- Jun 22, 2013
- 8
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Hi guys! I thought I'd share our coop design and progress. Never know who might benefit from our ideas/mistakes! We are still in the building process and our chicks are due to arrive the week of July 15th, so we still have quite a few weeks before they'll be making any use of the coop. Here's what we have so far:
6/27
It is raised 3' off the ground. Our run will extend out from the right side for a total run area of 8' x 16'. We plan to keep 8-10 hens, so I think everyone will have enough space. The coop looks rather small here, but is actually 8' x 6', there will be two 6' roosts and 4 nesting boxes inside. I hope they enjoy it!
6/29
The two larger openings you see here will be working windows (covered from the inside with hardware cloth) and the third smaller opening will be the door with a ramp for the chickens to enter and exit. There will also be 3" of venting along the top of the two 8' walls.
We popped one of the windows in just for the photo, but this gives an idea of what it will look like.
The open space here will have a door that folds down for cleaning. With the help of a rake we should be able to scrape all the bedding out and replenish with new whenever necessary. The last wall (facing the woods), which I didn't snap a picture of, will have four 1' x 1' nest boxes with another folding door that extends the length of all four boxes so we have quick, easy access to the eggs.
We need some more plywood, but after this we plan to add vinyl siding (leftover from our house), a metal roof (salvaged), and eventually get the run all set up. The run will be 7' tall and enclosed with chicken wire (including the top). We will reinforce the bottom 2 or 3 feet with 1/2in x 1/2in hardware cloth all the way around. Hopefully it will be enough to deter predators, but any advice in that area is welcome.
I'll be sure to stop by with more pictures as we progress!
6/27
It is raised 3' off the ground. Our run will extend out from the right side for a total run area of 8' x 16'. We plan to keep 8-10 hens, so I think everyone will have enough space. The coop looks rather small here, but is actually 8' x 6', there will be two 6' roosts and 4 nesting boxes inside. I hope they enjoy it!
6/29
The two larger openings you see here will be working windows (covered from the inside with hardware cloth) and the third smaller opening will be the door with a ramp for the chickens to enter and exit. There will also be 3" of venting along the top of the two 8' walls.
We popped one of the windows in just for the photo, but this gives an idea of what it will look like.
The open space here will have a door that folds down for cleaning. With the help of a rake we should be able to scrape all the bedding out and replenish with new whenever necessary. The last wall (facing the woods), which I didn't snap a picture of, will have four 1' x 1' nest boxes with another folding door that extends the length of all four boxes so we have quick, easy access to the eggs.
We need some more plywood, but after this we plan to add vinyl siding (leftover from our house), a metal roof (salvaged), and eventually get the run all set up. The run will be 7' tall and enclosed with chicken wire (including the top). We will reinforce the bottom 2 or 3 feet with 1/2in x 1/2in hardware cloth all the way around. Hopefully it will be enough to deter predators, but any advice in that area is welcome.
I'll be sure to stop by with more pictures as we progress!
