My coop design and build blog

[Rancid Crbtree]

Hahaha, I tried that on my hubby and he was 100% against food names. I can't help it, I think it's funny.

Let the grandkids pick the names, they'll enjoy it!

get a 3 year old grandson that has to use every crayon in the box.

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

We started early and worked till it was closed in before the storm hits. There is still a lot to do but at least its shielded from the snow and winds we are expecting. The low temps will freeze up the ground again so we can stay on top rather than sinking 4 inches down.

The mud makes every step a real hassle. You cant just walk if you have been in one position for a few minutes. You have to stop an free your feet first.

I can easily solve the mud problem after all the frost is out of the ground in spring. Lots of fill and crushed rock.

 

[Predoggg]

Nice work.

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

Nearly 50 years ago we built a chicken coop on the farm. Before that, we used the old barn for chickens. I helped build it and begged my dad to let me paint it.

I dont know if we ran out of paint or I ran out of ambition but there is not much of that old coop left. The large chicken run was removed decades ago. We would raise 100 birds (meat and layers) each year.

We visited my parents today and I took some pictures of that old coop.

 

[Penpal]

FIFTY! years ago? You must be really old. I'm really old and I remember the neighbor kids had one of those cars.

If mud is a problem you could put in French drains or something similar. Sow with a mix of things that chickens will eat and that chickens won't eat. They don't seem to like bluestem.

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

FIFTY! years ago? You must be really old. I'm really old and I remember the neighbor kids had one of those cars.

If mud is a problem you could put in French drains or something similar. Sow with a mix of things that chickens will eat and that chickens won't eat. They don't seem to like bluestem.

I dont feel old but here I am.

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

I stood in the mud and did some exterior work on the coop today. Handles, latches, dead bolts, hinges, etc, Then some caulking and more paint. The exterior is now weatherproofed.

I know there is a metal piece I could have bought to rain-proof the metal roofing where it meets the wall but thats a 40 mile round trip into town so I did it with cedar and calk.

Now I can start working on the interior.

 

[Krugerrand]

it's looing great!

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

Today my helper and I spent some time insulating the coop with foil faced rigid foam board. Next we will cover the interior of the coop with paneling.

When temps drop to -20F with a -30F windchill, the birds will be a bit more comfortable.

 

[Rancid Crbtree]

We finished the interior of the coop today.