I'm ready to get started!

[pawsplus]

RE: perches in the run . . . I think they're a great idea and the chicks appreciate some vertical space, BUT wait until your girls are there and have established the habit of going into the coop at night before adding perches in the run. Otherwise they may develop the habit of roosting outside, which isn't safe for them and it's hard to break once it's established.

 

[Patricia Jane]

Looks pretty good. Just dig in. You will find (if your like me), that you can always find something you should of done to make it better or something you want to change. One suggestion...Are you sure you wont want to add chickens in the future? If you even have a slightest chance then build bigger. I have extended my coop twice now and I still want more. Next will be another coop and I'm thinking next spring. They're very entertaining, addictive and full of personality. Have fun and enjoy. A lot of great people here to help.

 

[dadsdeercamp]

If you are going to keep any roosters you might want to think bigger you will have a broody and maybe end up with more then 6 chickens.

 

[TN_BIRD]

Quote:
I like it.

Roof: the overhang will help keep the nestbox hinge area dry. You can also use bicycle inner tube or flashing material to protect the seam, too.

For sure, you will get wet when you collect eggs in the rain with the slope, but a couple solutions would be 1. some sort of gutter or diverting ridge. 2. don't make it a habit to collect the eggs in the rain

As far as roosts go...they aren't necessary, but a couple of cinder blocks or logs work fine.

Feeders. Our feeder is under our hen house. This seems to help keep it dry when it rains.

 

[aoxa]

We didn't really have a plan when we started.. It kind of just worked itself out. Go with something simple.. Simple is good. Make sure you can get in and stand up. Putting up roosts really wasn't all that hard. As a girl who did this for the first time - I'd say the front door was the most difficult. I feel like I could do a MUCH better one now, but the money has been spent

Make sure you post pictures!

 

[ailurophile23]

Don't worry about which side the roof slopes to - use gutters! They will keep the nest boxes (and you) dry.

Looks good so far. I have a similar coop and run set up for 12 birds. I put the perches across the short width - used three perches for 12 birds. Some folks like having a ladder-style roost but my coop has strange dimensions and that will not work. My hens love having the coop about 2 feet off the ground - provides shade and rain protection so they can be outside no matter the weather. It is also a great place to hang the feeder so it is protected from the rain. And it is easy enough for me to reach under it with a small rake to clean. Good luck with building the coop!

 

[fireguy56]

Hi, Just make sure you have a nice wide overhang on the low end of the roof where it hangs over the nest boxes. I made mine 24" and no water in boxes. But I still plan to cover the ninge seam with rubber strip none the less, just to be sure. Yes, the gutter idea good one as well and no, I don't collect eggs in the rain either. Good luck.
Erik