phase I of coop almost done -- almost final pics added

[LaMamaGallina]

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[siouxbee]

Whoo hoo!!! The chicks are OUT OF MY HOUSE! I don't know who's more relieved, me or them. Ok, it's probably me.

Right now they're all sleeping in a corner, but I put a light in their window for tonight to help them adjust to their new space. Before I did that they were all huddled on top of one another under the window. Now they're in the other corner a little more spread out and comfie.

No sign of racoons that I can see, but it's pouring and all around the coop is mud, so prints will be obvious in the morning. I'll have to look into those traps. I'm not sure if I could catch the whole family at once and I don't know enough about racoons to know if the babies would survive without the moms. plus I'm willing to bet that if we get rid of this family, more would move in to fill her space. either that or the foxes that live on my next door neighbor's front yard would be over here. that's why we're trying to go overboard with protective measures.

Only problem is -- I sealed up my camera inside the coop with the chicks, so I can't post my pics yet. I used old window latches to shut the door up the ladder from the bottom, since we hadn't finished putting on the door to the run below.

I also used old window latches to shut the two back doors, as well as a lock that I can put a padlock in. One of the back door panels is warped, so for tonight I dug a hole about 6 feet out and jammed a 2x4 against it to help keep it shut. maybe more window latches tomorrow.

It was pouring, and fireworks were going off constantly as we were rushing to get the girls in, the poor things. we just brought the tractor right over and lined up the doors. my kids got some scratch and convinced the girls that they wanted to go in the new run. then had to pick them up and put them at the top of the ladder so they'd go up inside. not the greatest intro to the coop I'd wanted, but at least they're in there. I can at least see through the window that they're safe and dry.

I'll post my pics tomorrow once I rescue my camera. All our tools and stuff are in the nesting boxes, so I tacked on a piece of plywood to cover the entrances so they don't go in there and get hurt or poop all over it til they're ready to lay eggs.

 

[aran]

get a gun and have your husband dispatch those coons!

 

[siouxbee]

Ok, I went out to see the girls again, and unlocked the fortress so I could snag my camera. So, without further ado, here are the most updated pics. The worksite is a bit messy, and we'll eventually put grass and stuff around it, as well as another 8x8 coop attached to teh front of it, but:

the coop with the tractor/run almost attached. still need to attach the hinges of the doors to each structure. And roof both as well. we've just been resting the corrugated plastic stuff (on top of the coop in this pic) on the tractor to keep cats, etc. out. Now that the coop is done I hope to put in the screws to secure it.

the front and side of the run are covered in hardware cloth

the bottom of the back is mostly plywood, with a little ventilation at the top.

the ladies enjoying their first evening out of the house.

I'm really glad we did the window, because our coop is not wired for electricity and I would have had no other way to light their first night. they seemed much happier once I put the light out for them.

i usually put the girls outside in their tractor, then eat my own breakfast and finally get out there with some food and water. and a feeding frenzy ensues.

The side where the tractor attaches will have a plywood door that will swing entirely out of the way, so that the tractor can be flush to the coop. And in place of the boards you see on top of the tractor to block the run, will be a hinged board that can flip up when it's docked, and that will hook up to something on the coop to help keep it all secure.

We still have to level the ground where the tractor sits, and I hope to plant some grass so it's not a mudbath out there all the time. But we're getting there!!