My new coup... with ??

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I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but you may want to rethink your roosts to involve a 2x3" or 2x4" instead of the round dowels. The reason is frostbite. On the flat boards the chickens feet sit flat on the board and their body covers their feet overnight, ergo, no frostbitten toes. On a round dowel their feet curl under, leaving their toes exposed allowing for the possibility of frostbitten toes.

The other issues involve the 1"x2" welded wire. The reason 1/2"x1/2 hardware cloth is preferred is so the chicken can not get it's head out of the wire. Believe it or not chickens are dumb (shhh). If a raccoon (dog,cat, mean kid) is on the outside the chicken might poke it's head through to see what's up. Raccoons have been known to yank a chicken through the wire and bite it's head off.

The other problem with the wire installation is that it appears to be cut off at ground level rather thank buried or run out flat from the coop for a foot or so to prevent digging under and into the run.

Otherwise it is a lovely lovely coop. It looks handsome and sturdy. Happy Chickening!

Jenny
 
Thanks Jenny!

YES we have herd about the 2x4 suggestion and we did this today!!

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I also read about the wire on the sides to avoid digging. We decided to forgo that... We sunk 4x6 timbers in the ground and sat the coup on top of that. (It was easier to get it level) We are not very rural and vermin is not readily seen. We have a good population of rabbits (wild). Our dogs are out at all hours of the night in the past 12 years only one time, one was hit by a skunk...
Our neighbor directly behind us, is absolutely in love with the idea of our chickens! (Good thing) They are in love with birds in general. The must have twenty bird feeders as well as bags on bags of seed in the garage... drawing RATS! I have been fighting rats for three years now... Trap lines are set and catch a couple of the buggers a month. That is hopefully the worst I will have to deal with. I know the feed for the chickens will be a bigger draw for them... IF it happens, we will fix the gate after the cows get out...
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I also did not post a pic of the tin I added to the nesting box as suggested..

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Pop also added a access door to the end of the run.

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In reading last night I read of the sand idea... So we tried some at one end of the run. The girls seem to like it at first, (Something new) But for the remainder of the day liked scratching and eating the grass under the coup...

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About the size of the wire... I did not think of that. Yea I know they are pea brains... some of my best friends are... LOL
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I'll watch, so far they are content with whats inside the run. That wire ain't cheep!! That was $50 to do what you see there!!

ALSO looking for ideas for a better water-er for inside the coup... Got a big 2gal unit for the run. But would like to have something in the coup as well... got a little chick feeder in there now, (You can see it in the 2x4 roosts pic) but they have dumped it a couple times already...

THANKS for the tips and keep them coming!!!
CW
 
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That's a nice lot of work you did --- except the 2x4" roosts should be situated with the 4" side up -- so the hens feet are flat. With this configuration they are still rounded down and not covered by their fluffy feathered bodies.

Jenny
 
What are the pvc pipes for if not for food? are they for calcium and grit? Maybe you should use them for food and then the little feeder screwed to the floor for grit and/or calcium. You could do a pvc waterer in the coop with nipples.

Great looking coop! Mine have been figure it out as you go kinda thing and don't turn out great, but they are good enough for chickens
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You did an awesome job!! I love the retractable ramp. WOW!

Unless you anticipate keeping them in the coop for extended periods of time, I don't think you need to worry about water in the coop. However, if you do, try a one gallon vinegar bottle with a chicken nipple or two in the bottom of it. We have a hook in the ceiling of our coop with dog chain holding the feeders with a carabiner. It's easy to unsnap them to clean or fill them. You could snap the carabiner to the chain for the waterer.

Good luck with the rat problem.
 
I think your wire is perfect! I love your coop, you really thought it out and took everyone's suggestions to heart. I think the coop and your additions will make your life a lot easier and happier birds. VERY cute chickens too! Yay on your first egg!!
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