Poop board convert *warning-graphic/gross poop pictures*

[Donna Lynn]

Hi Cheryl,

Photos are up of the coop! Check out my new thread.

DL

 

[debir1966]

Today we finally got the new chicken coop done enough to put in some chickens! We still need to do quite a bit - but I wanted to show our poop boards (sans Sweet PDZ - they were sold out when I went to buy some, hoping to get some this week) and how we built a brooder under one section.



We still have to put in the nest boxes (which will go on the left wall) and move the food and water under the poop board on the right wall. We used a 2x4 for one roost and a pole for the other to give the chickens a choice LOL.

The brooder will open with its own pop door to a small run for a grow out pen and there will be two runs accessed by seperate pop doors for the main area. Once the chickens are old enough, they will start free-ranging. I still need to integrate our older flock of 10 chickens with these youngens... I am thinking about adding one older chicken every few days, with the rooster being the last one added.

 

[binders]

Today we finally got the new chicken coop done enough to put in some chickens! We still need to do quite a bit - but I wanted to show our poop boards (sans Sweet PDZ - they were sold out when I went to buy some, hoping to get some this week) and how we built a brooder under one section.



We still have to put in the nest boxes (which will go on the left wall) and move the food and water under the poop board on the right wall. We used a 2x4 for one roost and a pole for the other to give the chickens a choice LOL.

The brooder will open with its own pop door to a small run for a grow out pen and there will be two runs accessed by seperate pop doors for the main area. Once the chickens are old enough, they will start free-ranging. I still need to integrate our older flock of 10 chickens with these youngens... I am thinking about adding one older chicken every few days, with the rooster being the last one added.

Nice coop! Did you build it yourselves? What size is it ans how many chickens so you have in it? I am in the process of building a coop so I have many questions. I really want and plan to use a poop board and PDZ. Thanks for sharing your picture.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today we finally got the new chicken coop done enough to put in some chickens! We still need to do quite a bit - but I wanted to show our poop boards (sans Sweet PDZ - they were sold out when I went to buy some, hoping to get some this week) and how we built a brooder under one section.



We still have to put in the nest boxes (which will go on the left wall) and move the food and water under the poop board on the right wall. We used a 2x4 for one roost and a pole for the other to give the chickens a choice LOL.

The brooder will open with its own pop door to a small run for a grow out pen and there will be two runs accessed by seperate pop doors for the main area. Once the chickens are old enough, they will start free-ranging. I still need to integrate our older flock of 10 chickens with these youngens... I am thinking about adding one older chicken every few days, with the rooster being the last one added.

I love your coop layout, especially the brooder pen right there with the flock!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[debir1966]

binders: Thank you! Yes, my husband built it! I owe him big time now LOL. The coop is 8x12, the poop boards are 2 feet wide with 2x4 sides, so the back brooder is about 2 1/2 feet wide by 8 foot long. He made it so I can use a board to divide it in half for when we have new chickies, then open it up as they get bigger. We made the poop boards about 3 feet tall that is why we added the chicken ladder. We put the roosts 8-9 inches above the poop boards. We plan to have a total of 25-30 chickens, but we are also covering part of their run so they will have extra space during the winter. From spring - fall they will be free-ranged (not in a run).

The one thing I would do different is how high I would have made the boards seperating the brooder from the rest of the coop and how high the human door and pop doors are because I want to do the deep litter method and the "rim" is only one flat 2x4 deep.... not sure how that is going to work out!

jchny2000: Thank you! I love it too

We are not quite done, still have to do the siding on the outside and the tin roof and few other things (we are building lexan windows that will hinge at the bottom and bolt open or closed), etc. But I was anxious to get the chickens in! We had chickens in every nook and cranny we could find LOL, waiting for the chicken house to be ready. I have had chickens in my house since June 29th (two different hatches) and have been more than ready to get them out of the house LOL.

The smaller chicks in the brooder area are 4 1/2 weeks old and the turkeys and bigger chicks will be 2 months old tomorrow. We have had the older chicks in two seperate trailers converted to temporary brooders until today.

We are still debating whether we want to go with inside nest boxes or outside ones to save some more floor space since I want so many chickens LOL. My only problem with outside ones is it wiould be nicer in the winter with several feet of snow on the ground to be able to gather the eggs INSIDE the chicken house I think.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

to debir1966
ya know, that chicken math.. gets ya every time

I am swapping & trading all the time now, but the geese and guineas always stay.
I want BO's and LO's for my layers, plan to buy in the spring.
Just added 25 Cornish X tonight but they are quarantined for now.
I see so many things you have done I am so excited now!
Did you paint the insides of the poop boxes?
my DH is gonna hate me!
( LOL just joking, i do most of it myself)

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Just wanted to share a picture of our roost/poop board as we just got it all finished yesterday.


Thanks to everyone here for the help and ideas.

This looks so awesome. I keep reading that the 4" side of the 2 X 4 is better for them. I have tried both ways and they seem t find more immediate stability on the 4" side. On the short side they would often lose balance at the beginning and end up having to fly down. This just all IMO, but I have read where others have had the same experience.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Today we finally got the new chicken coop done enough to put in some chickens! We still need to do quite a bit - but I wanted to show our poop boards (sans Sweet PDZ - they were sold out when I went to buy some, hoping to get some this week) and how we built a brooder under one section.



We still have to put in the nest boxes (which will go on the left wall) and move the food and water under the poop board on the right wall. We used a 2x4 for one roost and a pole for the other to give the chickens a choice LOL.

The brooder will open with its own pop door to a small run for a grow out pen and there will be two runs accessed by seperate pop doors for the main area. Once the chickens are old enough, they will start free-ranging. I still need to integrate our older flock of 10 chickens with these youngens... I am thinking about adding one older chicken every few days, with the rooster being the last one added.

Wow. The brooder under the poop boards is catching on quickly. It looks fabulous in there. I love the idea of separate pop doors. You guys have really thought this out as far as integration. Goes. I'm back into renovation mode.

that's me. DH will be

 

[Donna Lynn]

Very Nice! Those will be very happy chickens and I love the brooder being right in with the rest so everybody gets used to each other! More photos as you complete your coop, please!

 

[debir1966]

This looks so awesome. I keep reading that the 4" side of the 2 X 4 is better for them. I have tried both ways and they seem t find more immediate stability on the 4" side. On the short side they would often lose balance at the beginning and end up having to fly down. This just all IMO, but I have read where others have had the same experience.

We almost didn't put the wide side up. Our old chicken house (built by someone else) has 2 inch wide roosts... and it took some convincing to get my husband to agree to put the wide side up.. but he is the one who decided to use a pole for the other roost ... incase the chickens had a preference LOL.

jchny2000: We didn't paint anything yet. I had thought about painting the inside of the walls, but we decided not to... then we thought about painting the floor, again decided not to (I think we are eventually going to lay down some linoleum). The only other thing I may do to the poop boards is seal up any larger gaps if needed (caulk). DH is not convinced it will be needed, so we will see

Missa Chickabee: LOVED the brooder under the poop boards idea! Were you the first to post it? I have the pic saved but not a name After raising 2 sets of chickens in the house for 4 weeks each... yeah, it was something that was a definite in the new coop design LOL. This way we can have new chickies in the house for a week or two (if we want) and then the dusty... smellly little boogers can go out to the coop! and by the time they are big enough to be put in with the flock, there should be less upset because they were right there When we don't have baby chicks in it I am going to use it for a broody pen for hens to set eggs or a broody break pen.