New person: Coop construction thread

[Melabella]

Run the roost over the nest boxes and mount the removable poop boards on top of the nest boxes? Better access to that far nest for eggs too.
Might be a good idea to raise the feed and water on a platform, or hang them, so they don't scratch beeding and poop into them.

Yes, excellent idea with the waterer and feeder. I have mine on cinder blocks. Perfect height for adult birds.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Thanks for the suggestions, you guys! I am planning to get them a different waterer and feeder today, both larger. I was going to see what I could get in the way of a nipple-style waterer to minimize spillage. The cinder block idea is a great one and one that I will definitely use. I was going to hang them, but the block idea seems more doable.
As for heating, we have quite adequate ventilation in the coop. We built an open eave and four ventilation windows into it. That lamp is plugged into a thermostat that shuts off at 40 degrees, I only have it on to keep the water from freezing. I will not use it next winter, but for this winter, the girls are already acclimated to supplemental heat, am I thinking correctly that it would be best to keep that going until spring, and then dispensing with it next winter? I am planning then to use a submersible aquarium heater in the waterer to prevent freeze ups.

 

[Melabella]

Thanks for the suggestions, you guys! I am planning to get them a different waterer and feeder today, both larger. I was going to see what I could get in the way of a nipple-style waterer to minimize spillage. The cinder block idea is a great one and one that I will definitely use. I was going to hang them, but the block idea seems more doable.
As for heating, we have quite adequate ventilation in the coop. We built an open eave and four ventilation windows into it. That lamp is plugged into a thermostat that shuts off at 40 degrees, I only have it on to keep the water from freezing. I will not use it next winter, but for this winter, the girls are already acclimated to supplemental heat, am I thinking correctly that it would be best to keep that going until spring, and then dispensing with it next winter? I am planning then to use a submersible aquarium heater in the waterer to prevent freeze ups.

Sounds like a wonderful plan Sue,, you are on your way! Here is wishing you tons on wonderful healthy eggs, and hours of pleasurable chicken T.V. They are some lucky ladies!

MB

 

[Melabella]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/21-heated-water-dish

Love this link to a very great idea for a heated water dish

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Thanks, MB!

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Now a whole two years later, I realized that I never really posted photos of the finished product.

Here it is after construction was completely finished and we painted the siding. We cut the wire about 2 feet longer than we needed it, dug a trench around the bottom like a moat, and buried the excess wire. We covered the wire with pavers to prevent any predators from tunneling under. So far, it's worked very well. We have had no real attempts, and mice are the only thing that get in with the girls. Which, if you have had chickens, you will understand isn't a smart thing for a mouse to do. But I digress.

Here I am in the mud, using our pneumatic stapler to attach the wire.



Admiring our handiwork





Before paint, after the pen was finished. Ping trying out the new ramp (I named her Ping because she is always last).




The coop.

 

[aart]

Well, it's about darn time!!!

JK.

Looks good, love the Ping reference!

Need pics of inside too.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Well, it's about darn time!!!

JK.

Looks good, love the Ping reference!

Need pics of inside too.

There are some of the inside earlier in the thread. Thanks for getting the Ping reference.

 

[aart]

Perusing your older threads after seeing your winterization panels.
Did you ever redo the roosts with a poop board?

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Aart, we never changed much about the poop handing situation, it works out ok for us. We have since installed a third row of roosts so the largest group of chickens hover their butts right over the nest boxes when they sleep. I scrape it down once a week with a plastic putty knife onto a board on the floor, and I can slide the board right out through a low and wide door into the wheelbarrow. It has been pretty slick, actually, and we've been able to keep the coop sufficiently yuck free for the last few years.