How a bookkeeper built a coop. :)

[KettermanHillCoop]

Woohooo!! You caught them, congratulations!

Well...I caught 4 of the 5. Going after Bashful tonight. She has avoided the live trap I have set like the plague...

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Follow on projects I would recommend:
1)hardware cloth>chicken wire to any ventilation i.e. windows and gaps under eaves to deter predators.
2)Stain or paint to help your coop go the distance and improve resilience to water damage/deforming.
3)Locking door for the chicken.
4)figure out how to deter any digging predators with concrete or a buried barrier.


I would estimate you need 10 or less total feet of hardware cloth from the pictures to cover your ventilation. So a cheapie 2x5' roll?

Excellent job on the coop I am so very surprised you found the time to do such a nice job on that.

Yes, I'm going to go over everything that is wire with hardware cloth. I'm learning new things as I read through this wonderful website! I have paint...khaki colored. Just ran out of time. Next weekend project.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Yes, I'm going to go over everything that is wire with hardware cloth. I'm learning new things as I read through this wonderful website! I have paint...khaki colored. Just ran out of time. Next weekend project.

I just love your work and was editing the post you linked the same time you were responding to me =)

 

[Dayrel]

Excellent job on the coop, particularly for a quick build. First thing that I'd suggest to improve security is to add a layer of 1/2" hardware cloth at least around the lower half and the windows. The chicken wire is fine for holding in chickens, but not very good for keeping out predators.

Some secondary things:

• I see roosts in the coop area, but one in the run area would be very nice for them.
  
• Also, some more room in the run- a rule of thumb is 4sqft/chicken in the coop and 10sqft/chicken in the run. They can get by on less, but crowding might cause behavioral problems.
  
• For upgraded security, burying a hardware cloth skirt around the structure or piling rocks around it will significantly reduce the chance of digging predators.

Lower priority, but will help with keeping it together longer term is a good coat of enamel paint.

Edit- I see from another post you just put up that you already have some of this covered. You are doing a great job and these chickens are lucky you are taking them on.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Congratulations on a super nice build. Accidental chicken ownership done right!
Good luck tonight I hope bashful is cooperative.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

These pictures are of a coop I found online that I used to build my coop. No measurements though...just pictures.

 

[AllenK RGV]

These pictures are of a coop I found online that I used to build my coop. No measurements though...just pictures.View attachment 1168510 View attachment 1168511

Oh and one critical design flaw I noted, I don't see a beer holder/wine tray anywhere for when you are working on the coop and watching chicken TV!

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Oh and one critical design flaw I noted, I don't see a beer holder/wine tray anywhere for when you are working on the coop and watching chicken TV!

Ah....just out of camera range is a sliced up oak tree that held the adult beverages...

 

[aart]

Add plastic or metal roofing with large overhangs....to protect the winter ventilation you will add.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Add plastic or metal roofing with large overhangs....to protect the winter ventilation you will add.

Roofing is in the plans. Also ventilation...but I'm a little lost on that. I'm trying to read up on it but only find square footage per bird stuff. I'm confused on the 'ventilation but no draft' concept. How do you accomplish this? Vent near the roof...but they roost up on the upper rung in the coop...won't they be in a draft then? Any help is appreciated.