New member New coop

[Cjadamec]

New to chickens this year and in classic fashion bought my some cute little fluff butts and didn't have a coop yet for them to live in.

That brings me to needing a place for my girls to stretch their wings.

So I got myself an 8x6 shed and got myself on to building.

For the run there's a 10x12 pergola I'm going to fence in and make a fence tunnel that joins up to the shed.

Should have the girls outside in the coop by Sunday. The run will hopefully be finished in a couple weeks.

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us! Your new coop is beautiful! I'll bet the chickens will love it!

 

[Cjadamec]

Thanks for the welcome. I've lurked for the past couple of months leaning as much as I can trying to make a good home for the chicks. There is a ton of good information here that makes getting started a much easier task.

 

[Cjadamec]

Out in the coop they go.

 

[blackdog043]

Nice job on the coop!

What kind of ventilation do you have and are you adding more windows? It looks like that front window is all you have for ventilation and light right now, but you may not be finished. Are you gonna heat your waterer with a stock tank deicer?

 

[Cjadamec]

The roof ridge is fully vented as well as a gable peak vent.

 

[Cjadamec]

A little time has passed and the chicks have grown up to full blown chickens. They have started laying and love treats and getting petted. Their home has expanded some and still has some growing to do.

 

[aart]

WOW...quite the run!
Is that a metal gazebo frame?
Love the 'tunnel'.
Will erosion be an issue?

 

[Cjadamec]

It's a metal framed pergola with a wooden frame inside of it to attach the wire to. The wood is all painted to match and was stuff I had laying around.

The tunnel was a pain to build but the chickens seem to enjoy it. My property is built into the side of a hill so everything I build has to manage the changes in elevation. The tunnel was my way of getting the coop on location and still giving them a run.

I'm planning on covering the entire run in wood chips that should help control any washouts down the tunnel. Getting everything built was the priority, renting a chipper and making wood chips is yet to come.

 

[aart]

The tunnel was a pain to build but the chickens seem to enjoy it. My property is built into the side of a hill so everything I build has to manage the changes in elevation. The tunnel was my way of getting the coop on location and still giving them a run.

That's why I love the tunnel, site definitely was a challenge, that you met well. Kudos.
Will run and tunnel have solid roofs?
Might need some terracing and drainage trenches coming down that hill, in the tunnel and out. But looks like lotsa rocks, so maybe not.