New run-comments?

[jeff spahn]

Here's the inside of the coop.
It has soffit ventilation to keep a nice flow of air to remove ammonia if there is any. Coop never smells.
Walls are 2x4 construction with r-11 insulation and vapor barrier and house wrap on the outside. Sided in Hardiboard primed siding painted white. 40 year shingle on the roof and coop is wired to its own circuit in the house.
Burlap bag hangs over the laying boxes to give some privacy to the ladies.

It has reflective insulation on the ceiling to help keep the girls warm.

There is a light on a timer and a heat lamp on a 0 degree thermocube incase it gets really cold inside.

 

[lucky123]

You did a great job. I like the way you matched the coop paint and roof to match the house. You have a very nice place.

 

[real_redhead]

Very cute, love the outside waterer with the nipple. I have been trying to figure out what to use with my chicken nipple and I have one of those rubbermaid containers at home I can use that will be easy to hang! Thanks for the idea!

 

[jeff spahn]

Quote:
Yes they are very handy. Get them from FarmTek (search the web for them). They sell the nipples for $2.50 or so. I have seen them go for $9.99 each so save yourself some dough and get them from FarmTek.

 

[redram71]

Very nice!

Looks like your girls are ready for those Iowa winters! Is there a trick to keep the nipples from dripping I havent had any luck with those?

 

[dwegg]

Very nice...I was going to suggest a roost or two for the girls to play on in the run...what about some sort of plastic cover to just go over the arches so the girls can still get out in there in rain or snow? Just a thought.

 

[jeff spahn]

Very nice!

Looks like your girls are ready for those Iowa winters! Is there a trick to keep the nipples from dripping I havent had any luck with those?

nope, never really had an issue with dripping.

 

[jeff spahn]

Well I scrapped the old coop and run. Decided to start from scratch (hee hee). That's what happens when you hang out here.

Anyway. Built a new coop, could be used later for a shed.

It's 6x6 with 8' ceilings. Fully wired and insulated. Has a commercial vinyl floor and OSB/FRP walls for easy cleaning. All joints at floor and walls are siliconed for water proofing.

No idea what it cost. Maybe $1000-$2000. Really didn't keep track. Had my factory panelize it and then deliver it as components. I just put the parts together, set the rafters and built the roof. Then I put on the siding and soffit. The coop isn't attached to anything other than being screwed into the 4x4 posts that make up the run. It is sitting on cement pads on the ground. Didn't need a building permit this way as it was a put together shed (I am telling myself this anyway). Not a permanent structure.

After the coop was done I built a new run. Got the idea from another coop on here called "The Eggplant". The sandwiching of the hardware cloth between the 2x4's was a good idea and made a very nice finished project.

The 4x4 posts are set in concrete 28" below grade. Figured they didn't need to go 4' below frost as it basically is a fence and doesn't have to support a load.

There is a slope of 1/12 on the roof. Basically enough to let the water run off. I can walk on the roof on the rafters or purlins but not the plastic panels. There shouldn't be a snow load problem as this roof gets sun year round.

Roof is a corrugated plastic panel that I got from Lowes.

Pictures might be deceiving but it is all square and level. Angle is from the roof line. The 2x4 top plate is level.

I learned one thing and that's to put a release rope that pulls on the latch so when you lock yourself in the run you can get out. You don't always have your cellphone in your pocket to call for help. I guess I could have crawled through the automatic door to the inside of the coop. . . .

I'll post more pictures later.