pics of coop/run's/potty box's/feeder's/waterer's & nest box's

KatyTheChickenLady

Bird of A Different Feather
11 Years
Dec 20, 2008
5,146
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Boise, Idaho
Hi, I'm getting a lot of email requests for pics of my coop again - I guess the warm weather has everyone out hammering (me too). I can't find my original thread so am going to post some pics as my email is not very pic friendly. Hope I can help some newbies and that I don't bore anyone who has seen it all before.

the bones of the coop while under construction; there are runs off of three sides all with two internal roosts. The runs can be split down the middle to make a total of 6. The wire is 1X2 welded wire, the wood is that cheap cherry landscape logs. I started with the roof of the run as chicken wire but I hate the way it sags and have switched to that white plastic lattice. Ihave clear corrugated plastic across the top back of each run for a rain free outside area. I did wrap that area in plastic sheeting for the hard part of winter.

19992_coop_update001.jpg


Here you can see the interior roosts, they are made from apx 2x4 cedar porch railing (nice curved edges) and are all on one level - no more fighting for the highest roost. The wire around them is that plastic chicken wire (cheap and easy to work with).

19992_chicken_corner_6001.jpg


these are the litter boxes under the roosts - they work great! they are from Home Depot in the cement mixing department. I put one coffee can of DE in at the start of the month, sprinkle apx 2 cups over the poop once a week, and only have to empty once a month, straight to the garden. NO ODOR!

19992_chicken_corner_6002.jpg


This is the bucket nipple waterer in action.

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These are the feeders; I started with curved bottoms but switched to the Y as the little ones were having trouble reaching in the curved.

19992_coop_update002.jpg


19992_meat_birds_022.jpg


I have since removed the ladders; they didn't use them at all. And also have moved the feeders to the inside as rain was blowing in them.

If you look at the water bucket picture you can see the area under the roost and litter box, that is where the nest boxes are (milk crates).

This has been a work in progress, feel free to ask questions.
this is what the coop started as:

19992_teanewth.jpg
 
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Did you use 2x4" or 2x2" lumber to construct the doors? Jazzed about the feeder idea. My coop is quite small and I've been trying to come up with a spacesaver solution. I'll probably make mine out of slightly smaller diameter pipe - pehaps 3" or 4". That should work, right? Also, what was your experience with the nipple waterer? Did you start your chicks out on this system or did you introduce it later? Wondering if the hens figured out the contraption on their own or if you had to show them how it works.
 
HOLY COW!
This is an amazing set up. I love it.

I assume the chickens have to stay in their section? Why are they kept separate?
Do you close the door to the runs at night so they stay in the roost area?

Also - does the inside close up at the front to keep them warm and safe at night?
 
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Yes the feeder is quite a space/time/waster saver. I think my "pipe" is 4" and I usually keep 7 adults or 12 juveniles to a pen; this size seems to let everyone eat when they want to. I made a big mistake mixing two kinds of feed in one pen, that pen now loves to throw all the feed on the ground searching for what they like. they are about to get switched to pellets.
As for the waterer I just rmoved the regular waterer for a few hours before I hung the new one, then I made sure to catch each bird and tap ther beak on the nipples; they got the idea right away. That pic was taken about 5 minutes after I put it in there for the first time. The chicks took to it immediatly as well. The only difficulty I have had is in the pens where I have mixed ages of chicks; low enough for ht little ones is to low for the big ones.
I used 2X2 to construct the run doors, some are working well and some not so well. I started this project with ZERO construction experience just me and the kids so some things are extremely . . . well wrong
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I will get you a better pic today of the doors from the runs to the inside. I leave them open in good weather and close them during wind or snow.
I changed the configuration of the gazebo a bit and added a door to the front.
The adult birds are kept 6 hens and 1 roo per pen for breeding purposes. The roos are rather possesive and will really fight if they get a chance. each run with a roo takes turns being let out to free range for the day.
 
I too am using watering nipples (avianaquamisers) and love them. So little maintenance and the water stays so clean! Mine were a bit expensive at about $10 each, but well worth it!
 

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