New to chickens, just built coop

[ChixMama]

Your coop is great and I just LOVE your chickens' names!!!

 

[kristenm1975]

NurseDr, I'd love to hear what you think about how the stagecoach tractor is to make. I'm thinking of making that one. Can't decide between that and the garden coop.

 

[NurseDr]

I have not build anything before, always been the domain of my spouse. But, he wanted nothing to do with the chickens. The instructions are easy to follow, reminds me of making quilts. Rick at the stagecoach website has been helpful. I have had to mail order the roof flashing. I think the hen house is small for the number of birds it advertised so I extended it. I also, add FRP to the ceiling of the house then foil insulation. It moves around our urban lot, with one person. I still need to add the hardware cloth and finish the feeders, waters, solar automatic door, and other details.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Very cool....looks totally urban...perfect for the backyard chicken lover.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Quote:
Sorry I totally should have been more clear! When I first posted I had only looked at the pic and skimmed the paragraph and didn't realize they purchased plans. Definitely don't copy the plans or give them away to others... that wouldn't be cool.

With that said, I think posting pics during the build and how it is moved, and what the ground looks like before, during, and after the chickens would be fine. They could also link to the plans site which would drive a ton of traffic to the plan selling site.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Cute coop, nice job!

 

[EggBreakfast]

Thanks all! I appreciate the feedback.

Some responses/more details.

NiftyChicken, when buying the plans, I was requested not to post detailed in-progress pictures, so I didn't take any. I think that's fair enough. The plans are a total bargain - only $20, VERY detailed, full material and cut list, lots of pictures and literally step-by-step instructions. I'd recommend them to anyone. I'm a weekend warrior DIY woman and completed the entire project solo.

www.thegardencoop.com.

The raised bed location was an idea I picked up when on the Tour de Coops in Portland. One guy had an a-frame style coop built to suit his beds. I preferred the look of this coop though, and was able to make it fit with very minor adjustments in length and width.

CityChook, the coop is fully enclosed with hardware cloth or siding, with the exception of the open bottom. The coop itself is open (with the hardware cloth stapled to it) at the top for ventilation.

NurseDr, that roost is about 2 feet from the floor in my coop. You could put a ladder there instead or in addition to, but I know my birds can fly to the top of the 2' brooder already, so shouldn't have any trouble hopping up there. So far they've only done field trips in the coop but will move out there this weekend. I've seen them come out the pop door onto the roost and jump down, but haven't yet seen them make the return trip.

I will take some "before" pictures of the soil in the adjacent bed, which is exactly the same as the one I've got the coop on currently. It's very thick clay soil. I've been trying to amend it with compost for about three years now, but it's still fairly clumpy. My plan is to deep-litter for as long as the ark sits there. I think the shavings will really help to break up the clay soil. When I move it I'll post pics of the amended soil.

To move the coop, I amended the skids to be "handles" - it was easily lifted with two people at the heavy coop end, and one at the lighter open end. I think it will be even easier to switch beds, as I can just push the coop around 90 degrees then slide it over to the next bed. I may need to make some kind of latch system to secure the coop to bed, haven't decided yet. I guess it depends how strong raccoons are... I know they're pretty dexterous, but I don't know about shoving strength.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

The coop looks great. I too saw the Garden Coop on the Portland tour last year and absolutely recommend the Garden Coop and the Garden Ark to anyone looking to build a coop. And I know exactly which A frame coop you're talking about. We saw it near the beginning of the tour. We nearly dehydrated ourselves that day it was so hot! Again, good job.