New addition on our 11 month old unfinshed coop

[ScottandSam]

That's Right . I was told we had 20 chicks coming around March 2016 and that I needed to build a coop. Of course this was something we had talked about for the last 2 years on and of. I guess the wife was never happy that I did not start on a coop so she figured if she ordered the chickens I would have to build it. So How I started the build was to find a coop online that caught my eye. Since this would be close to the house It had to look better than what I would have put out in the front field.



And then the walls started taking shape.......



I looks back at the pictures and I can't believe how the grass was just filling in only to be gone a few months later. The trees are all black walnut. a few where taken down after this picture and a few more need dropped for the run we will add this summer.

 

[ScottandSam]

Well a new job and the addition on house has slowed things down to a stop on the coop. I have planned to make some changes to better enable a deep litter bed. I also have been finishing it in my head every time I drive by it.
For now I do have some pictures of a few of our newest layers. still waiting on a few to lay. we are down to just one rooster to make room for another fbcm rooster any day now.
so here is a dozen of a few different breeds that are currently laying. I can not wait for them to get there normal size.The colors are better outside so I'll update later when they are all laying.

Scott

 

[ScottandSam]

well heck here are the pictures......................



so here is the boards installed...........................

Since we had straw in it I just left it down.....
next we added mulch/leafy mix

and then pine needles....................................

then some more this..................

and that................................

then a few more pine needles................

and that's is where I stopped for now. the girls have done a nice job of mixing everything up.....

Scott

 

[ScottandSam]

Ok with the siding off the North gable wall. I was able to evaluate the build. I decided it would be easier to re use the existing gable wall in the new addition. This mean I will un-attach it from the existing east and west walls slide it down 8" and then I will only need to build 2 more walls, @ 8' long and tie in the roofline.

And now the new footprint.


The existing coop is 8'W X 6'L and a 10'W x 4'L section. That is 88 sq'. The addition is 10'Wx 8'L so that is another 80 sq'. 40 for the geese and 40 for the chickens. The goal is open the coop up inside and add a wall 4' from the new gable wall in the right of the pic. That wall will be removeable. That way when I can build the geese a separate shelter close to a pond we will be putting in. Or I can remove or slide this wall to the right new gable wall in pic to open up that 40 sq' for more room for additional chicks. Or even leave alone to use the area for smaller chicks till they get ready to be introduced to the flock.
Right now there is a partition wall between the netting boxes and the door that runs front to back.it will be removed. Also a wall and door that goes from the existing partition wall to the gable wall. Behind that door it the little room exposed when the siding came off.

Another pic of the front with our temp run. The chicken now free range 99% of the day and we have lost 9 birds this last year to predators. The run will be built later on to help us not loose so many birds this year.

 

[aart]

Have plenty of power tools, just not a table saw set up and ready to go.

 

[aart]

Has that real high roost been there all along or is it new?
(did not dig thru the thread to see haha! really missing 'view all images' again)
Hope they can get down off there without crashing.

 

[ScottandSam]

Our 5 FBCM AND 2 Welsummer joined the hens in the coop today. TheY are in the fenced in section at the back of the coop.
Scott

 

[aart]

I figure out a what a hen cave

Not fond of most of the 'cave' configurations, most are not adjustable for height and have too many things wrapped around them creating trap points. Many folks don't understand that the chicks need to be able to touch their backs to the heat pad and 'cave' infers a single egress point which can trap chicks that need to get away from the heat.

About the same time that concept got 'hot'(haha!) I was devising a 'pseudo brooder plate' using a heating pad. It works really great, but they do have capacity constraints.
Took several iterations before I got one that is easy and safe to use and am still tweaking the adjustable leg attachments. Biggest issue for me was being able to easily lift/tip the thing up(and back down) to take a look underneath for chicks in distress or dead without reassembling the thing. I fuss a lot during design/build, but hate to fuss while a thing is in use. Fuss first, Flow later.

I still use a heat lamp those first few days, just during the day, to make sure they are all moving/eating/drinking/pooping OK. It sure is nice to have it dark and quiet at night, not to mention the removal of the fire risk that is inherent with using heat lamps.

Whew! Am quite verbose this morning. Apologies to those offended.

 

[ScottandSam]

Ok so this weekend I worked on finishing the pop door. I built a siding one and in the wet months she like to swell and not slide. I also cut 2x10 to fit around the perimeter of the floor so we can start a deep little bed this winter. I wasn't sure how that would work out with the hen boxes on the floor but the girls all used them today and I felt like maybe it added some privacy. So here are some pics of the progress today.

And as usual The girls want to inspect the work from time to time. They get on me if its not to code.

iNSIDE LOOK OUT POP DOOR

Some of our news members. 2 welsummer hens and I think 4 fbcm hens and last our fbcm roo

Flokies exhausted after chasing off the coyotes last night( the buff there is only 6 months old and puts the others pictured to shame)............

Scott

 

[aart]

Sweet little covered porch!
Might want some cleats on that ramp, or stick a block under the low end.

I've made 2 sliding pop doors, first was rather loose fitting, sloppy carpentry.
The second was a much improved fit due to stepping up my fabrication care....
....Ha! that's the one that swells and sticks when humid. SMH.