It's done!

[Moselle]

Dh worked like crazy to get it done and moved into place today. The Flock-of-Sillies is acting a bit lost, not being used to their space and all. I think their ladder up to the door is too steep. We might have to adjust that. And we'll be doing a bit of clean-up and planting around the coop.

Now we'll see if I can sleep with the "babies" out of the house their first night.

 

[Lanissa86]

What are your dimensions! This is the kind I had pictured in my Head!!! You built the coop I was thinking of!!! Its BEAUTIFUL!!! Very nice work! How many chickens do you think will be able to fit in that? I see you have 5 very nice looking birds! Loving it!

 

[CoopDelisle]

Love it! And you have the perfect assortment of chickens! I am sure they will adjust right quickly! Please post again when you have planted around it...I just love that!

 

[stilwellchick]

Very pretty colors and great job. Are you going to let them range also?

 

[Moselle]

Thanks!

The henhouse is 5Wx3Dx4 1/2H and the overall structure is 5Wx8Dx5 1/2H. I think the coop is at full capacity now. There is a drop-down door in the back of the henhouse that makes it easier to access the feeder/waterer. Dh used rope to pull the chicken door up, but I'm sure we'll need to use wire or chain eventually.

You might notice that dh has also secured it like Fort Knox

mainly to keep out some of the more mischievious neighborhood kids. He will also add some frames around the windows to hold plexiglass - and keep out some of the chill during the winter. Our main concern around here is the summer heat, so we wanted to keep it well ventilated.

In a couple of weeks or so (when they get real comfortable w/their new home) we will put up a temporary/moveable fence for them to get out for an hour or so during the day. We're planning to make it out of deer netting (which I think is about 7'x100') and wrap it around various trees for a boarder. Maybe make some PVC poles. We'll have to have someone nearby to 'supervise' them, since the deer netting is fine for keeping the chickens in, but not neighbor dogs or hawks out.

 

[jenlynn4]

Its beautiful! I LOVE it! Super job! I think you are right about the ramp though, but you'll be suprised at what they can climb. JEN

 

[arlee453]

For the ramp, I had the same problem when I raised my ChickNBarn and made a ramp up to the door.

Try putting more strips across (the 'rungs' of the ramp).

I went back and put double the strips across that I had originally and they were very much happier to go up the ramp than before.

REALLY nice job!

 

[patandchickens]

Beautiful job! (and lovely mix of hens

)

Another alternative to more runs on the ramp would be one or two freestanding steps they can hop up and down on (would look like a small stepstool). Works for my tractor. But more rungs might well work too.

Congrats. Isn't it nice to get something like that *done*, well insofar as any project is ever completely 'done' <g>)? Not go pull up a lawn chair and watch the chickens andbask in the warm glow of a job well done

P

 

[Moselle]

Quote:
Thanks - I remember that step you have for your tractor, now that I think about it. A nice sturdy cement block was it? Maybe a big clay flower pot turned upside down would work, too. I think we have one in the garage somewhere.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

Either a cement block or flower pot paint them or let your kids, I think that's what we will do for mine.