My Resin/plastic coop construction thread :)

[tigger19687]

I was going to do the DIY Bucket feeder but to save space I think I will be making more of the PVC feeders. I may stop doing the FF as they seem to not be wanting it much lately.

 

[aart]

It can take some time for them to get used to the new situation.
A west window would be good for roost time lighting.

 

[tigger19687]

Unfortunately I can only put it on the East-ish side (slightly south-ish).
The other walls are North My door, South and West Fence. The top of the South wall is a vent that I will be making into a window later if I can find some small enough.

If the rain holds off I will get a New Pic of the inside with the plastic fencing.
On the inside to the right of the pop door is where I will put the PVC tube feeders.

@aart how far apart do you think the tubes should be? I am thinking of making a bunch. I have one now that is outside with the Oyster shells in it and a dog bowl with Grit.

 

[aart]

Oh, that's right...forgot about the fence and building on two sides! DOH!

Have never used the PVC feeders, don't care for them,
but I would think since only one bird can eat at a time maybe about 8" apart if you have more than 2 close to each other?
...and maybe some on a different wall to avoid guarding?

 

[tigger19687]

That sounds good. I think I will make 4 tall ones for feed on that one wall and 2 small ones for another wall with Oyster shells and Grit in the other.

 

[tigger19687]

Ok just got the pics
Here is looking in, you can see my Water bucket on the shelf as the glue dries. It will replace the small waterer on the bottom right of the pic.

Here is where I will put the PVC feeders. I want them to have as much floor space for Winter as possible in case we have a bad one and they don't get out much

Here is the Poop board, they are obviously using the middle roost. And then an all clean pic with the Kitty scoop I use

This is Pecan, the only one squatting so far and she is checking out the Nest box. Crossing fingers I get one today

 

[Taylorbrood]

View attachment 1137996
Above and below are outer and inner pics of the Pop door with 1/2 cinder blocks for them to get in and out. It was a drizzly cloudy yuck day but I wanted to just get out, get the door cut out and then figure how to cover it later. They all came in once I moved the fence for them to get in. I put their food and threw dried mealworms in there while I sat in there. The Black feeder is now on a Cinder block and not hung up.
View attachment 1137997
Below is the poop board with PDZ in it. The hens were roosting on a flat board in the small coop so I thought that I would give them a 4x4 length of wood to get used to. In about a week I will make blocks under it so it is raised up more. It is about waist high so for today I put a milk crate with a Cinder block on top for them to jump up. They didn't even try but I just went out and took them out of the small coop and put in the new one. Darn things were not even sleeping. Got a wing in my face by 2 But all are tucked in to the new coop. View attachment 1137998
Below is looking into coop, pop door is on the left side of coop. Bamboo fencing is temp till I make a better door. When they were in there this afternoon scratching the shavings I sat with fence closed and me on the door side so they could see me and I was feeding them. I thought they would get used to me being there and not freak out when I open the outside door.
View attachment 1137999
This is Momma a production red I am sure and I think Speckles in the background on the stick, Columbian Wyandotte ? All hens are about 22 weeks old.View attachment 1138002
This is Pecan a thin production red who watches out for them all like a Roo but is NOT top hen. No one seems to be , yet. View attachment 1138004

I have to make a ramp to the roost if they don't understand jumping up on the cinder block. I will wait a few days. I also need to make my 5 gal water bucket with water cups and figure out where to put it in the coop.

i just did an 8x10 resin shed for my six girls, they were exposed to mareks and mg from another hen so everything is covered in tarps or vinyl so I can disinfect it, my favorite part though was I added a camp sink. clean up in the morning and feeding takes 6 minutes now. love it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

looking pretty good to me there @tigger19687

 

[aart]

Oh, looks so much better with the mesh there!

Lip big enough on the nest front to keep bedding and eggs in?

What is lining the walls and poop board...some kind of fabric?

 

[tigger19687]

@Taylorbrood I wish I had a sink ! I don't even have an outside spigot ! Wish I had more room to put up a bigger shed, those bigger ones were on sale too. If you can, put up more roof supports and wall supports. The longer they are they lose strength in the roof and long walls I hear.

@aart It is shower curtains that I got at the $1 store. I figure I can wash/rinse a few times and if I have to replace it, it's cheap

Tonight all hens went into coop on their own. I put on the dim inside light around 5:30 and left them alone. Right before 7pm they were all up on roost that I can see from inside the house. Went out to say night and shut off the light.

So glad as Jose is hitting us a little bit so I am happy they have the shelter and know where to go.
They seem to really like it in there, scratching all day for stuff then outside for a bit then back in.