Hooping it up!

[reptileink]

Yes, the run will be covered. I have no door on the coop, with no plans on one, so run security is more crucial. Backyard is not secured. We do have a moveable gate across the driveway, but the chickens could probably fly over it.

That's another thing, how am I going to take the coop with me if/when I move?

 

[88sub4x4]

I've been off this site for a while, but just started back up with my chickens. You've built a really nice little coop on a tight budget. I love the look with the cedar shingles. Definitely a good place to spend a little money. It really makes the coop look amazing.
As far as moving the coop when you move that's an easy one. You'll need to borrow/rent/steal a small trailer (u-haul has lots of sizes) and Jack up the coop and put each corner on an furniture dolly ($5 a piece on sale at harbor freight) and roll it onto the trailer. Use scrap wood to roll it over the ground to the trailer.
I hope that makes sense.

 

[reptileink]

I've been off this site for a while, but just started back up with my chickens. You've built a really nice little coop on a tight budget. I love the look with the cedar shingles. Definitely a good place to spend a little money. It really makes the coop look amazing.
As far as moving the coop when you move that's an easy one. You'll need to borrow/rent/steal a small trailer (u-haul has lots of sizes) and Jack up the coop and put each corner on an furniture dolly ($5 a piece on sale at harbor freight) and roll it onto the trailer. Use scrap wood to roll it over the ground to the trailer.
I hope that makes sense.

Yea, that's what I figured I would do. Just lifting it into a trailer may take an act of God.....lol

In related "run" news, I was sitting out by a fire Saturday night and an opossum peeked out from behind my passenger side front wheel. Also, a stray black cat padded through the yard as well. So now I have a big ole coon, an opossum, and a stray cat confirmed as predators......ugh....lol.

I attached the open side of the run to the coop with some metal lashing and will do the "PVC" hoop roof this weekend, adding hardware cloth up the sides of the chainlink itself as extra percaution.

 

[88sub4x4]

I have those same predators as well as a great horned owl. I keep a trap set near my coop since losing a chicken in august. I've caught a few predators and have added the hardware cloth to my run to protect my hens. It's been working well so far. My biggest problem has been trying to keep my 4 year old out....he's very resourceful and tricky. Lol. Gets his handyness from me. Lol.

 

[88sub4x4]

As far as lifting the coop you really shouldn't have to lift it at all except with a jack. I use a farm jack/bumper jack (look up hi-lift jack. That's a brand name expensive one but you'll get the idea) I've used it to lift sheds as large as 16x12 to move them. Works like a charm.

 

[reptileink]

Just a non-update update...lol.

Decided to hold off getting the chickens until Spring for now. Weekends are getting busier, and money is getting tighter (just put new engine in van, and waiting on a furnace install) and I still haven't secured the run. Thought waiting until Spring will give us something to look forward to, and also wanted to see how the coop will fair with heavy snow. Better to find out with an empty coop than have something happen with "tenants" inside...lol. Kind of bumming, was hoping to have them inside by September.

Until then, I will try and finish the run when I can, hunker down for the winter, and continue to be jealous of all you "warm weather birds" who don't have to worry about snow blowers and ice....lol

 

[reptileink]

Due to the mild weather in the Northeast, I got to start some run work. Going with the hoop method. Also closed the gap on the right side by placing the PVC vertical. I will cover with hardware cloth all around. Still not sure about the gaps around the gate though?

 

[88sub4x4]

Looks great!

 

[reptileink]

Now that we are thawing out (ok, it's snowing today and 4-6 inches expected....ugh), but by a week or so I am hoping to get this coop/run secure. I am battling with the expense of using hardware cloth behind the chain link. I know that chain link itself is not strong enough, but could I add welded wire behind it? It's a bit cheaper, but with the amount of hardware cloth I need, every penny counts. The coop is not secure, and I don't want to make it secure due to vacations and having to find someone to open and close the coop every night. I can't afford a pop door, and the coop is already finished so I would have to cut into my shingles, yadda yadda.

I know there should be no price to protect our birds, but is welding wire sufficient back with chain link?

 

[reptileink]

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