New to chickens...UPDATE!!! PIC HEAVY

[ddmiddle7]

I have another question....do you all think I have enough ventilation? I will eventually be making some covers for the sides that will be hinged for the winter....currently no water is getting into the coop so I will leave them open until it gets really cold.

 

[kasey08]

Love it! I have family that live in Bedford about an hour away from you! Hope everything turns out well

 

[NevadaRon]

Quote:
I was wondering what you were going to do with those triangle shaped areas in winter. Looks to me like you have more than enough. It looks like there is ventilation between the roof rafters, too. If so, that should be sufficient for winter. If not, you need to make some provision for ventilation in winter. If anything, it is even more important then. The last thing you want is moisture building up inside when it is below freezing out!

 

[ddmiddle7]

Yeah I plan on leaving those vents between the rafters open all winter unless it gets really cold...if it does then I will just their put some boards up over it temporarily.

 

[Waddling_Wamplers]

these are all beautiful coops, i keep learning new things from watching the different coop designs

. keep it up everyone.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Thank you...this was my first time building anything...I can't wait to build another one when I buy my own land.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Sooooo, it has been a while since i have updated this thread...so here we go.
The girls moved in about two weeks ago and seem to really like it out there. After the very first night they were already finding their way into the coop to roost at night. I was so relieved they went right back to it.

I have put two coats of paint on the inside and one on the outside:

I installed all the hardware cloth...which I now loathe!!!! That stuff is tuff!

I got the pop door installed this weekend and made it so I can open it from outside the coop....and made the ramp for them to get in and out....they picked it up in about 20 minutes....who says chickens are stupid??

All that is left to do it make the windows, which are going to be just plywood with some trim to frame them out. I need to paint and install the trim (its going to be purple). Do a second coat of blue on the outside. Make a roost bar for them to hop up into the nest boxes. And make my auto waterer...I still need the nipples but already got all the PVC pipe and bucket. And then it will be onto making the run. They have been free ranging in out yard from the time we get off work until dusk. But I want them to be able to be out all day here shortly.

When do I need to unblock the nesting boxes? Should I wait until I find the first egg? I have to EEs, 2 BRs, and one BA...when do they usually start laying?
Let me know what you all think....my wife has named our coop "Hentasia".

Dereck

 

[kemclaughlin]

Quote:
Just another suggestion, have the rain gutters run off into a rain barrel and use the water in your garden or for your chickens.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Quote:
Just another suggestion, have the rain gutters run off into a rain barrel and use the water in your garden or for your chickens.

Yeah I plan on eventually having it all run into a five gallon bucket that I am getting ready to setup with chicken nipples.

 

[Gen9]

Great Job on the coop! Looks better than mine

LOL @ the hardware cloth - I know exactly how that is.