My coop and run build!

[JoeInPA]

So I did some work today and modified some of my work from yesterday.

I went to the hardware store and purchased some Behr barn red and barn white paint, three 8 foot 2x4s, and another bundle of 1x2s.

I rebuilt the roosting ladder out of 2x4s with the wide side facing up so that the chickens can comfortably sit on it and keep their feet covered and warm.

I also made the nesting boxes removable for easier cleaning. They have a "slot" that they fit into so they won't slide around.

I also finished up the trim on the outside, except for the window trim, which I need to take to work so that I can mill a slot in them for the plexiglass to slide into. Then I can install them.

 

[JoeInPA]

I accomplished a fair amount of work today on the coop. I finished the last row of shingles, and to hold the last row down, I found a piece of aluminum bar stock that I think used to be an old door threshold. It was a couple inches short but pretty close so I just centered it and used some screws to attach it. Then spray painted it with some black spray paint.

I painted the nesting boxes and the roosting ladder with the same barn red paint as the rest. I also painted the white trim on the outside. I need to do a bit of touch up due to the tape bleeding through. I cut some grooves in some 1x2s to make a sliding door and sliding windows. Hopefully I will get to that tomorrow or Thursday then the chickens can move in.

 

[JoeInPA]

I got the coop just about move in ready today. I cut some plexiglass windows and made frames for them. They slide, so they can either be fully installed, partially or completely removed. I also made a sliding door for the chickens to enter and exit through. The initial idea for the sliding door was the make it easier to open and close it from outside of the run, but it is fairly stiff, so unless it loosens up after a while, I may just go with standard hinges. I added some handles to all of the doors and another latch to the egg door. Everything is painted but I still have some touch ups and clean up to do and want to run some extra screws into the 4 base pillars to make them a little more sturdy.

All in all I think it looks pretty good and it's very strong. I would like to add some decor and maybe even some solar lighting to the exterior, but that's minor stuff for later.

 

[aart]

Clever slider.
..but, honestly, a top hinged glazed window is best,
can stay open during rain in summer.

 

[JoeInPA]

Clever slider.
..but, honestly, a top hinged glazed window is best,
can stay open during rain in summer.

Hey now, it's a chicken coop, it's not like I'm the one who has to live in this thing! Also these cost maybe $5 each to build.

 

[slbenter]

I think we need chicken pics too. Nice job on the coop. Welcome to byc.

 

[JoeInPA]

I think we need chicken pics too. Nice job on the coop. Welcome to byc.

Thanks, here's my chickens, I have 5. Two Welsummers and three White
Rocks. One rooster, four pullets.

 

[aart]

Clever slider.
..but, honestly, a top hinged glazed window is best,
can stay open during rain in summer.

Hey now, it's a chicken coop, it's not like I'm the one who has to live in this thing! Also these cost maybe $5 each to build.

Oh, OK.
Most chickeneers are interested in keeping precipitation out of the coop...
...both to protect the birds as well as protect the coop structure.

 

[JoeInPA]

Oh, OK.
Most chickeneers are interested in keeping precipitation out of the coop...
...both to protect the birds as well as protect the coop structure.

Please don't misunderstand me, I appreciate the constructive criticism.
Certainly I don't want precipitation in the coop but for now the windows will just have to be closed when it rains. It won't be difficult to install some pre hung windows later on. For now I just have to keep costs down until I can recoup the upfront cost of construction. I'm sure I will find other flaws in my design that I will want to correct after a little while.

 

[JoeInPA]

Well tonight is move in night. I put wood chips down and put their feeder and waterer in the coop. I put a small LED flashlight inside so they can make their way around since it's all new to them. They seemed confused at first but they've been in there about an hour and they are just lying down now.