Need help figuring out old shed conversion to coop **CHICKS added**

[hosspak]

Here's the added painting touches we did today from 'oops' paint colors we got from the hardware store. The chicks should be able to move in tomorrow, when I'll take more pictures of them in their new home.

I still have to put hardware cloth over the windows, and fix the door thingy over the loft hole. And figure out a roost. I have an idea for above the counter, just concerned about drafts from the two windows.

The door. The bottom panel is sun, grass & eggs. Above that is a chicken-bot, I think.



Far right is a chicken. I have no idea what the others are.





My kids think the chickens are going to particularly like the welcome sign. lol

Although I think I have seen some of these images in the Blair Witch movie..... I love that you were brave enough to let the kids have at it.... love it!

 

[ydkjenn]

We have three Black Australorps & three Easter Eggers. Approx 8 weeks old.

This is the second time they're outside, ever. Trying to corral them toward the shed



Getting braver and exploring the yard.



Charlie (BA-left), Freckles (BA-center) & Moonlight (EE) by the welcome sign.


Moonlight in front of the welcome sign.



All lined up in a row. Charlie, Freckles, Thelma (BA's), Penelope, Moonlight, & Henrietta


Inquisitive chick expressions.



Getting braver and exploring under the shelves.


Freckles being really brave and trying out the roost.


They discovered their water. I know, not the most ideal setup. I'm thinking of hanging feeder from ceiling. I put the waterer on two patio bricks, so about 3" off the ground. Hopefully it will stay semi clean for now.




I sat on the floor for awhile as I watched them. It's crazy windy outside and I didn't feel much draft. Higher up, there's draft coming from one window, but at least I know they'll be ok near floor level. I'll see later tonight, when the temps are supposed to dip into the upper 30's.

 

[jetdog]

Go out after dark and see if they are on the roost and if not pick them up and place them on it, might take a few nights of doing it but they will catch on very quickly, you did a nice job on the coop, looking back in the post it seemed like you were overwhelmed but it came together quite well, hope you and the kids enjoy the fruit of your labor aka eggs.

 

[hosspak]

We have three Black Australorps & three Easter Eggers. Approx 8 weeks old.

This is the second time they're outside, ever. Trying to corral them toward the shed

Are you building a run for them outside? Are you planning to let them free range? I kept mine in the coop for a week before I let them out, now when I say "back inside" they all go in to the coop...

 

[ydkjenn]

Are you building a run for them outside? Are you planning to let them free range? I kept mine in the coop for a week before I let them out, now when I say "back inside" they all go in to the coop...

I had heard about keeping them in the coop for awhile so they know where 'home' is. Right now, I don't have a run built so they'll have supervised 'playtime' in my backyard (fenced, but ordinance says they have to be in a run or supervised). In the summer when the weather's better and I have more free time, I'll be building a run as well.

 

[ydkjenn]

FINALLY, after three months, I got a run built and the girls are loving it so far. I found an old dog run at a garage sale, so I used 4/6 panels from it. I'm still working on covering the bottom with chicken wire.

Here's the girls checking out the new run. The white shed on the right is their coop. I still didn't cut a pop door out because I'm not really sure how to do it with particle board walls :-/ You can also see a large pallet attached to the back of the coop that serves as a wall to part of the run.



Here's the whole thing with the girls inside. I know the chicken wire on top is saggy. I'm a one-man (or one woman ) show and that was the best I could do on my own. You'll also notice on the back wall another pallet above the chain link. Those two large pallets were freebies and I'm glad I got to put them to use.
Still have to cover the lower sections and the back with chicken wire, but I'm glad it's mostly usable during the day.