My New Barn

[chickchicks]

wow still jelous i do wish i hadthatamount of space . instead the new 6*4 shed had to do , i think betty my BO has seen your pictures shegave the shed a stern lookingover yesterday afternoon asif tosay so this is it !

 

[The Sheriff]

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We are having a strainer basket and lid made for the floor drain, the interior pens will have shavings on the floor, the people area will be kept as clean as humanly possible in a house full of chickens

We are puzzling out some hover roost and other interior designs to make it both functional and easy to maintain.

Michelle,

Just a couple of suggestions since I have a set-up similar but smaller than yours.

1.) If you can, make real walls around the area where you will keep your incubator, even if it's just OSB. My Brooder /Incubator room is sectioned off with hardware cloth and a screen door. The dust is unbelievable! My Brinsea incubators are always covered in dust. It will probably effect the performance and longevity at some point. I may make some kind of shield to go over them. I put them in storage when not in use, BUT... seems like they are always in use.

2.) I also have a suggestion with your roosts. I found brackets at Home Depot that screw directly into the wall and hold a 2x4, flat side down. You screw the bracket into the wall, cut your 2x4 the exact length between walls and just drop it in. Anytime you want to clean or retrieve a lost chick, you just lift them out of the brackets. Mine roosts span a 10 foot width. I have never had one fall out, get knocked down or warp. I love these! (please ignore poo, these have been in use 9 months)

 

[AK Michelle]

Excellent Mary, thanks!

I am thinking of walls on the "people" area as we are having running water out there and we've addressed how to keep it from freezing in the ground but are still wondering how to keep the pipes warm enough in an unheated barn

I'm begining to think real walls is the only way. And now that you mention the dust... Another good point. And very timesly, we are starting to buy the lumber for the interior pen walls tomorrow.

 

[AK Michelle]

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Aw Chicks, just tell Betty to be happy she doesn't have to share her coop with 30 or so other chickens and 9 turkeys

 

[ll]

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I read about wrapping heat tape around pipes - I know nothing about this though, and I only read about it once - please let me know what you find out about it if you research it for your situation.

 

[the-bird-man]

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if the water is running it will not freeze. so if you leave the tap on a little you should be okay

i love your barn and i wish i could build one but we do not have the money/space

 

[chickchicks]

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Aw Chicks, just tell Betty to be happy she doesn't have to share her coop with 30 or so other chickens and 9 turkeys

thats very true !
she has the shed all to her self at the moment as she cant play nice with wilima and her three new babies

thay are soooo cute

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mary and Michelle...... I used similar brackets, but thinner that hold a 2X4 on edge. I slipped the 2X4 in the bracket and then nailed another 2X4 to it like a T. That way there are no sharp edges for injuries. I think it makes it stronger also. Lemme find the picture.


First step - 2x4's in place in the brackets:

Then the completed T:

Super easy to remove for cleaning.

 

[angry gary]

i do not have a need for pipes freezing here, but they used to sell heat tape. it is silver in color and had an electrical wire that would heat up.you attach it to the pipes and plug it in. it will stay just above freezing.

AG

 

[wren]

Happy Chooks three roost pic is great. Putting the boards flat side up is really important. They can sit on their feet to keep them from freezing. Also, if you decide to go with roosts like those, consider eliminating the lowest board entirely (even though it's removeable) and replace it with a solid step stool. I used a two foot tall three foot in diameter tree trunk for as a step stool to the roost. Similar the happy chooks just replace the lowest roost with a step stool. That way it is easier for the birds to jump up, and you can reach any that are roosting without having to remove a board. Stuff happens, and you might want to grab a bird or two easily. It is easier on your back for reaching birds and scooping.

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but if you scoop with a shovel it's nice to have a flat floor where the doors swing open. I mean no supporting member that frames the bottom of the door. I hope this makes sense. We had a concrete floor and we used anchor bolts to support the walls, doors ect.

If you have a bobcat you might want to make the main door large enough to get in there and clean easily.

Just my experience, I had two large barns, one 30' by 60' and the other was 60' by 120' shared with horses.