Well I got my first chicks in November. And I was in love from the first peeps in the post office. DBF was not so enamored, but he was understanding and always willing to help when I asked.
In my head I've been planning for my next coop, as I'm hoping to get at least 6 more chicks this spring (they're like potato chips lol). But with those additions means I need another coop. I currently have an A-frame (that I've posted on here). And while it's a great coop, especially when it's pointed out that it was free, it's full of design flaws that I really am starting to dislike. The doors are setup so that I have no access to the easiest places to put waterers and feeders; I can't easily reach everywhere in the coop; and it is impossible to reach 80% of the underneath part of the run (picture me climbing in the coop to reach through the hatch to snatch reluctant chickies, who know how to use the ramp but are pretending they don't
). So I definitely have a few things that are high on my list for the new coop.
DBF is a carpenter, so I've been trying to pick his brain without overwhelming him with the idea of a much bigger flock. Well fast forward to a few weeks ago. I bought some plastic fence to enlarge the run for the chickies during the day. DBF helped me put it up and smiled as he watched them flap their wings as they ran all over the new run. Well Monday he totally surprised me. I was sitting in the sunshine in the run watching the chicks run around. He started asking me questions about what I would change about the coop, what dimensions I would have liked, etc. Then he says "I've been thinking about laying the next one out like this ..." I almost fell off the bucket I was sitting on.
He's been planning the next coop!
So after listening to his great ideas I told him what I'd been planning. I'd collected 8 pallets from around town that I was planning on basically screwing together and adding plywood. I told him what I had pictured, and he listened and made suggestions. And then said "Well we can do both..." I was speechless ... so I took him to his favorite place for lunch, the local mexican place. Best way to a man's heart and whatnot
He's now started asking about how to raise ducks (which I'm very excited about), pheasants, and quail. I really can't believe this ... oh the powers of fuzzy butts!
Soooo .... now to the real point of my post. Haha! We managed to get loads of free metal, it's the metal roofing variety, and a very pretty green. I went over and looked at the first load this evening and it got me thinking (and DBF is at a conference so I can't pick his brain again). Can I use the metal sheets as walls in the coop? We don't get terribly cold winters, and really does the plywood in the A-frame I have now insulate more than the metal would?
Let me know what y'all think
In my head I've been planning for my next coop, as I'm hoping to get at least 6 more chicks this spring (they're like potato chips lol). But with those additions means I need another coop. I currently have an A-frame (that I've posted on here). And while it's a great coop, especially when it's pointed out that it was free, it's full of design flaws that I really am starting to dislike. The doors are setup so that I have no access to the easiest places to put waterers and feeders; I can't easily reach everywhere in the coop; and it is impossible to reach 80% of the underneath part of the run (picture me climbing in the coop to reach through the hatch to snatch reluctant chickies, who know how to use the ramp but are pretending they don't
DBF is a carpenter, so I've been trying to pick his brain without overwhelming him with the idea of a much bigger flock. Well fast forward to a few weeks ago. I bought some plastic fence to enlarge the run for the chickies during the day. DBF helped me put it up and smiled as he watched them flap their wings as they ran all over the new run. Well Monday he totally surprised me. I was sitting in the sunshine in the run watching the chicks run around. He started asking me questions about what I would change about the coop, what dimensions I would have liked, etc. Then he says "I've been thinking about laying the next one out like this ..." I almost fell off the bucket I was sitting on.
So after listening to his great ideas I told him what I'd been planning. I'd collected 8 pallets from around town that I was planning on basically screwing together and adding plywood. I told him what I had pictured, and he listened and made suggestions. And then said "Well we can do both..." I was speechless ... so I took him to his favorite place for lunch, the local mexican place. Best way to a man's heart and whatnot
He's now started asking about how to raise ducks (which I'm very excited about), pheasants, and quail. I really can't believe this ... oh the powers of fuzzy butts!
Soooo .... now to the real point of my post. Haha! We managed to get loads of free metal, it's the metal roofing variety, and a very pretty green. I went over and looked at the first load this evening and it got me thinking (and DBF is at a conference so I can't pick his brain again). Can I use the metal sheets as walls in the coop? We don't get terribly cold winters, and really does the plywood in the A-frame I have now insulate more than the metal would?
Let me know what y'all think
