Opinion on design?

[GoodEgg]

I just wondered if I can post a website here that I found earlier today and get people's opinion on the coop they show?

It certainly looks super-easy and cheap, and I can modify the frame I have already finished and have this done in a short time, for very little cost, as I have almost all the materials at hand.

I've just not seen anything like this on here, and I wanted opinions if my girls would be safe in here. I really do have to do this quickly and cheaply, but I don't want to sacrifice their safety.

(I think I'd have to cover the wire with a different wire than they suggest. I can use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire cuz I just don't see this keeping raccoons out, but otherwise maybe it's ok? I would probably attach a layer or two of poultry wire for the floor and cover it up too, to keep out digging predators.)

The web is here: http://www.plamondon.com/hoop-coop.htmlhttp://www.plamondon.com/hoop-coop.html

I hope that worked.

Thanks, if anyone could comment on this? I know it's not as attractive as what I see everyone's coops looking like, but it's do-able for me in a very short time. Maybe I can work more slowly on something better if I can only get them out of the house now.

They've spent the day outside in a makeshift run against the house, and they are LOVING it. I worry, and check on them every few minutes. And the ducks are veeerrrrryyyyy interested in these chickies, but they seem very friendly towards them.

Thanks all!
trish

 

[justusnak]

Looks like a great chicken tractor. For a coop, it might not be warm enough tho. Depends on how cold it gets where you are in the winter. I am planning on makeing one of those next year, for my cornishX. Mine will be put together with nuts and bolts, so I can take it apart when I am no useing it, and store it in the barn. ( will only use it for 6 to 8 weeks at a time.)

 

[GoodEgg]

Thanks. We live in NW Florida. It does get cold here, but not as much as other places and not for long.

If worst comes to absolute worst, I can always make something in the garage for next winter, and just pick them up and carry them in.

I probably won't make this portable, since I only plan to keep them in it at night, if it's what I decide on. Right now I'm leaning really hard towards it, because I can adapt my frame to it and I have almost everything, so I can do this for a few dollars and probably only a half-day or so.

Thank you SO much for the input!

trish

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I have a friend who have these as coops. They work great.
They do not move them, so they didn't leave any space at the ground like the website suggested. They also cover the back completely with tarps to keep the rain out.

We have one made similar, but it is used for the goats & is open at both ends. We are working on a design to make one for the chickens. We are thinking of putting in a wall 4 feet from the back. It will not go completely across the pen, leaving room for us & chickens to get in & out. Then we will hang a canvas tarp over the "doorway" to the coop part for winter, either with a hole cut into it for the chickens, or leaving it off the ground about 4 inches so they can scoot under it. We can put a light in it if needed.

This would be for younger chickens, as we don't have too bad of winters here, & the grown ones won't need the extra protection like the young ones do.

I noticed that the article said to use red brand chicken wire. I don't know if you have that where you are, but it is the best chicken wire made, much heavier than standard chicken wire. If you can't get that, I would go with hardware cloth instead of a cheap chicken wire. If you are not going to make it portable, just put some wire around the hoop house on the ground & stake it down. That will stop digging predators.

You can make this hoop house look better than the one on the website. Paint your boards, make you a cute sign for the front...etc.

Good luck & take pics when you get it finished. We all want to see it.

Jean

 

[GoodEgg]

Thanks so much for the additional info.

Looks like this is the one to go with, so I'm off the the hardware store. Hopefully I can have it finished by tomorrow night, since I have to work on the runs as well today so I can return the boss's tools.

I will definitely put in a wire floor and stake it down, and just cover the wire deeply so they don't have to walk on it. I'll check for the red brand chicken wire, but I might use the hardware cloth I've already got unless the run will put enough of it to use that I need another roll. I'm glad to know there's a brand "good enough" to keep them safe. Most of what I have is regular chicken wire and I just use it to put over the top to protect from hawks, and the smaller one to keep the chicks from poking their heads through the bigger wire.

Thanks SO much! I'm so glad I'm actually going to be able to DO this, after struggling so much with my first design and finally giving up.

trish

 

[allen wranch]

I use a tarp on the top of my hoop house summer and winter, but leave the sides and ends open in the summer. In the winter I cover everything except the door end with heavy plastic. If it gets really really cold, I can hang a heat lamp over the roost.

However, my hoop house is three panels long so there is room to get out of the rain. If you have a smaller hoop, you have to remember that rain will come in the sides and ends.

 

[GoodEgg]

More to think about ... I thank you for the info, Carla!

I couldn't find the RedBrand here (exept cattle wire). And it took some doing to find panels that were more than 30" tall. I finally found the right size, although it will cost a little more than I had hoped.

Still, I HAVE to get this done.

I don't like the thought of them getting wet ... mine will be about 10' x 9' (just under). I'll have to figure out a way to balance ventilation/weatherproofing. I might just have to baby-sit them a bit but I won't mind, as long as they are outside and safe.

I think I'll put it close to the house so I can run a heat lamp if I need to (or close to the garage, it has electricity. Dunno if they will need it here, but it won't be well insulated so they may.

Thanks for all the help and information!

trish

 

[JFL1950]

I got my wire at TSC a few weeks back they cost around $17.00 each and have all the lumber ready to build a few for our ducks and later our chickens. Ducks grow so much faster and are very messy.
Got some 10" wheels at Harbor Supply this weekend for $4.98 each.
Think I'll have to cover the wire I got with chicken wire to keep the racoons out as I think they might be able to get threw the opens in the panels.
The wife said she saw 4 eagles the other day so we need to cover our chicken run with bird netting we got at Home Depot $19.95 14' x 45' I think.