Ideas to improve?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well we all start somewhere, you will have 6 weeks to plan it out, you need to block the prevailing winds, which are usually northwest, Sun to the south would be nice, nothing fancy needed, you could use gravel or sand for the bottom for now, and as I said your roof will need a slant or pitch so the snow doesn't collapse it, people build coops with pallets, it's a bit of work taking them apart but they are free most of the time. Just some ideas.

 

[trailrider330]

I'm not sure what sweet PDZ is... my idea for improving it was to actually take out the back wall and build them an enclosed room with nesting box and roosting poles onto the back of the structure we already have, with just a small chicken door inside this "run" and a larger door on the outside for me to get in and clean house. Which I still want to do, I just don't feel like I can by myself. For now, I think a roosting pole above the shelf and nesting boxes blow the shelf? I know the latch hook on the outside seems easy, but I can barely open and close it because they are so spaced apart it is a very tight fit. And we live in town, so not too many predators. I think 1 nesting box is enough as I only have 2 hens and 1 rooster..

Sweet PDZ... See this post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/707861/sweet-pdz
Here is where you can buy it: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/sweet-pdz-stall-refresher-25-lb

oldhenlikesdog offered you some good advice as well.

Just keep in mind, that everything loves chicken and things will eventually find them. You may not think you have many predators, but just remember that for everyone you see, there are probably 10 more on the prowl. Plus, don't just think in terms of predators in the traditional sense (raccoon, opossum, mink, weasel, rat, fox, hawks, skunk, bobcat, cougar, bear, etc.), you can't forget about dogs and cats. There are far too many posts on here where someone's dog, the neighbor's dog, or a stray dog, got through chicken wire and killed a bunch of chickens. My own dog even managed to bite through her chain link fence a couple weeks ago! Talk about a shocker!

You can do it!!! Just arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can ahead of time. Look at coop designs. Look at what materials are used and how they are put together. Watch DIY videos about coop construction. Ask individuals at your local home improvement store for advise. Use increments that are multiples 2' to minimize the number of cuts you have to make. Invite some friends over so you have an extra set of hands and treat them to a nice dinner afterwards. And, don't forget, you can always ask your friendly BYC members for advice on how to put things together. Where there is a will, there is a way! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

 

[ChickenMammX4]

I know the problems when a husband travels for his job :/ Trying to get projects finished between trips and of course throw bad weather in the mix and it ends up taking months rather than weeks.

The first thing you need is a roost bar above that shelf, a 2 x 4 (4" side up) will work perfectly. Line the shelf (poopboard) with PDZ, it will help with odor and makes cleaning easier. It clumps like kitty litter. I use a mesh paper tray to sift out poop, dump it into a 5 gal. bucket and throw it on the compost pile.

I would use the 'deep litter method' on the floor...grass clippings, leaves, straw or other lawn debris. It will absorb the poop and help keep the run clean.

Nesting box... with 2 hens you only need 1, easy enough to make using a covered cat litter box, milk crate turned on end, dish pan, etc. I line our nesting boxes with sweet timothy hay, but you can use pine shavings, straw etc. Tuck it under the shelf, hens seem to like a little privacy when laying.

The set up you have is fine right now, but by winter though you'll need some changes. That tarp probably won't stand up to wind or snow load. The cold won't be a problem for the chickens but you need to keep them dry and out of the wind.

For predator protection, 1/2" hardware cloth is needed. Chicken wire (why do they call it that?) is useless when it comes to protection. A racoon can reach right through and grab a chicken and it can easily be torn for access. Rodents can get through to eat and can contaminate the feed. Snakes get in looking for eggs. Also, bury the hardware cloth down about 18" or put an apron around the perimeter. Keeps predators from digging under.

Your idea to build a room on the back sounds like a good idea, you already have the existing structure to use for a run. I would add a permanent roof though, you'll want to keep all that snow out and provide shade in the summer.

 

[TalkALittle]

Any chance you can post pic of it from the side? It might give us a better idea of how you can modify the structure.
Most of the big box hardware stores will cut plywood for you. They also have hand saws to cut trim boards to length. Just go in with good plans and all your measurements when you purchase your wood. You can also do a lot with a good ole fashioned miter box. It's not as quick as a power saw and your arm will get a workout but it's great for people who aren't confident using power saws.

Don't forget to check out craigslist. You might get lucky and find someone selling their coop.

 

[mendiolachicks]

I dunno what is wrong.. my phone is not uploading pictures.. I tried to post a side view, as well as the plan I have made and started for my new building.

 

[mendiolachicks]

 

[jimbob86]

What tools do you have to work with (aside from this magic elf box that will answer any question you ask)?

What materials do you have available?

Which direction are the prevailing winter winds coming from in your area, and which way does the run face now?

What other resources do you have? Church? County Extension office? Family? Friends? A local BYC Club?

Your idea to build a coop onto the back is sound- with just 3 birds*, it does not need to be big: 4'x4' and 4' to 5' high would be plenty, even accounting for chicken math.

A simple coop like that would be easy to predator-proof, and much cheaper than trying to enclose the run you have in hardware cloth.

Some suggestions:

As mentioned above, keep the measurements in 2' increments where possible, to cut down on waste. Build it 2' off the ground and enclose the bottom later on for more run space (shaded, no less).

Use a simple flat, slanted roof and have it overhang front and back. Make the front wall a foot taller than the back and that will give you the slope to shed snow and rain. A scrap piece or two of steel roofing, translucent corrugated fiberglass or corrigated tin would work. The extra foot at the top can be covered in hardware cloth and that'd be all the ventilation that you'd need. One wall is already the back of your current enclosure ...... the floor and other two walls can be made with just two 4'x8' sheets of plywood, and the angle part of the other side wall covered in either scrap or more hadware cloth. Too much ventilation? Tack up some trash bags....

You can often find stuff for free in dumpsters at construction sites (careful, those dumpsters are NASTY).

Check the landfill/town dump, too.

Check the Salvation Army to see if they have a Habitat ReStore anywhere near you- get a window (does not need to open) for a few dollars, and put it on the south side. More light =more eggs, and the sunlight will warm and dry the coop.

If you have a 3/8" drill (corded 3/8" drill can be gotten @ a pawn shop for next to nothing, due to the popularity of cordless drills), then use GRK or Spax screws- they cost a bit more but are self tapping, self countersinking....... faster than nails, and if you mess up or need to change something, they come right out by reversing the drill.

Seal any hole in the roof with a $2 tube of silicone caulking (you don't care what color- whatever is on sale.

Same for paint- Whatever EXTERIOR paint is in the mis-tint bin (you may have to ask about mis-tints), that is what color your coop will be. The coop, particularly the plywood, will last much longer if you paint it.

Anybody else?













* If money is tight, whack that roo- he'll eat more than he's worth, and with just 2 hens, he'll likely ride 'em near to death- it'd be that much harder for them to make it though winter's cold with no feathers on their backs.

 

[mendiolachicks]

Oh my! I love my rooster! He's my favorite! Though I do see why you say that. I actually have an amazing garage full of more power tools and hand tools than a person really needs. I am using pallets to build my new building, and I intend to paint it with some paint in the garage, and then cover the top and all sides with metal roof material.

 

[jimbob86]

Oh my! I love my rooster! He's my favorite! Though I do see why you say that. I actually have an amazing garage full of more power tools and hand tools than a person really needs. I am using pallets to build my new building, and I intend to paint it with some paint in the garage, and then cover the top and all sides with metal roof material.

Great.

Using pallet wood does somewhat complicate making the frame- pallets don't usually come with long lengths of wood in them....... and the wood is often a hardwood, so you may have to pre-drill screw holes to prevent splitting .......though it is often much stronger than the pine used for typical 2x4 lumber. I'd certainly make good siding, replacing the costly plywood! You won't need any length longer than 4' for that!

One more suggestion:

Whether using nails or screws, make certain the points are not sticking out on the inside of the coop where they'll scratch or poke a bird, nor on the outside where they'll do the same to you.

Bend the nails over ("clinch" them) and with screws, either choose a shorter screw, or change the angle you put it in at.

 

[mendiolachicks]

This is the floor of the new building.. disn't have a whole lot of time to work on it today, but I did get a quaint ed with the skil saw, and I got to use my old friend the drill for the wood screws I used. The side boards of the pallet are quite hard, so I did have to pre-drill holes for the screws, but that was a very minor issue. I most likely won't get much time to mess with it tomorrow