My first try at a coop? ? ? ?

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I don't think the coop is ever really 'done', there are so many things you can do if you want...I like to view some of the more creative solutions and try to adapt them to my situation.....and you earn more points if you find it free or at a minimum cheep price at a yard sale after all...the chicken coop game is fun!naturally there are some things you have to buy new but alot of people are very clever at building things, or repurpose them. You will find yourself looking at items and wondering....now how can I use that in the coop? Like the parts that held my washer during transport could make a great roost bar holder....the perfect size tree limb, it goes on and on.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

We have two windows that open on the south side of the coop, plus we are putting in a venting fan at the top as our coop is a prairie design and is tall in the middle. On the east end will be venting like the ones shown in a reply here that you get from the hardware store. The wind here blows from the west, so the door to the coop can be opened to send a breeze into the coop and the air exit out the east vent. There is a small storage area in the front of the coop, then a wall and door made of framing and covered in chicken wire, so leaving the outside door ajar when possible will allow airflow through. It gets very hot here in the summer. the run attached to the coop is large and for the most part blocked from the heavy afternoon winds by a garden storage bldg. sh

I had a friend that used window shutters and fixed the louvers at a half-open angle and put screening on the inside. Then in the cold weather, he velcroed vinyl up to block the air with a layer of batting in between. Our coop has insulation, so a small light bulb keeps it warm when we shut the doors and windows. I always have the venting open.


No the coops are never done especially with an retired engineer for a husband! i will post pics later this week if the thunder storms stop. I hate going to in the lightning.

I have had chicken in the past, I love to sit and watch them. I am new to this site and joined when we re-entered clucking life!

Sounds like a great set-up! Where are you located?
Mitch

 

[bellanonna]

We are in Prineville, Oregon

 

[Crazy Mitch]

We are in Prineville, Oregon

Cool

 

[Crazy Mitch]

So I've been busy with things and hope to cut the vents in on Saturday. . . and I'm going to extend the roof over them to try to help keep the rain out. We will see how it works. . .but what ever comes out that will be it for this season. I have to build the doors. .. . .and then rework the run with a roof.

Then the inside. . . I liked the suggestion of the three boxes instead of more. . . so I'm working that.. . in my mind!

Thanks again for all the wisdom !! ! ! ! ! and input! It is such a help!

GB
Crazy Mitch!

 

[Crazy Mitch]

So here is my vents (WIP) . . . I cut one for the outside on the north side at the top. . .and I cut a 3" opening in the ceiling. . .at the peak. To let the eve vents breath. Then I'm cutting a 6" by 36" opening on the west side. I think that will be good for now. . . Right? ? ? ?

So I will put an eve on this side to help keep rain out.
And just got one eve put on the other side. . . here are the pictures so far.







So I hope to get the rest done this week. We will see what happens

Crazy Mitch!

 

[Crazy Mitch]

So . . .back again. . . and I had some progress. . .I added vents. . . and I'm sure they are not enough. . but ths is what I'm starting with. (See all pic's)
And I added eves to try to cover vents from the elements. We will see if this works.

I built doors for the nest boxes. And I'm happy with those. . and now hardware to secure them from predators. And the MAin door needs to be built.











SO these are the vents at the peak of the coop. . .and you can see on the inside there is a three inch opening to let the air flow from the eve vents over the nesting box doors.





So being new to this. . .and getting my chicks off CL. . . as newly hatched. . . I have no idea what kind of chickens I have? ? ? ? Can someone HELP ME OUT! ! ! ! Here are some pictures. . .I have a total of 11 chickens. . . I know two are roosters. And I think a third.

PICTURE #1 The white chickens . . One a Rooster.



Picture #2. . .a fuzzy one? Black/gray? and a black rooster in the background.




Picture #3 I have several of these they are BIG and this one has a ring of lighter feathers around it's neck . . but not the other ones. ????




PICTURE #4 This I think, might be a rooster? It is also big. . .but is getting some cool colors on the sides. ???????



PICTURE #5 . . . the other black rooster ? ? ? ? feathers on the feet. ?????? A small chicken.




PICTURE #6 This is a beautiful grey bird. . . I have two of these. ? ? ? ? ? ?




PICTURE #7. . . a small bird with feathers on his feet. . . gray body and blackish head? ? ? ?




Picture #8 This is another shot of what I think is another rooster? ? ? (same bird in picture #4)




Picture #9 here are all of them.




So any help with identifying these chickens would be great . . . . As Schults would say, "I know Nothing! NOTHING!"

Thanks
GB
Crazy Mitch

 

[PoultryGirly]

I think the grey one might be am Americauna. I'm not postive... Coop looks good!

 

[blacktop240]

Looks like it came together nicely! Good job!

 

[KnoxvilleChick]

Try posting your pics on the forum about IDing breeds and genders, you may get more responses there. Good luck!