My first coop build

[Australton]

As I am lazy and dislike working with wood I have gone for a trip to the local tip. Sorry that I have no progress pics. but I will take some more tomorrow morning.

So this is what i got so far, today i have put around the fence and gate in.

What do you all think about having a metal floor? i have cut a slot in the corner and tilted the coop slightly for ease of hosing out.
I am not sure if i need to cover the base with some hay/straw? It gets to about 0 deg C here at night. but with ease of cleaning i am trying to figure out wether to cover the base hay or leave it metal as i have a roost and soon to have some nesting boxes (they will have hay i think....)

took me about 1 hour to knock up so far. i will get some pics tomorrow of the progress.

 

[donrae]

I would put a nice thick layer of shavings on the bottom. Shavings vs straw seems to just be a personal question, so go with whatever is local and cheaper and works best for you. For me, that's shavings. The bedding will insulate their feet from the floor. Also, if you have a good layer of bedding, you don't really need to hose the coop out, or far less often. The bedding absorbs the waste and the floor itself stays a lot cleaner.

I'd also put in windows and ventilation. That looks like it's going to be a dark, stuffy box and needs to be opened up some. You'll have to do a predator risk assessment and decide if you need windows/vents covered with something like hardware cloth.

 

[Australton]

Thanks for the reply Donrae, I plan to mount some over hang nesting boxes on the left side of the coop (other side of coop from door)

I have a fair gap with the corrugated iron on the roof letting some air in and out but you are right i was going to cut some vents / windows. just trying to figure out what will be most effective and less like Ned Kelly built it

i had not thought of shavings probably a better option than hay in this application. i will check the local prices.

 

[Australton]

I have put some framing around the door to make it look more house like and plan to put a window in as well with the same once i decide on the side of the window and how to screen it.

 

[Australton]

The girls put them selfs to bed tonight first time since coming to there new home.

I have been doing some renos on there coop. With some repurposed nesting boxes off to the side. Will post pics tomorrow.