Is A Coop Ever REALLY Finished??

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Is A Chicken Coop Ever REALLY Finished?

We’ve been working on ours since May! Strictly speaking, we haven’t really worked on it all that time. It was nearly done mid-June, when my husband had to leave for a business trip. He put a temporary roof on it and that worked so well, he saw no reason to rush into a permanent roof when he got back.

Eventually, however, he got the roof on, and did a terrific job, as always. Here’s a photo:

However, the more see our chicks in their little run and coop, the more changes we realize we want to make. We started with Dennis Harrison-Noonan’s playhouse coop plans, but altered them right from the start, with a bigger run. Now, seeing them in the little coop, and thinking ahead to the winter, we realized we want to hang the nest box on the outside wall, rather than have it inside, and enlarge the roost box somewhat. And after lots of debate, research, and finally consulting with the UW extension agent, we decided to insulate it as well.

How about you? No matter how much research and planning you do ahead of time, do you find yourself making all kinds of changes later when you put theory into practice?

Wisconsin Garden Chick
http://www.backyardnestegg.blogspot.com

 

[tomato lady]

My first coop I built under the kids tree fort. That was convenient and inexpensive because it already had a roof. That was in April. Am I done? Absolutely not. I built a coop for 12 chickens and within a month had bought 31 chicks. Oops.

Now I am converting my old goat barn (10 x 12) plus the attached old rabbit house (another 8 x 12). So far I have cleaned the buildings out. They were full of old stored items that should have just been thrown away in the first place. I am going to tear down the loft tomorrow because I decided not to have chickens on two levels. Seemed like there would be lots of dust from above and a big cleaning problem.

I am putting up inside walls but no insulation. I am adding windows and screened areas for lots of light and ventelation. Not done with the nest boxes yet and haven't figured out if I should tear down the wall and make it one big space, or leave the wall up and just cut a doorway.

Still haven't planned the roosts, but think I know where I will put them. I am going to build a pen for isolating a chicken if I ever need to.

So, while I am working and planning, my chicks are growing up and need to get out of their cramped quarters. Hopefully I will be "finished" within a week.

At that point I can have 50 chickens in the converted goat barn and another 12 or so in my first coop. That is 62 chickens. I only have 31 chickens. Hmmmmmm........

 

[crazyhen]

Nope never finished!
I started with a 4x8 then went to 8x8. Now I want 4 more feet on that. I want an 8x12 layer coop you see. Then I want two more seperate pens that will be joined by the wall to the original. I realized I needed a grow out pen that the other chickens could see into for broodies or extra chicks. I also want a banty coop that is at the end of the line so they can see the grow out area as well, Then of course I want more run area for the bantys and then more for the flock of layers etc, etc. Like I said I know it has to end some where. It will probably be when I do. LOL. Gloria jean

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

"Then I want two more seperate pens that will be joined by the wall to the original. I realized I needed a grow out pen that the other chickens could see into for broodies or extra chicks."

That's another thing I wish I'd thought of before we started - a separate pen for new chicks or a sick chick who needs isolating. I haven't dared bring that up to hubby yet.

Next spring seems like a good time...

Wisconsin Garden Chick
http://backyardnestegg.blogspot.com/

 

[onthespot]

same here.

 

[Mahonri]

I started out with an 8 X 12 walk in coop and now I have two additional pens that are west of that in the yard both 4 X 10 by 5ft high.

If you are in Wisconsin, you'll need some walls and insulation!

I lived in Milwaukee for 4 years!

 

[wombat]

I built one with an interior and exterior walls, R13 insullation between, and cement-fiber siding. Then I went to move it about 10' over to the run ... and found that it weighed about as much as a car.

It took quite a while using a cider block and a 4x4 beam as a lever to move that sucka into place, but it's done ... except for some trim, and that solar light I've been meaning to get, and ...

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Mahonri said: "If you are in Wisconsin, you'll need some walls and insulation!"

It has walls - you probably can't see them very well in the photo. It's just a tiny coop at the back, up high.

Early on, I asked about insulation and a couple of experienced chicken keepers from Mad City Chickens said it wasn't necessary. However, I learned that some others from cold climates do insulate. It just seems to make sense to do it, and when I finally asked the extension agent, he said do it.

Wisconsin Garden Chick

http://backyardnestegg.blogspot.com/

 

[Suburban chick farmer 09]

Never finished. I still have to paint the outside, paint the inside, build a loft/storage area, build a feeder, build the run, build the windows, build flower boxes, and landscape. My projected finish is spring 2012.

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Wombat said: "but it's done ... except for some trim, and that solar light I've been meaning to get, and ..."

I hear ya...