Looking for comments, suggestions, questions, insults...

[pbarr86]

I'm new to the site, so please forgive if I am posting in the wrong area,

So we built our coop and we are looking for comments, suggestions, questions, insults...

made a video slideshow posted here...

I did a reversal of "The Palace" Coop By: MrSteamyKitchen so the run portion would be better viewable from our porch.

Had a great time building it and our 6 chicks seem to be loving it...

Enjoy,
Paul

Adding a few pictures on here for anyone that doesn't want to sit through my awesome video.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Nice. Love the concrete block base. It should be predator proof.
Make sure you keep those windows open for ventilation year round. If a storm comes you can drop the shutter on the windward side.
A modification you might want to make is to arrange the roost so when they come in to lay eggs they don't have to walk through poop which will be under the roosts, unless you utilize a poop board.

Very pretty though.

 

[pbarr86]

Thank you for the tip on the roosting bar, I will keep an eye on that when the time comes. Right now I have the nesting boxes blocked off because they are too little to put them to use right now and don't want them thinking they can sleep in there They have grown enough so they are no longer sleeping on the shavings but have moved up to sleeping on the bar.

 

[Smithyard Farm]

very nice!

 

[iheartnh]

Well, I never pass up an invitation to insult someone, but I got nothing. Nice job!

 

[JanetS]

Great job! Looks very similar to ours.

 

[AnnetteE]

Nice looking coop

 

[thomasboyle]

Since you live in snow country, when winter comes, I wrap my coop run in clear shower curtains from Ocean State Job Lots. They are very thick clear vinyl and cheap. Does a great job in protecting the birds from the wind, and keeps the snow out of the coop. Nice looking coop!

 

[philipchickymad]

i have 2 coops in my run and 6 chickens and one duck
i put the newer coop in around a week ago because i am introducing three more chickens and more space is needed, the coop is an old cupboard but renevated a bit there is 2 floors (shelves)
the chickens go on the bottom floor but i put a ramp/ladder to the second one its around 60cm off the ground any tips on making them go up the ramp

 

[aart]

Glad you will not be insulted by some critique.....

I think MA is Massachusetts....single layer dry laid concrete block 'foundation' might not hold still with frost heave.
Although you have chicken wire lining the run floor, animals could still easily dig under the blocks.
Take a look at this thread about aprons to deter diggers.

How is the framing attached to concrete blocks? Wind could grab that big roof and move your coop.

Even with the cold there you don't need to heat....that looks like that might be a heat lamp pointed right at the roost area?
Ventilation is much more important that heat. Humidity, not just cold temps, is what causes frostbite....they can take the cold, they have down coats!
Plus, getting them acclimated to heating, can be devastating if you lose power and all of a sudden it's gone.
Great article on ventilation

You could still use that timed power setup for supplemental lighting for winter laying, only need a 40 watt incandescent bulb-and it probably shouldn't be pointed at the roost. I'd cover the unused outlets to prevent dust from gathering in them causing a fire hazard.

Can't really see your latches...are they double action so coons can't get them open? Latches with loops and carabiners thru loops seems to work well.

Nice move on the 1/2" hardware cloth...is it fastened with screws and washers, or very large fencing staples. Dogs, coons and others can pull or push out standard staple gun staples.

Kudos on:
Very nice framing!
Staining and sealing limber before construction!
Nice large roof overhang!

It's gorgeous. Although I am a fanatical function over form advocate, that is one nice looking coop/run!
Approx. 4' x 5' coop? How many birds?