Just told hubby we need to build a bigger coop

[aart]

So we ended up using one as a brace for both roosts. No sagging tonight! Idk abt long term, but the problem is currently fixed.

Roosts are still removable!

As long as they are stable while the birds are roosting, that should be fine.
What is holding the roosts and braces in place?

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

As long as they are stable while the birds are roosting, that should be fine.
What is holding the roosts and braces in place?

They are cut to snuggly fit between the roosts and floor, along with two screws

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Build is done...
I need to add rungs to their ramps, but they use these just fine... so its been the end of the list

Pros
Pallets are free from work
Plywood for extension was free from work
Easily something done alone if need be (i did a good amount by myself as hubby couldn't handle the heat on the day we did most of it)
The girls seem to like it
Easily accessible eggs
Not too bad on the cleaning out either.. (I scooped out the old bedding without any issue)
Removable roosts
Good ventilation
Provides for the need
WE BUILT IT AND WE ARE PROUD!


Cons
Still put several 100 into it for materials we didn't have laying around
Walk up, not walk in
Built in nesting boxes (however no other choice I could see without spending more money)
The lack of angle on the roof (if I had it to do over I'd try something different...)
Will only last a few yrs bc its not all quality wood
Will likely need repairs over those yrs

Things to do differently next time...
Ideally we should have built an 8x8 from the start...which was talked abt...but not done lol
And we would have made the over hangs much longer especially on the back...as it is pretty close to being flush...

It's been raining cats and dogs for a few days...
The coop seems secure from most water...(it's covered by a tree which is also helpful)

Perfect, nope...
My best...yep..

Thanks for all the helpful tips!!!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

There's been some discussion with the hubby!
I believe we are gonna plan slanted awning (idk how to spell that lol) over the top of the roof!
Itll provide deep shade in the summer, keeping the coop cooler, hedge apples fall from the tree above so it'll protect the roof from that, it'll provide a back overhang where it doesn't have one, itll keep the entire coop dry always, it'll hold a snow load without it sitting on the actual roof..(hoping to keep the coop warmer in winter) and in the long term increase the longevity of the coop!

I also have plans to run some hardwire cloth (which I never heard of till this forum) around the outside of my fence, and create and apron.


I have learned from this forum, though we've not had any sort of preditor problems as of yet, we are not preditor proof...so I've been doing some research on that...and plan to remedy it over the course of the next month or so...

The net will stay...but the bottom portion will be better reinforced.

I made this for my girls yesterday!! It took them all of one afternoon to figure it out!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Hardwire cloth is ordered..
Plan is 3ft high 1 foot apron...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hardwire cloth is ordered..
Plan is 3ft high 1 foot apron...

Might want to split the difference a little more like 2.5' high, 1.5' apron. It's nitpicking, I know, but ideally an apron should be more like 18-24", so that'll get you a little closer to that while still preventing raccoons from super easily reaching through the fence.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Might want to split the difference a little more like 2.5' high, 1.5' apron. It's nitpicking, I know, but ideally an apron should be more like 18-24", so that'll get you a little closer to that while still preventing raccoons from super easily reaching through the fence.

Thank you!
I am still learning tons!!!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

The girls are loving the new Hen Hut and enjoying the nesting boxes a bit too much for not putting out any eggs! Lol.. I do believe they are getting close at 17 and 15wks. I got Golden Comets and Cinnamon Queens for laying purposes as they (from what I read) are early layers

Hubby has an idea for the roof.
Something abt doubling it up so we still have the extra layer for shade, and added protection from the weather with a slope and a decent over hang (yes, I suggested taking off the old and making it better... he didn't like that idea... bc in the long run doubling up will provide some things a single can not...I guess lol) He is purchasing to wood today..hoping to get started when i get off work!!
we are trying not to add a ton more costs as we have other "shacks" we must build! However I believe at least one of them will be a shed remodel!

First a lovely Golden Comet
Second Blue my sapphire gem
Third my sassy Wynonna. She has totally green legs, no waddles or comb to really to speak of...making her look slightly odd lol
Fouth Wynonna and Patsy
Fifth is Reba shes one of my crested cream legbar...that were supposed to be welsummers lol
6th, cinnamon queen

I have a hard time telling my cinnamon queens and comets apart anymore...
So there's the comets and the queens lol...I can't pick them apart by name anymore!

 

[bwally]

Construction starts tomorrow!!
We are going from a 4'x8'to an 8'x8'coop!

Here's a pic of our current coop!
It sits in a 27'x27'run

Looks great! What are you using for netting?

 

[bwally]

Looks great! What are you using for netting?