Need coop plans

[Cryss]

1/2 inch hardware cloth is your friend. For everything.

 

[7acres]

2x4"? Yes.
Put some smaller wire inside, 1/2" hardware cloth would be perfect.

1x2 and chain link

 

[pennyJo1960]

you will want the hardware cloth outside zip tied to the chain link many preditors can reach through chain link

 

[aart]

1x2 and chain link

1x2 should keep the chicks in....chain link won't.

 

[7acres]

Got home with them. They were hatched August 29. Had to rig feed and water to fit. Other stuff was to big. How long do you recommend in this cage? They told us to put heat lamp on if below 80. I’m my barn. About 83 now.

 

[aart]

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.


The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:

If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.

If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.

If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!


The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.



Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

 

[janiedoe]

I have looked at a lot of places but have not found what l was looking for. Anyone know where l could find free detailed plans for an 8 x 8 coop. Must be flat roof. I am not able to set up a gabled roof. I would like a floor in it so wife could go inside. Needs something with a senior friendly build.

What part of Texas are you from?( I am from east Tx. - hello neighbor!) You may want to post on check the Texas thread for suggestions on open air style coops. I'm thinking of doing a loading shed run combo next time we build.

 

[7acres]

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.


The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:

If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.

If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.

If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!


The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.



Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

Thanks aart. Appreciate your input.

 

[7acres]

What part of Texas are you from?( I am from east Tx. - hello neighbor!) You may want to post on check the Texas thread for suggestions on open air style coops. I'm thinking of doing a loading shed run combo next time we build.

 

[7acres]

East Tx as well. After I get all set up these will be my wife’s hobby. I have decided on these plans with some alterations. No cupola. Top venting. 12 x 12 pop door. No windows to clean. Hardware cloth screens on two sides that can be latched during cold or inclement weather. Still consider run types suggested. What I have determined is that my Aussie, that I shut up at night, will have a cattle panel fence surrounding the coop run to deter any varmits. I shut her up because I have had coyotes try to get my dogs in the past and a neighbor said the wild hogs killed his dog.