- Apr 15, 2010
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My dad is building me an 8x8 coop based off my neighbors turkey coop. I went over and looked at the coop and I feel like it is definately better than the shed I was trying to renovate. However there are some flaws in my neighbors coop. I'm not about to harass him over everything he has done wrong, but I would obviously like my dad to not make the same mistakes. For instance my neighbor has huge windows that open via a flap for ventilation. The wire covering these windows? Chainlink! I know nothing about turkeys, but this seems quite unsafe to me. I know it'd never be safe for chickens.
While he is, or maybe BECAUSE he is, a very capable builder and electrian, my dad is always very busy and I'm actually amazed he has agreed to do this for me. While I AM SO THANKFUL HE IS DOING THIS, my mother tells me not to press him to make a bunch of modifications or he might feel I'm not thankful at all and back out. I'm not going to ask for a bunch of things that I can live without, like external nest boxes or having him build roosts I can do myself, but there are definite things I would appreciate him doing. My plan is to print off a list of modifications I could use and include photos in the printout. I figure the less writing and more visuals I give him the less it seems like I'm asking. Maybe it will help make it seem more like a fun project as well.
My list of modifications are:
1) Including a pop hole raised a few inches off the floor to allow for bedding. I've included pictures of several locking pop doors. I also mentioned a lip on the human door so bedding doesn't come out.
2) Raising the coop off the ground by building it on legs or using cinder blocks. I explained that this would offer some quick shelter for the chickens in case of hawks or weather, and would also help with pests. I included a picture of a raised coop.
3) Installing a (supplied) window by the human door. I am asking that he install it backwards so that it opens from the outside. I will then cover the interior of it with hardware cloth.
4) USING (supplied) HARDWARE CLOTH INSTEAD OF CHAINLINK FOR THE VENTILATION FLAPS!!!
None of these, except for the ventilation flaps, are things included in my neighbors design. They all seem pretty necessary for chickens though, but my dad has very little knowledge of poultry and didn't realize predators were a problem at all. My dad pretty much said my neighbors design is fine as it is, so I am really hoping I can convince him to do these things. While seeming appreciative at the same time.
My dad owns a sawmill so he should be good on lumber but I am going to include as much as I can such as the hardware cloth, the window and possibly an old door I have.
And a request:
If anyone has a photo of a backwards window with interior hardware cloth could you post it? I'd love to include a photo even though what I'm asking of him is really self explainatory. Or if anyone has a better suggestion post a photo of that!
While he is, or maybe BECAUSE he is, a very capable builder and electrian, my dad is always very busy and I'm actually amazed he has agreed to do this for me. While I AM SO THANKFUL HE IS DOING THIS, my mother tells me not to press him to make a bunch of modifications or he might feel I'm not thankful at all and back out. I'm not going to ask for a bunch of things that I can live without, like external nest boxes or having him build roosts I can do myself, but there are definite things I would appreciate him doing. My plan is to print off a list of modifications I could use and include photos in the printout. I figure the less writing and more visuals I give him the less it seems like I'm asking. Maybe it will help make it seem more like a fun project as well.
My list of modifications are:
1) Including a pop hole raised a few inches off the floor to allow for bedding. I've included pictures of several locking pop doors. I also mentioned a lip on the human door so bedding doesn't come out.
2) Raising the coop off the ground by building it on legs or using cinder blocks. I explained that this would offer some quick shelter for the chickens in case of hawks or weather, and would also help with pests. I included a picture of a raised coop.
3) Installing a (supplied) window by the human door. I am asking that he install it backwards so that it opens from the outside. I will then cover the interior of it with hardware cloth.
4) USING (supplied) HARDWARE CLOTH INSTEAD OF CHAINLINK FOR THE VENTILATION FLAPS!!!
None of these, except for the ventilation flaps, are things included in my neighbors design. They all seem pretty necessary for chickens though, but my dad has very little knowledge of poultry and didn't realize predators were a problem at all. My dad pretty much said my neighbors design is fine as it is, so I am really hoping I can convince him to do these things. While seeming appreciative at the same time.
My dad owns a sawmill so he should be good on lumber but I am going to include as much as I can such as the hardware cloth, the window and possibly an old door I have.
And a request:
If anyone has a photo of a backwards window with interior hardware cloth could you post it? I'd love to include a photo even though what I'm asking of him is really self explainatory. Or if anyone has a better suggestion post a photo of that!
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