Our coop rebuild, need a rework on the interior

Before I punched myself in the face unplugging my saw... I moved the nest boxes. (I’m going to get some of those pre fab ones later, these will have to do for now) next is to change up the cat flip door, and figure out a poo tray over it, and install some ramps and roost bars. I found some awesome old bannister in the shop I can cut to fit. Does anyone have “chicken swings” just thinking it might be fun to do with the short pieces of roost left overs... since I have rafters to hang them from.
 

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Chicken wire is not predator proof. Unless you're planning to run hot wire I'd definitely go with at least hardware cloth or welded wire, or layer the two. No openings larger than 1/2".

so far the only predators I’ve got are hawks and rattlesnakes. The mouse/bunny population suggests that other than the coyotes that never make it to the yard because of the neighbors mules stomping the hell out of them or neighboring dogs, I THINK I’m relatively safe with the chicken wire. But I’ll send DH to store for hardwarecloth better safe than sorry. I’ve never seen a weasel or raccoon here (yet)... but my colt managed to get porcupine quills in an area that really “shouldn’t” have porcupine Soo who knows

I think I will add one chicken swing just for kicks and see how it goes.

building new roost bars today, going to line the top of the cat condo with a tarp/drop cloth so the lid can still open, and fill that tarp “box” with shavings under the roosts.
 
Ok my helpers and I were very busy this morning. I did block off some nest boxes, installed the tarp and more roost area over it. Added a ramp to get up there safely. Moved all the feeders where they shouldn’t theoretically get pooped in. extra Ventilation needs to wait til DH has some days off so I don’t ruin the whole thing.
 

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Ok my helpers and I were very busy this morning.

Can't help but smile at the kittens playing in the boxes!

But I’ll send DH to store for hardwarecloth better safe than sorry. I’ve never seen a weasel or raccoon here (yet)...

I never saw a weasel around here until one ran past me on the driveway... it was heading off the lot so away it went. Never saw a bobcat either before until I looked out my window while having dinner and one was standing next to the chicken run, eyeing them. It's amazing the stuff that shows up when you have a bunch of chickens outside.
 
I’d keep all the animals in the house but he won’t let me 😂

I‘m almost as happy as the kittens are about the rework of the inside lol ... now my hens can’t sit over the door and poop on me when I come in. But everyone has room to roost, and there is a LOT more
Floor space and less human tripping over stuff.
Next, another coop (which will be built from the ground up) and a barn for the horse...

I was thinking when the horse gets his own house the cats can move there. Giving me that open space under the roost to brood my chicks, and introduce them to the others safely through chicken wire rather than the board wall that is there.

it’s all just a work in progress 🤪
 

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