest.
2) They tell you to cut it with a utility knife or carbide saw blade. We didn't use carbide, a std. blade used just fine, as was a utility knife.
3) The poly. panels would have let in more light. Ondura is totally opaque, although they do offer a "skylight" panel but it's a special order at Lowes and more expensive.

BTW, I really like your signature. The chickens have added a fun new dimension for me and gets me outdoors a lot more. I like it, but hadn't put words to it -- you did it very well.

 

[Toothless Willie]

Quote:
Your link shows Ondura which is different than the polycarbonate stuff that others are talking about. I used Ondura primarily because the dimension of it's panels fit my coop and therefore cost me less. Their brochure makes it sound extremely durable even in high winds. If that's the one you choose I can offer a couple tidbits.
1) Don't buy the special nails they tell you to use. I did, but later found the same thing (maybe at HomeDepot) without the pretty colors for a lot less. Notice they are VERY long because you're supposed to nail at the crest of the curve, not the valley. We deduced it's to avoid leaks since water will flow to the valley, not the crest.
2) They tell you to cut it with a utility knife or carbide saw blade. We didn't use carbide, a std. blade used just fine, as was a utility knife.
3) The poly. panels would have let in more light. Ondura is totally opaque, although they do offer a "skylight" panel but it's a special order at Lowes and more expensive.

BTW, I really like your signature. The chickens have added a fun new dimension for me and gets me outdoors a lot more. I like it, but hadn't put words to it -- you did it very well.

Both of these products are a polycarbonite resin base. So you are both right. I use ring shank nails with neoprene washers and drive them into the "valleys" until the neoprene is squished tight. Done this numerous tiimes and never had a leak.