New Alaskan breeders coop - finally!!! (pics)

[Stonebriar Farm]

Oh I just love the siding!

 

[Cracker]

It's looking very Alaskan! Yes, I'm going fishing in Homer. Some of my friends arrived there Monday, and will be spending the summer there again. They stay in their motorhome out on the spit. (They're probably the only ones out there right now!) This will be my 8th trip there. Try to have that coop finished by June when I come through.

 

[montana girl]

Its just absolutely gorgeous, and looks like my dream cabin... never mind a chicken coop!

Wow.. thanks so much for posting the photos!

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

For the record we are not accepting tenants at this time.

If your stopping by 1. call first 2. bring your own beer 3. if you linger to long i'll put you to work 4. chip in for gas and bait and lets go fishing!

 

[Mrs MIA]

No work today... it snowed all day long.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I've been following your coop construction. I must say, it's coming along really, really nicely! I love the siding; it totally fits with the landscape.

I was just curious -- I know that in the lower 48, we have to deal with coons, possums, etc... Do you guys have to worry about wolves up there?

 

[Mrs MIA]

Hi Chickenlady!

Thank you! I must admit (humbly) that I love the siding too. I was nervous at first, but it's been a fun puzzle picking out the pieces that fit best, and it blends in nicely with the surroundings. I thought that a nice little Victorian style would be pretty, but it would really stick out, and we didn't want that. I love the randomness of the bark and knots in the wood. It's flitching... the second cut from when they cut lumber. The first is mostly bark, but the second cut leaves a little bit of the bark along the edges. It's very rough, but works. Once it's done, 2" insulation board (R19) will go between the studs, and plywood on the inside (except for the brooder room... that will be drywalled with the green-backed moisture resistant drywall rated for bathrooms). I'm really contemplating putting at least the bantams on wire... it's so much easier to keep the floor and the birds clean... anyone have any thoughts on that?
Predators?
Wolves not at all... in fact I haven't seen any wolves near here since I've been here. Eagles come around, but the girls are in enclosed pens. As much as I'd like to let them freerange (especially with the feed prices!) I would just be feeding the local eagle populaton. Now, the bears we have to worry about. We had a bear try to get to our Turkeys last May... he didn't get in, and I set the dog on him. Blackie, looking for a free meal. Haven't seen him back, but we had our first confirmed bear mauling not more than 10 miles away just a couple of days ago... sow and cub... so we are about to put the electric fence back into service. Otherwise, we really haven't had any problems with predators (knock on wood)!

We woke up to 4" of new snow...

Guess the work is still on hold. It's ok... there's a sportsman show in town today that hubby wants to check out.

Me? I'm watching quail hatch...

 

[Mrs MIA]

And still plugging away... I can only get the siding about 6' up the wall without an extra pair of hands, and the last side is about halfway there. Then the insulation, finishing plywood, wire pens... wiring for heat and water... hmmm... still a lot to do, eh?

It's been gorgeous - in the mid 40s to 50s and sunny since our last little dump of winter. Making good progress.

 

[speckledhen]

Love the Adirondack siding!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Thanks Cynthia!

I love it too... blends in nicely with the surroundings. Anything else just wouldn't "fit".

Update photos: we worked on this all weekend, and got all the siding up. Hubby's work is taking him out of town for the next three weeks, so it's up to me to get the inside insulated and finished. I can do it...

It sure was nice having his help with the siding... that is just not a one-person job.
Next is the 2" R-19 foamboard insulation betweent he studs, finished with plywood. The brooder room will be drywalled and completely finished so it will retain heat (using the green-type that's rated for bathrooms/high moisture rooms). The pens will be open inside (wire), but will have 4' plywood dividers to keep the birds from harassing each other. There are 8 pens inside, and one brooder room, with outdoor runs.

Here's the front - I still need to finish the corners, but that can come any time.

Along the run-side of the coop - the other side looks the same, only a couple more chicken doors.

Door to the brooder/quail room (compliments of Freecycle.org, like the front door

)

Inside, so far...

Well, break time's over... back to it!