My coop on the hill

[Sygat]

So, it was 3/12, and when I switched from paper towels to pine shavings in the brooder. 4 days later two chicks flew ot of it into the room. The door to the room was locked, so my 3 cats did not have a chance to introduce themselves, but steel I built top cover for the brooder. I also buit a little roosting bar and they seems to like it. We also started to take out the heater for the day, so more space is available

 

[Sygat]

On the coop from, it was the time to start puting a frame. I decoded to have it around 6 feet in the front, and about 4 feet at the back. This way I can walk in, and reach to the corner with some tools. While, as I said, my wife wanted the external walls to match the shed, I did use PT treade plywood for the wall facing the run.

 

[Sygat]

A few things happend with the chicks - our rooster got a blood spot on the back, and we decided to move him and one small chick to another improvised brooder. Also, the room started to smell and get dusty (the dust actually mostly from the feed), so we moved the chicks to the garage.

 

[Sygat]

At this point I took a few days off at work and did a push to try to complete at least the coop. Transparent polycarbonate roofing on the coop was probably not the best idea, but I will deal with it later. For the siding I cut shiplap grooves on my router table. This is the state of 4/02.

 

[Sygat]

For the coop flooring we decided on deep liter using industrial hemp. We bought from Carolina coops, and it got delivered surprisingly fast. So the very next day, 4/03, I put together some roosting bars, linoleum, put down the hemp, and the chicks moved to the coop. I have to say I was worried, and there a few nights in april with the temperature froping to low 30th, but they seem to be doing well so far.
Two top roositng bars are 2x4, and one lower is 2x4 I cut in haf. they actually prefer that one right now. I ended up adding one more even lower bar just like that.

 

[Sygat]

And then the next day the temp went to mid 80th (welcome to MD weather), and I quickly added an emergency ventlation window

 

[Sygat]

4/08 I finished the roof on the run, and started forking in the netting. I used 1/2x1/2 19ga PVC coated netting for the sides, and 2x3 16ga for the upron. Used Ryobi 18V narrow stapler to attach it. I decided to put the top part verticaly on the inside and the bottom as one piece on the outside. The whole netting thing turned out to be a much more exhausting then I imagined.

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

Sygat, how did it all turn out? Quite the terrain challenge you have. The chicks are growing fast and seem to love their spacious quarters! Would love to see current photos when you have a chance...

 

[Mystikal]

Amazing!

 

[Sygat]

Sygat, how did it all turn out? Quite the terrain challenge you have. The chicks are growing fast and seem to love their spacious quarters! Would love to see current photos when you have a chance...

Didn't have a chance to do much since than. Chickens are growing, just turned 3 month old.
On the side note, we had a bear visit our house, but it stayed on the front yard. This is the first time in 3 years I owned the house. It drunk sugar water from hummingbird feeder, and I am afraid it will get addicted to my place.