My first try at a coop? ? ? ?

[DanEP]

Hi Mitch I just saw your coop looking good. I grew up in lake county so I know what you winters are like.I wouldn't add heat to your coop if the girls are raised in the coop they will be just fine with the cold as long as they can get out of the wind. If they get used to heat in the winter and you loose power they won't have time to acclimate to extra cold and if their used to it being 30 degrees and all of sudden it's 10 below the may not do so well. I live in Ky now but my girls don't seem to mind 10 degrees and still want out. Now just a couple of other points.
Chicken wire is worthless for protection from coons, when chickens are scared they will bunch up in a corner and if up against chicken wire the coon will reach in and pull their heads threw the wire and just eat their heads. A 2 foot layer of hardware cloth along the bottom of your run will prevent this
The venting over your nest boxes is pretty much like mine but needs to be covered with wire. I found out the hard way that a hawk can and will crawl threw there.
Don't forget about cats they will take chickens anytime of the day.I live in the country and have all kind of critters fox,coyotes,coons opossums, skunks, hawks and owls but cats have killed more chickens for me than the rest of the combined.
You are doing a great job for your fist coop, way better than I did I"m just trying to save you from learning some of the lessons the hard way like I did.

Good luck and enjoy your girls

 

[Crazy Mitch]

off topic quick. I build Imports as well as doing some old school stuff. I did a ton of work while at school on a ratrod that was in rebel rods. Ive done leading and custom panel work to frames and even redid and helped clone a grt late model chassis. It was a tech school (wyotech) I have a degree in specialized technology for automotive and business management and diplomas in Motorsports chassis Fab, High performance powertrains, Street rods and custom fabrication... If its got wheels I'll build it lol.... 35-37 studebaker commander is one of my favorites...

LOVE IT! ! ! ! We will have to talk off site sometime!

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Hi Mitch I just saw your coop looking good. I grew up in lake county so I know what you winters are like.I wouldn't add heat to your coop if the girls are raised in the coop they will be just fine with the cold as long as they can get out of the wind. If they get used to heat in the winter and you loose power they won't have time to acclimate to extra cold and if their used to it being 30 degrees and all of sudden it's 10 below the may not do so well. I live in Ky now but my girls don't seem to mind 10 degrees and still want out. Now just a couple of other points.
Chicken wire is worthless for protection from coons, when chickens are scared they will bunch up in a corner and if up against chicken wire the coon will reach in and pull their heads threw the wire and just eat their heads. A 2 foot layer of hardware cloth along the bottom of your run will prevent this
The venting over your nest boxes is pretty much like mine but needs to be covered with wire. I found out the hard way that a hawk can and will crawl threw there.
Don't forget about cats they will take chickens anytime of the day.I live in the country and have all kind of critters fox,coyotes,coons opossums, skunks, hawks and owls but cats have killed more chickens for me than the rest of the combined.
You are doing a great job for your fist coop, way better than I did I"m just trying to save you from learning some of the lessons the hard way like I did.

Good luck and enjoy your girls

Thanks Dan. . . . I will take it in mind all your suggestions. . . and will get more wire up.

And I guess I will get rid of a rooster. . . .shoot. I'm rethinking the inside again> > > > YIKES!

Thanks for the kind words.

GB
Crazy Mitch!

 

[Crazy Mitch]

So todays progress I got the windows and vents wired. . . not pretty. . but I think it will hold. I used "U shaped staples which I hammered in and then screwed boards over the edges with the screws going through the wire. So these will have to be painted. And I hope they are strong enough to keep things out. Someone told me 1/4" wire was the best for this area.

Then I have to work on doors for the nest boxes. And drill some holes in the peak the ceiling for venting. . . .inside and through the exterior side walls? ? ?






There is still a slight gap at the top of this window I have to fill to close the gap.





We were suppose to be hit with this terrible storm. . . and the chickens would come into their transfer pen. . . (an old rabbit cage) and I put them in the garage at night so nothing gets them. So I tried to board up their run. . . but the storm went south A GOOD (God) thing.

Also after reading all the posts about raccoons I know I need to reskin the run with smaller wire and then a boarder of wire pavers (rocks) around the edge.

So. . . on my way to drop my son off at the church for a game night. . . .this was on the side of the road. . . after a garage sale. It didn't sell and they didn't want it. . . .so we threw it in the back of my ol' grandpa car. . .and took it home.



Sorry for the side way shot. . . to tired to turn it. . . but. . . still a cool find!




I was very grateful to find it. . and maybe we can keep the extra rooster in it? Or my son has a large bearded dragon that can spend the day outside? ? ? ? ? But it is clean and beautiful.

It was a productive day. . . .But I would still love it if someone would finish the inside and N-Box doors for me. . . hehehehe

GB
Crazy Mitch

 

[KnoxvilleChick]

How much ventilation will you have in the winter when your windows are closed? I'm in the south now, but used to be a Yankee. And the only chickens I've known to get frostbite or any other cold-related problems were in coops with inadequate ventilation. Condensation can really build up in a coop, especially in cold weather. Check out this great article about coop ventilation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

I saw you mention poop boards...I can't recommend them highly enough! Makes a huge difference. Plus, you can put feeders and founts under the poop boards so they stay cleaner, although I only put those in the coop if I think my girls will be stuck in there a little later in the morning than usual.

It looks like you're really trying to do things right! Good luck and enjoy!

 

[7L Farm]

Here's another chicken coop. It's around 360 sq ft. Most of my coops are three sided its real hot here so keeping the birds cool is the big issue.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

OK, what is that? Really? Tree branch, electric wire...I can't zoom close enough to figure it out? Where's your ventilation?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Crazy Mitch - te windows look good - I don't think a predator will get in those, and you have time to trim the interior later. What ype of door are you putting on? There is another good place to add ventilation....just something I am consider in for my coop, since mine faces south, I could easily cut out a panel low down that can swing up and lock down too...still figurin it out.

 

[7L Farm]

OK, what is that? Really? Tree branch, electric wire...I can't zoom close enough to figure it out? Where's your ventilation?

Thats a tree branch. The coop is three sided its totally open in the front. The coop faces the prevailing wind & the cold winds are blocked off. Its under the trees for the shade its mighty hot here so positioning the coop to help keep the birds cool is very important. If you notice there's two small vents on the back of the coop again the front of the coop is wide open you can't see that in the picture.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

How much ventilation will you have in the winter when your windows are closed? I'm in the south now, but used to be a Yankee. And the only chickens I've known to get frostbite or any other cold-related problems were in coops with inadequate ventilation. Condensation can really build up in a coop, especially in cold weather. Check out this great article about coop ventilation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

I saw you mention poop boards...I can't recommend them highly enough! Makes a huge difference. Plus, you can put feeders and founts under the poop boards so they stay cleaner, although I only put those in the coop if I think my girls will be stuck in there a little later in the morning than usual.

It looks like you're really trying to do things right! Good luck and enjoy!

THanks . . . I have some cutting to do! I think i have an idea. . . but thanks again!