Here's My Coop Plan but a Few Questions

[KoopersCoop]

You guys are really doing a nice job! Will you keep posting updated pics? Can't wait to see I think finished!

 

[Patinas]

Coop Build - Day 5 - April 9th

Our daughter came to visit and help out. We got the doors and windows in and began siding!



We decided not to plywood the outside since the siding I bought is pretty thick and pre-primed (think...expensive! Geesh!) so we tyveked just the frame before putting up the siding.



We were able to get the right side main entrance and the back side on this day.

 

[Patinas]

Coop Build - Days 6, 7, 8 - April 10th, 11th and 12th

Managed to get all the siding done!



This is the back of the coop with the nest boxes framed in. The vents along the top are custom and covered with hardware cloth. My chickens won't be laying until July/August at the earliest so no huge rush on getting the nestboxes in place. Worst case, we'll cover them and build them after the chickens are living in the coop.




Here is the front of the coop sided with the chicken door visible. We put the windows in backwards so I can open and close them from outside the coop. Still need to cover them with hardware cloth because the screens are pretty flimsy. We messed up and sided the front and forgot to put in the vents that were to go over the door. Rather than rip it down, since the siding didn't go to the top, we improvised and covered the areas between the roof rafters along the roof line with hardware cloth which runs the width of the coop so we can get cross ventilation with the vents in the back. We will put a fascia board in the gap between the siding and the vents. It isn't perfect but it's coming together!

Yesterday, DH battled the rain and cold and put the electrical in! I now have a light and one outlet inside the coop.

Over the next couple days we hope to get the metal roof on and start putting the interior wall panels up and frame for the chicken yard.

 

[aart]

I love the huge roof overhangs!

 

[Patinas]

I love the huge roof overhangs!

Yes, that was per the plan we have sorta been following. We will build about a one foot drop at the end of the long eave and then the roof of the run will start sloping down from there. We still need to get the permanent support posts in place for the front eave. The run itself will end up being about 12 x 24 which is a bit bigger than originally planned but with 21 chickens, I figure bigger is better even though I plan to let them free range a lot. We do go away for weekends quite a bit in the summer so I want them to have plenty of room when they can't free range.

So....stay tuned! More pics to come!

 

[aart]

I'd seriously apron the under-coop, you don't want anything getting under there as it would be very hard to get it out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528

 

[Merrymouse]

Love it! and you're really moving along!

 

[KoopersCoop]

Looks really good! you are all coming along great! keep up the good work! Happy Easter.

 

[Patinas]

I'd seriously apron the under-coop, you don't want anything getting under there as it would be very hard to get it out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528

Hi aart, yes I do plan to apron the coop with hardware cloth. I would be completely freaked out if I went to gather eggs and something growled from underneath or ran out! We do have raccoons and possums here so I could see one of them deciding to hang out under there. We also have rabbits and I don't want them burrowing under there.

 

[Patinas]

Looks really good! you are all coming along great! keep up the good work! Happy Easter.

Thanks! Happy Easter back at ya!