My Dilemma!

[Brudd]

About a week ago I mentioned to a friend (who keeps chickens) that I was going to build a coop & start a small flock of layers. Well, I come home today & find in my back yard, a 6x10 dog run with a rabbit hutch looking coop & a Dog-Loo inside along with 8 "Golden Star" chickens. And, 6 Rhode Island Red chicks inside the house. Basically, a basic setup already set up.

I will be going out to Home Depot shortly to get some cinder blocks to build the floor, it will be 4' x 8' on a 4"x4" pt base. I have experience with construction and I know I have to do this before the possums & racoons show up. I have extra supplies (windows,a door, wood & roofing) so building this is really not a problem, but, I was going to take my time, but now I have to do it on the fly.
So, aside from the Bass Ackwards story I thought everyone would enjoy, some quick advice about construction would be appreciated.
I'll add photo's when I find my camera.

Thanks,
Brudd

 

[Imp]

from Washington

Congrats on the chicks & looking forward to pictures

Imp

 

[kickinchicken]

I'm new too, but I am almost finished with my coop and I am already planning a new one for next year. Hubby thinks I am insane!

I would, firstly, get some hardware cloth and put that under the bottom and lower 3 vertical feet around the kennel. Also, cover the top with the hardware cloth too. Raccoons are climbers, even the fat ones.

This should at least protect the flock until you really have a chance to get your coop altered to YOUR liking. If you are like me, you will change your mind 50 times.

Good Luck!

 

[tigerkitten45]

You have a sweet friend to surprise you like that, and even with chickens included!

 

[teach1rusl]

Okay...I'm gonna' be a wet blanket here, because I do NOT like surprises like that. I'm sure your friend had good intentions, but...
A 6 x 10 run is big enough for 6 adult chickens, certainly not the 8 adults (??) and 6 chicks (soon to be adults) you were given. You would need a run of more than double that...140 sq. feet as a minimum. If you're keeping all 14 of the birds, your coop would need to be at least 56 sq. feet, unless you're in an area that has year round warm weather for the most part. So you see why I'm not patting your friend on the back...lol. The coop you're proposing building would be ideal for 8 chickens, but not 14. Is it possible to keep the chicks but give the adults back??? If so, that's what I'd do.

 

[Brudd]

Platform built, Boy, that was a pain in the buttocks.
Walls will go up tomorrow.
Dont worry about flock size, I plan on keeping no more than 10 & I don't know how many of the chicks are roosters, which will be going to the local agriculture high school.Also, my run size will be about 25x16 for added space.
Camera batteries are charging

 

[luckyramu]

It sounds like you have this under control. I don't think I'd rush the construction, but take my time. Since you mentioned that it was on a platform, I decided to post pics of mine. I got the design from this website under small coops by Monk. I modified it slightly to fit my needs. There are some pictures of framing- but i'm ashamed to say its far from perfect.

However, I'm sure you have searched though the coop designs, and have a pretty good idea of what you want and what will work for you. Chicken math rule number 253- what ever you think your coops is going to cost you, just go ahead and tripple that number

.

Enjoy