Need help with my coop...

[ShockValue]

Looking nice. Good job.

 

[jetdog]

Yup sounds good, I'm not sure if you can do this with chicks but I hang a cabbage for them to peck at, as it swings it keeps them entertained.

 

[PhatChicks]

Mine are about 2.5 months old so still chicks to me but getting closer to being big girls!

 

[kvtolbert]

There's an awesome article on here with suggestions for toys. It was the feature article last week, if you search toys I'm sure you'll find it. Ideas about seed dispenser toys and hanging CDs and stuff

 

[PhatChicks]

Yep, I did read that article. There were some good ideas. My girls don't really seem interested in lettuce or anything hanging. I've tried it a few times. They mostly love ears of corn and clumps of dirt. It wouldn't normally be a problem, it's just I have to keep them in their coop until they learn where to roost at night. They are going a bit stir crazy in there. I'm hoping I can let them out over the weekend without having to chase and catch them at night.

 

[autumnhearth]

PhatChicks, I noticed a pic of your chicks roosting by the window in another thread and thought your siding looked familiar, its the same kind we have! So I followed your profile and pictures over here to get a better sense of your set up out of curiosity. I think the improvements you have made are a good start, I know you said you are keeping them locked in for a week, which is good but didn't see if you added a door that can be locked up every night (in the pic it was just a cut out) otherwise your chickens will not be secure at night from predators. I would also suggest getting some bird netting to go over the top to prevent hawk attacks. And if you can I would highly recommend re-configuring so that your coop is not in the middle of the fence, but rather the fence starts at the two corners of the door side of your coop (this may mean adding one or two small panels of chain link to either side to make the right width square), so they have more room to move around. You could still use the space under the coop by attaching hardware cloth to the sides so they have a shady hiding spot and then they have more open space for you to add stumps and branches to perch and play on. More space means less picking on each other Good luck, we are still finishing up the chicken door, windows, roof and the run. Nice to have a father as a builder, my husband keeps having to re-do things and its driving me crazy.

 

[PhatChicks]

Yep, I'm way ahead of ya! I just got more fencing last week and I am putting it over the top this week so it'll be completely enclosed. I also have another fence panel to add to the space. Right now I have 7 chickens with 72 square feet of run so that's about 10 square feet per bird which the recommended space). With adding an additional panel it'll bring the run area to 108 square feet. That's as big as I can do for now. Maybe next year I can add more but I think that's pretty good. I'm also adding two vents to help circulate the air and depending on how hot it gets, I'll run a cord out to the coop for a fan to run during the day.

As for the coop itself, I don't like it in the middle but that's where it has to stay. It's heavy as all get out and that's as far we can move it ourselves. The chicks have plenty of space and shade underneath for their holes and to keep out of the sun during the day. I do have a door that locks as well and a cutout for the chicks to go in and out of. At night both doors are closed with locks so a predator can try to get in but it's going to take them a bit and I'm hoping they won't be able to get through all the fencing plus two locks.

We've been working on it little by and little but should have it done within the next few weeks. Then once autumn gets here, we'll work on winterizing it.

Considering this was a free playhouse, I got all but one section of fencing for free, it's not too bad. I think I"ve spent about $75 on it. With the few more additions, I'm guessing my total will be around $150 when it's complete. As much as I would love to buy a fancy pre-built coop, I like the idea that this was all recycled materials.

 

[autumnhearth]

Yep, I'm way ahead of ya! I just got more fencing last week and I am putting it over the top this week so it'll be completely enclosed. I also have another fence panel to add to the space. Right now I have 7 chickens with 72 square feet of run so that's about 10 square feet per bird which the recommended space). With adding an additional panel it'll bring the run area to 108 square feet. That's as big as I can do for now. Maybe next year I can add more but I think that's pretty good. I'm also adding two vents to help circulate the air and depending on how hot it gets, I'll run a cord out to the coop for a fan to run during the day.

As for the coop itself, I don't like it in the middle but that's where it has to stay. It's heavy as all get out and that's as far we can move it ourselves. The chicks have plenty of space and shade underneath for their holes and to keep out of the sun during the day. I do have a door that locks as well and a cutout for the chicks to go in and out of. At night both doors are closed with locks so a predator can try to get in but it's going to take them a bit and I'm hoping they won't be able to get through all the fencing plus two locks.

We've been working on it little by and little but should have it done within the next few weeks. Then once autumn gets here, we'll work on winterizing it.

Considering this was a free playhouse, I got all but one section of fencing for free, it's not too bad. I think I"ve spent about $75 on it. With the few more additions, I'm guessing my total will be around $150 when it's complete. As much as I would love to buy a fancy pre-built coop, I like the idea that this was all recycled materials.

Good to hear! Wow yeah, I wish we had only spend that much. We built to save money, but probably have spent more than you can get a nice coop for, well maybe a bit less for the size. That paneling your free playhouse is made out of wasn't cheap. Cheers!