New plan! (LOTS O PICS, adding them as I go)

[abChicken]

Wait Till The 3 Become 23

 

[WhySayWhat]

Well, we are limited to 1 for every 2,000 sq ft of property we own...so can't go hog wild! Our lot is about 10,000 sq ft (slightly over), so in theory, I can only have 5 chickens max! I may sneak in a 6th next year though...sticking to 3 this year though...unless I go to get my girls and find out that the feed store got some EE's in early! Then I'll have to get a couple of those too! But that would also mean no babies next year.

There was a blip on the news today about a gal in Deer Park (really close to where I live, but in a different town...one that doesn't allow chickens) that had 10 hens in a dinky space! She seemed all pissy because they made her get rid of them...even though her dog " creates more waste than all 10 chickens!" Lol...I really chuckled to myself when she said that...I can just see the city council deciding that dogs are bad and banning them instead of changing the current chicken law!

 

[DiamondOaksFarm]

Quote:
Good you have such a great hobby - losing a spouse is such a life-changing thing. I know my roosters have really become a fun obsession, and since I am bessed to still have my DH around, we enjoy the hobby together.

Some great ideas for coops and pens. I had to get my pen built in a rush due to a Bald Eagle attack, so had to pay for the supplies (came to $370) and the labor (came to $200) for a 24 X 12 run off our our existing shed/coop. Will post pictures when I am paroled from "new user" picture posting jail.

 

[WhySayWhat]

Quote:
Welcome aboard!

We got to talking about the local cougar population last night...it was on the news. My other half assures me that they "never come into town!"...but then again, none of our neighbors have chickens that I know of! The news blip was from the South Hill side of town...we live on the north side, but the guy set up a camera (we used them in biology class) that takes pics once every few mins. He had a pic of him walking away and not 15 mins later, 2 female cougars walked up and brought their cubs with them for a meal! Kinda freaky thinking that the guy was pretty much surrounded by that many big cats so close to town.

I'm not super worried about the cougars myself, just knowing they're there is a bit off putting! When I was living in a trailer on my Mother's property, we were both awoken in the middle of the night several years ago by a pack of coyotes trying to figure a way at our animals! I was living in a small tow behind type trailer with 2 cats and my lab at the time and it was parked maybe a half car length from my Mother's bedroom. The whole pack was between the two spaces and I could see them if I peeked out the window! Glad I didn't have outdoor pets back then, there were at least 10 of them!

So...how cougar-proof is 1/2" hardware cloth anyway...?

 

[abChicken]

whatsay, Dont think we have cougars in my area coyotes tho I've not seen any on my property
some of my friends have seen them. I would think u be ok with hardware cloth if its installed
securely. I have problems with coons and hawks. coons will find the smallest opening at nite,
hawks in daytime if chickens free range. My wife raised peigons the hawks really loved them.

Diamondoaksfarm

as i stated above my wife raised peigons and I had chickens until She became disabled, lots fun togather.

Just remember one will leave b4 the other, enjoy life...

Old people cant spell or use proper english, sorry

I think after 10 post u b out of jail and looking for the pic

 

[gsim]

Don't build the coop too close to the ground. It will invite snakes and rodents to move in. Best a minimum of 12" or more.

Gerry

 

[WhySayWhat]

Quote:
I got those concrete pier thingies for everything to sit on.

Should be well over 12" off the ground...as long as I don't have to dig them down a bit to clear the deck! Lol. We should be okay...at 5'6 I can easily stand under the deck.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
Yeah, we still have some tweeking to do. Kinda ran out of supplies. They do go up and down it....slowly!!! I'll pick up something for the strips this weekend.

Put strips around 4' apart. Old pickets from picket fence, old firring strips, or make them from scrap lumber using a table saw as I did.

Gerry

 

[WhySayWhat]

I did it! Or rather, I started it!!!

The weather was fairly nice today, just above 40 this afternoon. We went out for a late breakfast, drove out to the "other" Aslin-Finch which is much farther from the house as I heard a rumor earlier this week that they already had chicks! I either didn't see them, or they were gone. But, I did see they had chick starter (the other one doesn't yet), along with chick grit (yeah!)...also, I priced things like Vet Rx while I was there. It's about $3-4 cheaper to order that online, so that's what I'll do (I want to have some on hand "just in case" I need it).

Got home and started on the coop. My SO carried the concrete piers around the house for me (he broke a corner off one trying to put all 4 in the wheel barrow at once) and helped me carry the blue pallets and the T&G around the house. I hadn't realized just how heavy they were just scooting them around the garage!

Originally, when I measured today, I thought I was going to have to go the other way with the coop. Once I got the 8' 4x4 runners out though, I was relieved that I could go the way I had planned! I even got it mostly level! That is a feat all in itself!

Next, I con'd dear SO into helping move the pallets...those suckers weigh a freakin' ton! My new concern is if the crates will actually fit under the rafters! There is just barely 4' of clearance once the T&G was on top! (Crates are 4' tall) These I attached to the runners, the pallet on the left has 4 screws (one near each corner) holding it down. The one on the right just has 2 screws (one in each on the right side).

Next came the T&G! I'm wondering about my plan to use this about now...there's a smallis gap between the two pieces where I couldn't get them to fit "flush", but I planned on putting tile over it so I went ahead and used it as-is. There is a small (1/2") channel, but you can't see through it, the tongue end is filling it in, just not as tight as I would have liked! I forgot to take a pic before I trimmed off the left side where it was hanging over, but I have roughly 2' of extra board from that end.

The pallets are secured to each other with the T&G too. The piece on the right is screwed into the pallet on the left. It happened to fit that way nicely and since the left side of the right pallet wasn't screwed down, I thought it worked out well!

I did get good-ish pics of the cut though... First pic is the initial "get the most off cut". Then, I went back to trim it a little closer to the pallet below. I got a little "close" to the pallet though and ended up trimming part of the pallet too! (oops!) So, the end cut isn't exactly straight...but it's "good enough"! You can kinda see the bits I cut off on the left...the blue flecks are part of the pallet!

Next, I went inside and mixed up a little TSP (toxic stuff, but cleans really well!) and the leftover box of tiles from doing the Master bath with my Mom 2 summers ago. After a quick wipe down with the TSP (and a bit of time to dry), I got to work on laying laminate tiles! Peel & stick...the best invention ever as far as laminate tiles go! When we did the bathroom, my mother insisted we had to put down tile putty...it took 3 months for all the tiles to stay down! Anywho, as luck would have it, the floor is exactly 4 tiles across (12" tiles)!

And so I spent the better part of 45 minutes peeling and sticking tiles...until the box was empty! Oh no! So I'm done for today...need to run to Home Depot (and hope that's where I bought tham at) for 8 more tiles! It bugs me slightly that I'll end up "wasting" part of the last 4 tiles...the coop is 6'10" long, but I figure O can make a tile covered poop board or somthing with the leftovers.

Here is what I have so far!

I'm going to have to create some sort of cage around the dryer vent...it sits about 2' from the side of the coop! While that might fly during the winter, it'll heat the heck out of the coop in the summer! I'll ask the guy at HD while I'm there if I can run an "extension" off the outside part to relocate where it vents to...

Also, now that everything is up on the piers...I'm gonna have to make the girls a ramp! And I found out which hatchery my chicks are coming from...anyone know anything about Dunlap? All I know is that it's in ID, lol.

As a side note...anyone else read the newsletter this morning? I was pleasantly pleased and surprised to see this thread mentioned!

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

I got my steps built today so it will be easyier to get in and out of it now. I was at home depot yesterday and I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted a side section/brace for making the steps, already cut out and in the cull bin. It was marked for just $0.51!!!! I just couldn't believe my luck. I snapped it up right away, brought it home and traced it onto one of the 2"X10"X4ft pieces that I scored last week. Then we used 3 more of the 2"X10" boards for the actual steps..... and vuaala.... STEPS!!! Total cost for the steps was $2.55. Thank you cull bin, and Whysaywhat for telling me about the cull bin!! I will have to post the pictures up later because my DD has my camera this weekend.

Well, we put the last 4 of the 2"X4"X12ft boards up for the roof/top of the run. Then we got the hardwire cloth on the top of the run also. Now to just get the tin put on and the run will be done. I had to stand there and use wire to kind of sew the hardwire cloth together at the seams. My fingers are so sore now. But is was a labor of love as there were like 4-6 HAWKS flying around all morning and squacking.

Their not going to get my babies!! Then when we were putting them in the coop for the night.... there was an OWL flying from tree to tree in the yard looking at them too. Well, he's not going to get them either.

I need to get a video camera out there, and some sort of motion lights also. But that will just have to wait until we get the rest of these other things done first. All the coop and run need now are the nesting boxes, and tin roof. But, then we will have to start working on a bachelor pad for the roosters. I already got the spot picked out (right behind this coop and run) and now to just keep finding deals on the lumber (cull bin) and try to get my hands on a wooden shipping crate. I need to start calling business's and asking for them. Someone out there has got to have one.

Hey Whysaywhat.... how are you coming on your coop and run. Is the weather working with you this weekend?? I hope so.