Hoop Coops*UPDATE!*It's finished! New Pics pg. 3

[Moonwalker]

The problem I was having is that I wanted the wire to come about 1/2 way down the board and I couldn't keep it where I wanted it and nail it at the same time. I did have it secured with a light rope, but that (or zip ties) would not hold it where I needed it. I simply needed an extra hand or 2!It's also difficult to reach through the mesh to nail the inside, which I would not have had to do with another person. They could have held from the outside while I nailed from inside.
It all boils down to having to figure out (usually by trial and error) how to do things by myself that are usually done by 2 or more people.

 

[Moonwalker]

Phase #1 Complete!

:yiipchick
Laying it out flat worked beautifully!!!!
It took me all of 15 minutes to get it to this point.
(Probably would have taken 10 without the dog's help.)

I will put the corner braces in and work on the bracing on the ends and the door frame a little later. I had to take a break cuz my cough fits leave me exhausted still.
I will post more pics as I go.

 

[Dawn419]

Great job!

I'm fortunate...Skip loves building projects so I always have an extra pair of hands around...

Dawn

 

[Moonwalker]

My DH travels for his job and it always seems that when stuff like this needs doing, he is out on rotation! He was home for two weeks just prior to this, but we were both so sick with the flu, nothing got done.

My neighbor (other end of the duplex) is a contractor, a wonderful carpenter, but I never see him because I leave before he does in the morning, and then he comes in for a few minutes after work, usually while I am feeding critters and cleaning cages and then he's out for his nightly whatever he does at night. He doesn't have regular days off, just depends on the jobs he's working. He did say he would build me a coop, sometime before May! But I found this idea and so far it seems to be working. He actually stopped by a while ago on his way in for lunch and gave his approval of my construction skills! (where was he YESTERDAY, when the dratted thing was falling apart around me?)

I'm working on the door frame and corner braces now.

plumb line? what's a plumb line?

 

[ozzie]

Looks great! A plumb-line is like this

http://www.bozzle.com/ph_plumbline.html

basically it's a piece of string with a weight attached to it so that the string hangs dead straight. It makes sure your project is straight (up and down) vertically.

ozzie

 

[Moonwalker]

LOL! I actually DO know what a plumb line is, there just won't BE any on this project. I have not even used a tape measure, much less a level. (decided that would be too much calculating since I am constructing it on a slope and propping the lower side on 2x4's)
I know all the handymen out there who are reading this are cringing, but hey, didn't you ever build a tree fort when you were a kid? I did and they never fell apart (unless there was a typhoon, but hey, HOUSES fell apart then!)

 

[Moonwalker]

Phase #2 Complete!
Wooden framing
Corner Braces

Door Frame

Back Frame (lower horizontal board is further in and liad flat to provide nest box support)

Closeup of skids
I put them on the rear, figuring it would be easier to pull from the heavy (nest box) end

Oh yeah, aside from no tape measure, no power tools!

 

[Moonwalker]

Working on the chicken wire along the inside walls now.
Unfortunately, ran out of chicken wire, daylight and warmth about the same time! Must go to TS tomorrow, by passing the cute little chicks and ducks!
Back wall

Side Wall. Wrre will only go 3ft up on sides, all the way on front and back.

 

[chickenannie]

Hey, the coop looks great! Thanks for all the detail pics, since I'm planning to build one shortly.

I forget, what is the chicken wire for?

I'm planning to build 2 of these, then put them together (with open door in between) so that my 6 turkeys (5 hens plus 1 tom) will have enough space for the nesting period.

I am planning to put a bunch of hay bales in there to make little "hidey" nests for the turkeys too.

does anyone know what the space requirements are for turkeys during nesting?

Thanks!! Keep on going!

 

[tiki244]

Hey that looks really nice and thanks too for all the pics it really helps. I am pretty unhandy myself and pics work so much better than explanations! I hope you post lots of pics about the nest boxes cause I cant figure that one out yet.