My sad, simple coop...but I'm proud

[CityChook]

Kevin, I am usually a stickler for aethsetics, but I really think you've done okay here. First of all, you re-used materials which is always a winner in my book and you even framed in the run. Now that you have learned that adding poultry dinner to your backyard is a calling card for predators, you can adjust your coop requirements to suit your needs. There is a ton of helpful information on this site. You know that you can do a search by keyword, right? It's in the blue bar above.

I do hope that you are able to put the roof back onto your shed and find a way to incorporate it -- something tells me you'll do just fine. I hope that you will find that the BYC community is full of helpful ideas. Even Joe Bryant

who really is a good guy.

As far as the door goes, a couple hours with a decent can of paint will make you feel much better about your project. And a quick look at your original picture looks like the poultry wire is a little loose -- try to keep it tight and flat so not to give preds something to pull on.

All in all, I'd say super job! Shoot me another photo after you paint that door.

 

[clayhill]

Hey, unless your tenants complain, I think it's great!

 

[thecityman]

Everytime I post on here I'm more impressed with the time and thoughtfulness and sheer number of responses. Thank all of you for that.

A lot have comment about me framing my pen and that being a good thing. Honestly, I don't know how else it could have been done?? I mean, I needed the frame to nail/staple the wire to as much as for the structural support. I'm trying to imagine a coop that was NOT framed it?? Do some peoople just let the chicken wire hang down???

Citychook had some especially good comments. The first one is about how my wire looked loose....you picked out the one thing about my coop that has bugged me the most.....the one thing I know for CERTAIN that shows how amatuer I am at this kind of thing. I see other pens and the chicken wire on the sides is all flat and super tight. I tried as hard as I could and never was able to acheive that!!!

I pulled and pulled on it but one I'd get a "wrinkle" in it I never could get it out. I'd love to know to how to get that chicken wire tight and flat....I probably wouldn't redo this one, but as many on here have guessed, I'm already plotting my expansion, or "PHASE II" of my backyard poultry operation! I have an unbelievable 60 quail eggs in the 'bator right now, so obviously I'll be need to expand or build a new coop. Hey, did you all know this stuff is a little habbit forming and hard to set limits on??? haha I also liked that you conceeded that a good coat of paint would help things a lot, especially my door! I couldn't agree more. I may have already mentioned, but that door and frame laid in my neighbors yard for AT LEAST a year, probably closer to 2 years (gives you some idea of how well he keeps his property up doesn't it! but thats another story!!!). THis also brings to mind another question I have for you or anyone. WHen I do paint that fabulous, "recycled" door, should I paint all the wood on the whole structure or not? I guess I can see no reason not to, and I GUESS (???) it would extend the life of the wood.?. The only thing is that I'd have to paint chicken wire and all where the wire is attached to and overlays the frame...but i see no problem with that. Do most of you paint your pens? WHy or why not? Seems like most of the photos I see of pens similar to mine (ie, ones that are just frame and wire, not solid wood) the wood is NOT painted...that is why I'm asking if I should or not...maybe I'm missing something. Either way, Citychook and Holly, the door is getting a few coats! ha But Holly, um...don't hold your breath for purple, I MIGHT not go in that particular direction. ha

JoeBryant- I suspected you might have been kidding with me....glad to hear you aren't as brutal as it sounded!!! haha

Baymule- great sense of humor! Your right, at this age they haven't exactly lived in a lot of different houses to compare to. In fact, their last house (brooder) was the gateway computer box that you can see on the ground inside the pen....so as far as that goes maybe this new place DOES seem like the Taj Mahal!!!! haha. BTW, that box is just temperary shelter till I can attach the utility building.

If anyone is still reading this giant post, my last question is whether anyone has any experience with that type of utility building?? I'm not sure if you can tell much about it from the photo, but I hope/wish someone would recognize it. My problem is that dang roof. Now look, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, especially on building thing, but I dang-wall out to be able to reattach a roof to a prefabricuilding from which it was taken just a few days before. BUT I JUST CAN"T.....somehow, the roof is now too short to fit onto the top of the sides, which posses slots that should go into the roof. Your probably thinking, like me, that it isn't rocket science and that if it came off it has to go back on...but dangit it doesn't. Perhaps I reassembled the building incorrectly, but I don't think so. Also, the roof came apart and I had to reassemble it, but I'm quite sure I put it back together the way it was.
As a last resort, if i can't get it back on, I'm gona just make a rood out of a piece of plywood, which would cover it. Any thoughts or objections?
sorry this was so long...thanks for everything folks- you're the best!
kevin

 

[CityChook]

Myself, I wouldn't bother painting the framing on your run. The wire is attached and not worth taking off. And no, don't you dare paint over that wire. Ugh. Now, if that loose wire is really bugging you, or if you wanted to upgrade to hardware wire (which I recommend), then when your wire is off it might improve appearances greatly to throw on a nice coat of sealant. Or even paint-why not? I like to coat my exterior wood projects in basic linseed oil. It has to be done annually, but it can handle the brutal MN winters just fine. And I like that it's sort of old-fashioned. The framing on my run was coated before the wire went on. But at this stage, I'd say let it go. Long story short - stick to the door.

When we put up our wire, we did it as a team. Don't know if that helped, but it's tight. We also used screws and washers for a nice fit. One wall at a time. Do the middle first and work your way out to the top and bottom.

Wish I could be of help with your shed, but I don't have the first clue. I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well if it works, that's all that matters. I doubt the turkeys will complain, if they do it's as easy as a trip to the oven.

My husband is making me build my new coop (our 3rd) and I have zero, zip, nada experience building. But lucky for me, he does, so I'm following his "instructions" and he's got all the nifty tools. (they seemed like a waste of $$ at the time, but now I'm finding they are really handy to have!) But it is going REALLY, REALLY slow. Hopefully another month to month and a half and it will be done.

 

[Kansaseq]

Good job!

 

[NT]

Looks great

! I love that you used recycled materials and just went for it "Necessity is the mother of invention." I've been making my coop out of my neighbor's old fence.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I'm always very impressed with those that don't have much carpentry experience but yet still have the initiative to tackle a project that might seem insurmountable. Your structure works and that is good. The next thing you make will be even better because you now have some experience. The only other bit of advice I would give is to maybe think of some other type of wire to use. Chicken or poultry wire will only slow down the real dangers. A heavier gauge wire is also easier to pull tight, so don't feel bad that your wire isn't taught, you did well with that type of wire and the amount of connecting points you have. Think about something closer to 14 gauge. On another note, it is heartening to see how BYCers have come to your aid and given you such thoughtful and sage advise; at least you shouldn't feel alone in your project!

 

[chickenriot]

Great job on your coop !

 

[thegoldengirls]

I think it looks great!
I also love the fact that you recycled a lot of your materials.

If you are really concerned about the wire, then try putting another upright piece in the middle of the longer sides. It will give you a place to secure the wire so something can't push against it and stretch it, and it will also provide more support if you do put a roof on top. Plywood can be heavy, so you may want to consided more support at the corners so it doesn't fold over. However, if your figure out the roof for your building, then I would just put a tarp over the top of the run. You just have to be careful with rain or snow pooling on it. I have a tarp over half my run, which was supposed to be temporary. It will sag pretty good if it rains, but it has never come down. I just go out and knock the water or snow off when necessary.