Our first coop and 13 chicks

[Rayne17]

New chicken owner here. We started to build a coop with run a few weeks ago. Coop is 5x9, and attached run in 5x18. It will have a metal roof over coop and run. Coop will have 4 nest boxes and insulated walls. Run will have a 2 foot apron on the ground outside that is buried to keep predators out. Going to cover the whole run with chicken wire and then go around the bottom 4 feet with chain link fence for extra protection. I will also have some hard wire cloth around the bottom of the coop so chickens can go under there to cool off during hot weather.

Its been great to have a project to work on with my husband and daughter. (when she is home from collage to help) I can't wait till its done. The chicks are growing fast and getting board in there big apple bin house. Tell me what you think? And if i need to possibly change anything along the way.

Thanks for your input.



Stage one

Stage two

 

[Rayne17]

The first 5 chicks i brought home. They look like they are planning an escape in this picture. Then the next week i went to the farm store with my daughter so she could pick 3 chicks herself. Well that trip we came home with 6 chicks. And added 2 more two weeks later. I was determined to own just one silver laced waynedotte, but i could not get just one SLW chick to house alone until she was big enough to put with the 2 and 3 week old chicks, so i got 2 and have them separate from the others until about 8 weeks of age.

First 5 chicks

Chicks at 4 and 5 weeks old

 

[RJRust]

Neat!! Can't wait to see the coop in it's finished glory!!

 

[chickerdoodle]

from Oregon! Your babies are so darling!!

Have you had chickens before?


We just got our bundles of joy Wednesday. Hubby is currently building the coop. It will be a Forte Knox--all 1/2" hardware cloth, 2x4's and the entire run and hen-house is covered like the playhouse one by Dennis but much larger. The paint will be the base and trim of our home flipped (trim of house is English Rose and will the main part on coop and base of Glen Ivy on House will be trim on coop). Isn't this fun??

 

[Rayne17]

This is the first time we have owned chickens. So everything is new to us. I have been reading lots of info from this site and have a good book about raising chickens. Its been fun watching them grow. I am already planning on more next spring. Here is another picture of our progress. Husband is now working on the nest boxes and windows, and i am working on insulation and painting. More pics tomorrow.

Rayne

 

[MommyToThree]

Quote:
That sounds like what I did!! My husband and I went and got 8 chicks and I was happy. Then the store where I got them was having a special, for one day if you bought 25 lbs of chick starter you got 5 free chicks (this was 1 month after we got the first 8). Well they opened at 9 and when I got there at 11 with my mom the free chicks were gone so my mom bought me 4. Then almost two weeks ago I was in the same store and they had the easter egger chickens that lay possibly green/blue/pink eggs!!!! I texted my husband and asked him (he had already hinted at the fact that we had enough chicks) if he would kill me if I got another as long as I promised we would be getting rid of the two extra roos we have. All he texted me back was "whatever". Well when he got home he asked me what I was going to do with one ckicken that was not like the rest...one I said...I bought three. Well, he wasn't quite as excited as me to have more but just wait till he sees the pretty eggs!! Ok, he won't really care, but I sure do. And I must admit, I have since went back to the "chick store" as my 3 year old puts it and didn't come home with more. But I keep thinking about these two that I really wanted! Hubby just rolled his eyes. But I know I can't have all the chickens in the world...but come next spring...well I have all year to work on him!!!!! (He is a GREAT husband!!!)

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

"They look like they are planning an escape in this picture."

I think they're actually discussing who is sleeping where once the coop is finished...I don't think they'll want to escape from such a fine home!

 

[Rayne17]

Loads of work done on the coop this weekend. This was the best picture i could get before it got to dark. My husband worked all day on it. I finished the insulation, when i got home from my real job. He put the metal roof on and wired it for one outlet and light switch. The boards on the end are a little wind break. We have lots of strong wind gusts out here. So we made it nice and cozy inside too.

Rayne

 

[MotherJean]

Super professional job. You're really doing yourselves proud.

 

[Silkiefan]

from Eastern Oregon, and is RAYNE really your name? I have a family member with that name - exact spelling too!
Nice coop, and sweet chick pic! (but really, "Rayne"? how cool is that?)