Looking Back

[Anny]

Looking back, what are some things you would have changed when you originally build your coop?

Is there anything you are not happy about your coop, or things you HAVE already changed?

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

I am still working on mine. We are converting my playhouse from when I was a kid to a coop. Working pretty well. Used old boards we found in our barn. They are really warped so the door on pen #1 doesnt close very easily. I wouldve splurged and bought new wood 4 the doors and frames. Scrap wood works great everywhere else.

 

[digitS']

Anny, you are going to see my response on your "cold Winter" thread. Pictures of my coop are on my BYC page.

I made the coop about 10 years ago with 3 ideas in mind.

One, if I ever moved, the coop was going into my pickup and it was coming with me.

Two, that there needed to be a well-insulated room as protection from the Winter cold.

Three, that I was going to populate the coop with pigeons, quail and bantams.

Since the insulated room is only 3 1/2' by 7 1/2', it's rather tight for the standard chickens I once again purchased after having raised them in the past. They range around the backyard a lot and I just couldn't bring myself to trust banties.

It would also sure be nice if I had more room for my big feet

. I suppose that I should NOT have outdoor and indoor rooms and just made the 7' by 7 1/2' structure one room, without the dividing wall. But then, I probably would need to heat the larger room in the Winter.

! I'm fortunate that I don't need to do that the way it is now.

Steve

 

[shmooborp]

vinel flooring... sooo much easer to clean off than wood. and bigger gauge wire... the poops get bigger and bigger..lol

 

[Anny]

schmooborp, just wondering but what size is the wiring your are using right now ? (so I know NOT to use it ;-) )

Thank you guys so much for all your help.

 

[newchickmom]

We had 2 old coops made from storage sheds ( one is 8 x 16 and the other 12 x 16) We just tore down the larger one and are going to rebuild a new one.
Things that the new one will have that neither had:
1. Windows
2. Roofline ventilation
3. Cleanout doors
4. Roosts above a shelf for easier cleaning.
5. Cement floor
6. More electric outlets (will be at ceiling level)
7. A 2 ft overhang outside to protect windows and vents from weather.

 

[Blooming chicks]

Newchickmom--love the idea of clean out door, shelving below the roosts, and additional outlets. I will keep those things in mind as mine is built. Vinyl flooring sounds like a good idea too schmooborp. Thanks.

 

[Chirpy]

Bigger... bigger... bigger!!!

 

[harvey]

BIGGER........feeders, water, roosts ect. take up lots of room. Vinyl flooring would be good along with pans under the roosts.

 

[shmooborp]

right now im using 1/2 inch x 1 inch... would deffinatly want to go with like... at LEAST 1x1 inch.. or bigger..lol.. but not to big that the feet will falll thru..lol hope that helps