New coop and chicks!

[sBrickmanHouse]

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We really took seriously everyone's warnings about adequate ventilation, so the cupola's fully functional. The eaves of the main roof are all open (covered with hardware cloth and screening, of course) and so the airflow is really good from the eaves flowing up through the open cupola.

Of course, the copper roof on the cupola wasn't exactly necessary for ventilation, but I know I don't have explain to you all the tendency to drift towards excess in coop construction!

 

[horsewishr]

Quote:
OK, now you're enabling me! I want some Speckled Sussex chicks, but I only want a couple. You've got me thinking I can order 25 and rehome the extras!!

LOVE your coup, BTW.

 

[Wynette]

Wow, sBrickmanHouse! Fantastic job on the coop; not only is it extremely functional, but also very safe, well thought-out, and pretty! BYC is an awesome place for information, ideas, etc. Good luck with your chicks - enjoy them!

 

[sBrickmanHouse]

Quote:
OK, now you're enabling me! I want some Speckled Sussex chicks, but I only want a couple. You've got me thinking I can order 25 and rehome the extras!!

LOVE your coup, BTW.

You know, honestly Horsewishr, I really wonder why more people don't do this!

Like I said, we're semi-rural (not hardcore farm country, by any means), and just by casually mentioning to people that we were going to get chicks, I had all the extras given away weeks before the McMurray order showed up at the door. I couldn't even commit to a number or breed to give to people because I didn't know how many would make it, and I still had people lining up.

A co-worker who keeps a small backyard flock whose numbers have drifted down, another co-worker whose little niece lost a chunk of her flock to a predator, a local horse farm owner who keeps a small flock to stock her B&B... and that's without even trying Freecycle or otherwise actively asking around to split an order.

I guess it might be an issue of economics for some people, but at least for us, the $2.35 or so that I paid per pullet chick from McMurray really pales in comparison to the amount I spent on the coop itself and supplies, so I don't mind in the least giving away 8 or 10 to have had the ability for my daughter to select what she wanted, and having them delivered practically to our doorstep.

Of course, my daughter the 4-H businesswoman may insist on a few dollar charge per hen to offset her costs, but that's ok, too!

 

[Cheryl]

Your coop is beautiful...now you were saying that the coop is for your daughter...ah huh of course it is!

 

[CarlaRiggs]

You're a terrific Father and your daughter will love you for this. Even when she's a teenager.

Smart Daddy....

 

[malia]

Beautiful coop!

 

[SeaChick]

What an awesome coop. I hope you and your daughter continue to have tons of fun with your chickens. It's going to be hard giving half of them away! My daughter was 10 when we got ours last year. I only have to remind her HALF the time to do her chicken chores

I love the pictures of them exploring the upper roosts, but I have a suggestion: you may want to clock off the nest boxes until they are about ready to lay so that they don't start sleeping in them. Then it might be hard to break that habit and it results in broken eggs and poop on the eggs.

Have fun!!!
Stacey

 

[whereswaldo]

If they will be locked in there and not let out, yes pala, that is too small. but acordingly if let out or a run atached, they only need 2.0 Sq feet of room for at night. and laying eggs, 4 ft includes run also.
6X8 = 48 correct? Will hold 24 chickens if given 2 SQ feet of living room.
Have a nice day.
6 inches of roost room per bird. and 1 nest for every 4 birds is a good ratio.

 

[Brian]

I just love it when I see a well made coop where the owner takes obvious pride of ownership! Good job.
Brian