- Aug 20, 2013
- 4
- 0
- 7
Well I just joined BYC but I've been coming to this sight for quite a while for information. We decided to get some chickens about a year ago. I was raised around chickens all my life but never had any as an adult. So I had to do some research to refresh my memory. I came to BYC to figure out what kind of chickens I wanted and how to build my coupe, pen, etc. I decided on White leghorns because they have a reputation for laying. I was interested in eggs, not meat. I understood that Leghorns don't get broody as much as other breeds. They lay large white eggs. I don't want to have to deal with killing chickens and keeping the population down. We didn't need many eggs. I started out with 8 hens and 1 rooster. After about 16 weeks they began to lay. It's been about 13 months and now I'm down to 4 hens and 1 rooster. I lost 1 to sickness, 1 to a snake and 2 to dogs. I have a pen with a top on it but I let them free range. That's why dogs have gotten 2. I could keep them penned but they seem so happy to be loose. I had an old play house and since my kids are grown, I figured I could tear it down and use the materials to build a coupe. I gathered up some building supplies and did a little research on the internet and built my coupe.
The lid on the laying boxes worked out great. I have a counter weight inside the wall that makes it easy to open and close and it will stay up on its own.
I have a doors on both sides of the the coupe. I could install automatic door openers later if I want to. Right now they open with a string ran outside.
I put this foil back foam insulation in the roof but this was not good. They kept trying to eat it. I had to nail 1/4" plywood over it to keep them from it.
They have flat 2x4" to rest on. I understand this helps in very cold temperatures. They can sit on their feet to keep them from freezing.
I think it turned out rather nice. They must like it, they come home every evening.
The lid on the laying boxes worked out great. I have a counter weight inside the wall that makes it easy to open and close and it will stay up on its own.
I have a doors on both sides of the the coupe. I could install automatic door openers later if I want to. Right now they open with a string ran outside.
I put this foil back foam insulation in the roof but this was not good. They kept trying to eat it. I had to nail 1/4" plywood over it to keep them from it.
They have flat 2x4" to rest on. I understand this helps in very cold temperatures. They can sit on their feet to keep them from freezing.
I think it turned out rather nice. They must like it, they come home every evening.
