My first attempt at a coop and run...

[Chuckie chicken]

I forgot about this post after I converted it to an article.

After having the coop/run in use for a month, I'm quite happy overall and I'm pretty sure the chickens are too. I've made a few changes since the ladies arrived.

A neighbor pointed out that the birds will get heavier and possibly have trouble getting up to the roost. Also, I think some of them were brushing the far wall of the coop before they landed, so I installed a ramp, which they immediately took to.

I did not account for heavy foot traffic on the poop boards when I built them! The hens use them to get in position for the night, which in hindsight makes perfect sense. They were "okay" the way they were, but I reinforced them with a 2"x2" running lengthwise under the outer edge and ultimately tied that into the steel beam. I didn't take a picture of the modification, it's just a stick of wood. Stomp away girls.

Although minor, the cord I used for releasing the latch on the run door drove me batty. It wouldn't return through the hole in the door frame (the old "push a rope" saying comes to mind) and usually left the latch up. In hindsight, it was a bit if a blessing and a curse because I could just push the door open to get out most of the time, and I have rare earth magnets that will hold it shut without help from the latch. My fear was I would forget to latch it securely when I need to. I ended up making a spring loaded rod that works very well. Now I have to release it every time! Be careful what you wish for.

A very small, but helpful addition was a tether for the carabiner on the coop door. I've absentmindedly set that thing aside a few times and had to hunt for it. I did settle on locking it back in the bolt once it was open, but I like this idea better. Thanks to @aart for that one!

I also saw a post about grazing screens, (pure genius), so I quickly threw one together before all of the grass was destroyed. I also added some oregano, which we have in abundance. Going forward I'll probably add some other herbs as well.

I'm quite sure I'll have to cover at least one the openings in the doors for winter to keep drafts off the girls, and I have had the importance of proper ventilation pounded into me on BYC , so my current project deals with the addition of a monitor style roof. It's not visible in the picture, because of the overhang, but there is an open strip 4" high running the length on each side. I'm going to remove the entire top section of the roof to install the addition in the shop, for ease of access. I scrounged everything except the raw linseed oil for this project, so I'm happy about that. It got pretty heavy after the shingles went on, I'm hoping it doesn't cause the roof to sag! I will be tying it into the steel beams as well (somehow!) so fingers crossed!

Test fit...

And, finally, I added a crude cover to my crude bench so that I'd have somewhere to sit without poop all over it. It looks ghastly, but works well if I remember to close it!

 

[Chuckie chicken]

Great job.

In a warmer climate I'd worry about the greenhouse effect of a clear roof, but since you're in a cool climate it should be great. If you do find it too warm in summer you could use shadecloth.

You will probably never need to cover those vents unless you get rain or snow blowing in. Chickens need ventilation as much in the winter as they do in the summer.

Here's BYC's best article on cold-weather chicken-keeping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Because of the height of the window I'm afraid they'll get a cold draft while roosting in the winter. The location is well sheltered from every direction except for the south east. Much of our dirty weather is blown in from the east, so I'm going to keep an eye on it, but as I've learned, you can never have too much proper ventilation!

PS: I had read the article that you linked to, it is great!

 

[MissE]

Because of the height of the window I'm afraid they'll get a cold draft while roosting in the winter. The location is well sheltered from every direction except for the south east. Much of our dirty weather is blown in from the east, so I'm going to keep an eye on it, but as I've learned, you can never have too much proper ventilation!

PS: I had read the article that you linked to, it is great!

You could always lower the roosts so the ventilation is over their heads. Then you will have good air flow without ruffling their feathers.

Beautiful job by the way!.

 

[Chuckie chicken]

You could always lower the roosts so the ventilation is over their heads. Then you will have good air flow without ruffling their feathers.

Beautiful job by the way!.

Thanks, I think that would work, but I'd have to lower the poop boards, the nesting boxes, and the ramp. I'd rather hack a hole in the roof!

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm quite sure I'll have to cover at least one the openings in the doors for winter to keep drafts off the girls, and I have had the importance of proper ventilation pounded into me on BYC , so my current project deals with the addition of a monitor style roof. It's not visible in the picture, because of the overhang, but there is an open strip 4" high running the length on each side. I'm going to remove the entire top section of the roof to install the addition in the shop, for ease of access. I scrounged everything except the raw linseed oil for this project, so I'm happy about that. It got pretty heavy after the shingles went on, I'm hoping it does cause the roof to sag! I will be tying it into the steel beams as well (somehow!) so fingers crossed!

Test fit...

Of course you *know* that I'd love seeing a Monitor Roof!

 

[Sally PB]

This looks great! And, I really like your bench. That is very clever.

 

[SubArcticFowl]

Looks great! Is there any pitch to that roof? Are you worried about snow load at all? I'm going to be building a run to attached to shed soon and am doing something similar, but I think I want to put a good pitch on the roof.

 

[Chuckie chicken]

Looks great! Is there any pitch to that roof? Are you worried about snow load at all? I'm going to be building a run to attached to shed soon and am doing something similar, but I think I want to put a good pitch on the roof.

Very little pitch. When I framed it I used a 2x4 at one end and a 2x10 at the other creating a 6" difference in height over 8 feet. One of my concerns was sealing the compound angle of the two roof pitches to keep the run dry. The area I put the coop is quite sheltered from drifts, but it will be interesting to see if the coop itself changes the drifting pattern much. I'll clean the roof off if I need to, but I do know it holds my weight easily without really flexing at all, so I'm not super worried. If strapped adequately, that corrugated plastic roofing is surprisingly solid.

 

[Chuckie chicken]

I keep forgetting to give my daughter in law credit for our coop signage!

I was scrounging around, looking for some plywood for something else, when I came across a large piece that she had used to practice on while painting signs for their wedding reception. I cut this piece out of the middle of her practice board, framed it and hung it in the coop. She was delighted.

 

[Chuckie chicken]

Today was monitor roof installation day!
@3KillerBs monitor roof alert!

There's nothing like cutting a big hole in a perfectly good roof!

I used to own a company that custom modified vehicles for the disabled. We always laughed about taking brand new vehicles right from the manufacturer and cutting them to pieces.

I trimmed the inside before the monitor roof went on so it looked pretty from inside. The lip will also hopefully stop any water that might blow in from reaching the inside of the coop. I only sealed the gable ends of the monitor roof so any water that does manage it's way in can easily get out. With all that said, the overhang should keep water out from all but the nastiest storms.

That's ventilation!

The new view from inside.

And the new view from outside.

I think I'm done again. For now...