Large Open Coop with Covered Run Design & Build with Costs and Pics

[Missceegee]

How old are they? Mine spread out more as they matured.



Do you have a big, strong magnet?



That will improve as the bedding piles up. You could give them logs and blocks to stand on.

13 are 8.5 months. 7 are 6 months. They always seem to sleep squished.

I do have a big magnet, but oddly enough I found it after dark.

I’m gonna watch them today. They do have stuff to stand on.

 

[Missceegee]

It's a general rule of thumb that is a good place to start.
It also can depend on how they access the roosts,
if they have to fly up they need more room for wing spread.

Good points. Some of them flew. Some used the ramp. Some I put up for their first night.
They kept knocking each other off. I guess they’re trying to find a new pecking order in the new house.

 

[Missceegee]

They seem to be doing their chicken thing scratching in all that bedding. The one egg so far was under the roosts. Hopefully the rest go in the nest boxes.

I will either add another lower roost bar or lower the other two. They try to fly up and fail and then use the ramp. The two installed are ~4’ high.

 

[Missceegee]

Mulch on predator cloth is mostly down. I need about 4 more bags. Will add the long sod stapes when they arrive. Taking down some of the flashing.

 

[Missceegee]

Took down all flashing except below nest boxes. They are clearly happier (or whatever the chicken equivalent is) with better line of sight. I managed to slice my thumbnail and nail bed vertically almost to the quick taking it out. Stupid me didn’t have gloves on. Hemp is nicely absorbent I discovered. After cleaning a very dirty wound and bandaging it, I finished removing it. I’d like to put something that is only 4-6” but for now it is open.

I installed a low perch along the back wall. My brother hung 4’ light inside and another above the workbench storage area. Not much left to do except a small ramp to the auto door inside and one outside and some kind of chute to let them into the electric fence.

only 6 eggs today and only one of those in the nest box. Sigh.

 

[aart]

I’d like to put something that is only 4-6” but for now it is open.

It wouldn't be easy, but you could take that flashing and fold it in half lengthwise.
It would be shorter and not have a razor edge at the top.

 

[Missceegee]

It wouldn't be easy, but you could take that flashing and fold it in half lengthwise.
It would be shorter and not have a razor edge at the top.

I thought about that & it would have been a solution, but once I sliced my finger I was mad and took it all to the dumpster pile!

 

[Missceegee]

Yesterday some final roofing screws went in and the lights and fan were installed. Lots of clean up. Today I put the sod staples in the predator apron. I lost track of some receipts, but we estimate we spent $3000 to build it.

I still need to make a ramp to the auto door inside and out and figure how to get them into the electric fence. It is staked just beyond the predator apron with about 1.5’ opening. I can turn the current on, but I haven’t decided the best way to let them in their outer area.

I still want to make a lower roost should any of them need it.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Looking forward to seeing your progress.

I didn't dare keep records on the costs for Neuchickenstein, which was largely framed during the height of Covid lumber shortages.

DITTO!!! my carolina Coops design cost wayyyyyy to much b/c of lumber prices. And, btw, it was not due to a shortage as they'll have you believe.

 

[Missceegee]

Ramp situation fixed both sides auto door. I made a mini ladder inside and used a stump outside. I still have to make the chute so they go in the fenced pasture. Finished cleaning. Blocked the rollaway nest and added golf balls as fake eggs to entice laying in the nest. It’s about half and half so far.