Please Criticize My Coop In Progress

[3KillerBs]

I would put the chicken wire on top of the tarp. It's easier to attach to the frame and will prevent the tarp from blowing as much.

The problem with that -- outside the fragile nature of chicken wire -- is that even the best tarps in the most clement of climates will only last a few years and then you'll have a terrible time getting it off in order to replace it.

 

[Geckolady]

The problem with that -- outside the fragile nature of chicken wire -- is that even the best tarps in the most clement of climates will only last a few years and then you'll have a terrible time getting it off in order to replace it.

And the chicken wire would probably tear up the tarp, especially in high winds. The chicken wire is coated, but that would only slow down the process.

 

[Katanahamon]

There are staples and then there are staples.

The little, hand-staple gun staples holding the tarp on my brooder are no good:

The larger, but still narrow-crowned staples I used on these doors are better, but I'm going to put in an extra row for reinforcement:

The fence staples shot in by our heavy-duty stapler are secure:

Yeah..my air compressor staple gun is not nearly that big..the staples are smaller..it was ok to tack up stuff, or secure enough for curtains, or making sure rubber mats don’t move, stuff like that..

 

[3KillerBs]

Yeah..my air compressor staple gun is not nearly that big..the staples are smaller..it was ok to tack up stuff, or secure enough for curtains, or making sure rubber mats don’t move, stuff like that..

Yeah. I can use the one for the narrow-crown staples, but I can't handle the big one unless I can put all the staples in a place where I can brace it on my hip -- which isn't very useful.

 

[Happy hen lover]

And the chicken wire would probably tear up the tarp, especially in high winds. The chicken wire is coated, but that would only slow down the process.

I'd love to see your Dorkings and your progress on coop and run when you have time. Pretty please. Bonus on garage sale panels I love it when a plan comes together.

 

[Geckolady]

I'd love to see your Dorkings and your progress on coop and run when you have time. Pretty please. Bonus on garage sale panels I love it when a plan comes together.

LOL, they would have been in it already, but we've had thunderstorms every day lately starting from the time I get home from work until dark. There will be an update.

 

[Geckolady]

OK, I just ran out to take a few pictures of it as it is right now, but it started pouring rain, so I quickly took two pictures and ran back to the house. Here is the top of the run, using the wire from the yard sale. It's sturdy mesh, not the lightweight stuff. Inside the coop, there is 1/4" hardware cloth bent to fit, and waiting for me to hog ring it to the sides of the run.

And here is the roost I made. The wood is about 3" wide. It's about 3 feet off the floor, and is actually far enough from the ramp to keep it from getting full of poop. The picture just wasn't taken at a good angle. I tried to make the perch removable for cleaning, but still sturdy enough not to come off when chickens fly off of it. You can also see the lip I added behind the nest boxes to keep nesting material in.

The frame on the top is for a tarp, and I want to put some sort of barrier over the bottom half of the screen door because water gets in when it rains. I don't want the floor to be full of wet straw. And I got a lock for the front gate.

After that, it should be ready for the chickens.

 

[Geckolady]

At last! The four Dorkings went into the coop this morning! They didn't stay outside long. It was hot, so they went inside. Here are two of them checking out the nest boxes, and one examining the ramp:

 

[Geckolady]

OK, a quick update. I got some more run panels identical to the ones you see here off Craigslist, and as soon as I get a day with good weather, I plan to expand that run. It will be 10' x 16', giving them 160 square feet of run. The expansion will be off to one side only which will look a little weird, but the land has a steep drop off to the left that you can't see in the pictures. I have to work around it.

And as soon as possible, the Dorkings will be moving out and the Leghorns in, because those friendly Dorkings keep trying to sneak out when I open the gate door to bring food and water or go inside to clean. Then I have to catch them and put them inside while the others try to escape. I go near the door, and they run to me. I've already tripped over them and spilled all their food. If one of them took off down the drop off, it would be difficult to catch it, and I don't want a lost chicken in a place loaded with coyotes, etc. I put some of the Leghorns in with them, and the Leghorns have no desire to follow me out of the coop or mob me at the door. The Dorkings will be moved to another coop where the setup makes escape much harder to do.

 

[3KillerBs]

The expansion will be off to one side only which will look a little weird, but the land has a steep drop off to the left that you can't see in the pictures. I have to work around it.

IMO, an irregular shape is good -- it gives chickens a place to have subflocks.