My first coop and first chicks!

[JustYokingAround]

I have never built a coop before. But I studied a few plans and picked what I liked. I am still working on my run. Just need to add a door to it and some sand. The coop will get a roost this week and I will open up the nesting boxes when they get older. It is fully insulated, only because I had the insulation sitting around and we have 100 degree temperature differences between winter and summer here in northern Illinois. It's been a lot of fun working on it and taking care of my first ever flock. Any suggestions on improvement would be greatly appreciated! Can you guess what type of chicks they are? 8 are the same and 1 was my impulse buy at the feed store.

 

[moniquem]

Thats awesome. I see one australorp in there?

 

[staceyj]

Wow!
Fantastic job!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Good job!!

I also see just one Australorp.

The others are Easter Eggers?

 

[Dayrel]

Nice looking setup. Some issues you'll want to address.

#1- Chicken wire is good for keeping in chickens, but it isn't great at keeping out predators. Much too weak. I recommend 1/2" hardware cloth and possibly bury it about 1' into the ground to hold off digging predators.
#2- You'll want some kind of shade in the run. Possibly a tarp covering the top 1/3rd of the run.
#3- You'll want roosts both inside the coop and in the run.

 

[Theladiesandagentleman]

Very cute! You are off to a great start with your design.

Other than your window facing the run, do you have additional ventilation in the coop up high?

You are still working on the run but make sure you close the gaps between the coop and the run. Animals can still get to your chicks through chicken wire so you might want to add hardware cloth.

 

[JustYokingAround]

Good job!!

I also see just one Australorp.

The others are Easter Eggers?

Nailed it! You are good!

 

[JustYokingAround]

Thats awesome. I see one australorp in there?

1 australorp and the rest are raster eggers!

 

[JustYokingAround]

Wow!
Fantastic job!!

Thank you!

 

[JustYokingAround]

Nice looking setup. Some issues you'll want to address.

#1- Chicken wire is good for keeping in chickens, but it isn't great at keeping out predators. Much too weak. I recommend 1/2" hardware cloth and possibly bury it about 1' into the ground to hold off digging predators.
#2- You'll want some kind of shade in the run. Possibly a tarp covering the top 1/3rd of the run.
#3- You'll want roosts both inside the coop and in the run.

I have the chicken wire laying on the ground under the mulch and fastened to the run. It extends 3ft out all the way around. The hardware cloth is a great idea! I will get some this week and incorporate it in. It's hard to see but there is shade 80% of the day on the run. I cut out that area in the trees just for that reason. Only in the morning until 10 am is there full sun. Should I make my outdoor roost out of 2 inch thick branches? Or treated lumber? Curious if the treated lumber would absorb into there feet. Thank you!