post your chicken coop pictures here!

[NanaNeen]

Ours is stapled to the frame. Works well with wood staples.

Hardware cloth comes in different widths. We just put wood braces at the right distances to staple with as little cutting of the wire as possible.

 

[UtahHenHelper]

Here's mine.

 

[TerryH]

Here's mine.

Nice looking setup. Like the PVC feeder and waterer. Good job!!

 

[UtahHenHelper]

Thank you! I did learn however, make sure those nipples are fitting correctly. I have two hairline leaks. One under the nipple and one where it goes from 4" to 1 1/4". Bummer to find that out after filling up the pipe. . Waiting for it to drain it's first time or may spray some of that new Flexseal stuff on it. Otherwise, they figure this out in minutes.

 

[bruceha2000]

Turkey forum says they dont use nest boxes so i wont have to build any i guess

Do they just make nests on the ground then?? The only turkeys I've seen were either ready to cook or wild ones in the fields.

Save me. I caught my husband looking at coop/run ideas.

Nothing wrong with doing it right TJ! Or are you concerned he'll never finish if he keeps looking for expansion ideas?

Just got the suggestion i needed to start another project (extension of this one). I'm going to check if my current heaters will fit in a 4" pvc pipe? If so I'm going to train my chicks to use nipples. They spill more than they drink and even though i hang them as high as possible to allow them to drink, they still get the waterers pretty messey.

A submersible aquarium heater will slide into any PVC pipe of a suitably large diameter for nipples either horizontal or vertical. I use one in my 5 gallon drink cooler (which feeds the saddle nipples) when it gets down to about 15F. Between that and 32F I have a stock tank heater in there.

This Is My coop. I ended up using a headboard and footboard from an old bed frame, wood from another old bed frame and then some old wood to build this. It's not pretty like everyone else's, but it is all I had to work with for now. Built this in two days. Has a second floor just for the hens to lay their eggs.

Chickens will sleep as high as they can get. If the nests are higher than the roosts, your nest boxes will be full of chickens at night and poop by morning.

Quote:
I thought the bike bottles and holders were very slick NanaNeen. But as you said later winter water is a different thing entirely. If anyone isn't set up for that, remember that chickens (like us) don't drink while they are asleep so you could just bring the bottles in at night and bring them out with warm water (so it doesn't freeze TOO fast) in the morning.

I think the sched 40 PVC pipe is a good idea.
First it is opaque - NO algae will grow in there unlike "containers" that let in any amount of light. If it is covered, it is unlikely you would need to clean it more than maybe once a year if that.
Second, as @gpeters3 said, you can make it work almost anywhere. Tall pipe outside the coop/run for easy filling but have the water accessible inside for example.

That's why we came up with the nipple valve waterers and treadle feeders to stave off the wild bird mooching.

The wild birds eat NOTHING compared to the !@#$% woodchucks. I thought about making a treadle feeder but a woodchuck would have NO problem putting enough weight on it to still eat all the food. And if the couldn't get into it they would just eat through the wood (how much wood would a woodchuck chuck ...) unless it was made of metal. I'm working on convincing the chucks that they would like to live somewhere else.

Mine coop is 1800 sqft, has running water, electric and a forced air furnace

Hmmm, I think you have a coop a WEE bit larger than average for this forum

My mother, who is in her early 50s, saw our coop and said she was coming to live in the chicken coop when she reaches retirement age. Haha.

Hmmm, someone here is a LOT younger than others of us

They are much more likely to need warm boots. It gets down to -10 here and they dont seem to care. Two of my bantams lost a couple of toes but may be due to metal pipe roosts or accidents. Sweaters are cute but i wouldn't use them except at a show. (Probably not allowed)

I trust the chicken sweaters were a joke (though sadly wouldn't bet on it). My chickens have repeatedly seen -20F over the last 4 winters, no damaged toes. I go with your pipe roost theory.

FINALLY finished the run! Our $200 craigslist coop and the run we built for my 16 girls (well, 13 girls and possible 3 roosters)

I would like advice on a top for the run. What works best to keep hawks/eagles/ravens etc out? We get lots of snow in winter so I need something that it won't pile up on and break it down. Is bird netting sufficient? The girls are locked up tight inside the coop at night so not terribly worried about raccoons climbing in. I haven't seen any around during the day.
It's about 14x20. Thanks for any suggestions!

Are the raptors around all year or absent in the winter? if they aren't around in the winter and you find your covering holds snow, you can take it off.

Quote:
Get rid of the heat lamp and brood you birds outside. More natural and no threat of a fire in your coop:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

Nice cattle panel run!

It's foolish to believe that there are no predators...

Here is my go to argument, first I ask them if they have ever seen a cute little bunny in or around their yard or in neighborhood and also if there is any vegetation left in their yard or neighborhood... Without fail they will say yes they have seen a bunny and yes there is vegetation... I then ask them how many millions upon millions of rabbits they now in the yard and/or neighborhood since they have ample food and no predators and they generally look bewildered...

I then refer them to this site... http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/scary.html

More importantly this table that shows how fast rabbits reproduce and multiply if there is no predation and an able food supply, this from a SINGLE pregnant bunny...


Love the example MeepBeep.

.....
I've often considered getting a high power pellet gun but haven't fully justified it yet.

Me too, though I haven't got your firearm background. But I look at the 4 instances of "predators" I've had.

• 2 years ago, about this time in fact, one hen went missing. Found some feathers behind the barn. Probably a fox.
• Last year heard one of my hens making a big racket. Looked out the window and saw a fox had her by the throat. I ran out, the fox ran one way the hen another way. Went to find her, counting chickens as I went. Couldn't find one. Found several piles of feathers that had been on her earlier in the day.
• Later in the summer 2 dogs (first loose dogs in 4 years of living here) came through and chased the girls. It happened that my wife and 22 Y/O daughter were outside and chased them off.

So I think, if I got the pellet gun and proper training and practiced a lot so I could be sure I would hit what I was aiming at what would have been different in the above instances?

Nothing. Never saw the fox that got Andromeda 2 years ago or Laura last year. Possibly could have hit the fox that had grabbed Echo before it got to the tree line (so it couldn't ever come back since the hen was no longer in danger). I didn't even see the dogs. So UNLESS I was out, gun in hand all the time, I could not have kept any of those things from happening. I'm just lucky Echo sent out an alarm and the fox hadn't killed or damaged her badly (only missing some neck feathers) before I ran outside.

Finished my coop!



So, I went and picked up three pullets!

Geez you did that ALL WRONG!!!!! You are supposed to get the chickens THEN start on the coop while you raise them in the house for "just a week or so". No drama in your life at all

Gaining on my coop. Got the inside painted and the roof coating on the floor. Also got the white on the outside. It's getting closer!! Chicks are growing. The pressure is on.

I removed the doors from the storage cabinet so they could also get painted inside and out.

That is far too nice for chickens, you should rent it out to a college student.

Here's mine.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mdm61

Built from scrap lumber.


Love the look of the "chimney" feeders, almost looks like the chickens could have their own woodstove inside.

 

[TerryH]

My mother, who is in her early 50s, saw our coop and said she was coming to live in the chicken coop when she reaches retirement age. Haha.

You Mom is in her 50's?? Oh lawd.

 

[beautifulpirate]

Terry, I'm 31 Even younger at heart!

 

[Latestarter]

I aggree Deb, thats why i sold all mine. I found out even i could be tempted to use one inappropriately and i took all the classes and studied gun handling with a passion. As I said, most gun owners have not earned the right to own one, it was just given to them and that is scary. Lets see some stats on who most often gets shot by who...i did study that a little.

I'm sorry, but you are absolutely wrong. EVERY (law abiding) American has the guaranteed RIGHT to not only own a gun, but to carry one... It's called the second amendment. It's wrong that govt charges $$ from people who wish to exercise that right. It's wrong that govt requires a person to ask permission (which could be denied with no recourse) to exercise that right. And when it gets to the point that idiots (yes, IDIOTS) decide that amendment no longer holds merit and must be eliminated, then it will become time for a 2nd American revolution. If that amendment can be removed, then which one gets removed next? the 1st? Freedom of speech does NOT give anyone the right to scream "FIRE" in a crowded theater anymore than the second gives anyone the right to harm another with a gun. There are plenty of stats out there about who shoots who, and like any/all statistics they can be made to support whatever position you choose to support. CRIMINALS who use guns to commit CRIMINAL acts should be prosecuted and punished accordingly. Punishing LAW ABIDING gun owners for something they "might/could" do, or for what criminals do, is ridiculous.

What's scary is the govt removing guns from LAW ABIDING Americans by unconstitutional "laws" when criminals (by definition) do NOT obey laws, and so will still have guns which the disarmed populace will no longer have the ability to countermand. I have the God given right to self defense and to defense of my belongings and loved ones, which no govt has the right to remove or legislate away. If those who would prey on me will be armed with guns, then what chance do I have to exercise my right to life if I can't be equally armed? And yes, a fox may indeed kill one of my chickens because I wasn't "right there" when it happened, to be able to stop it. However, it's equally possible that I COULD be right there to stop it. Removing my ability to do so guarantees that fox/coyote/stray dog/whatever the ability to eat my chickens any time it wants to or is able to.

If you choose not to own guns for whatever reason, that is your right and choice. To force that choice on others is NOT your right. Now having said all that, I completely agree that people who are choosing to exercise their right to gun ownership should receive training, and learn the responsibilities of gun ownership and use. This used to be provided by parents as part of raising their kids. I'm sorry to say that many parents have turned their parenting responsibilities over to govt and govt sponsored entities like the public school system. Just one of many social problems this nation is experiencing that can not be "legislated" away.

It will be interesting to see if those who disagree with this position "flag" this post, causing it to be removed, which removes/eliminates my 1st amendment rights to freedom of speech....

 

[junebuggena]

I'm sorry, but you are absolutely wrong. EVERY (law abiding) American has the guaranteed RIGHT to not only own a gun, but to carry one... It's called the second amendment. It's wrong that govt charges $$ from people who wish to exercise that right. It's wrong that govt requires a person to ask permission (which could be denied with no recourse) to exercise that right. And when it gets to the point that idiots (yes, IDIOTS) decide that amendment no longer holds merit and must be eliminated, then it will become time for a 2nd American revolution. If that amendment can be removed, then which one gets removed next? the 1st? Freedom of speech does NOT give anyone the right to scream "FIRE" in a crowded theater anymore than the second gives anyone the right to harm another with a gun. There are plenty of stats out there about who shoots who, and like any/all statistics they can be made to support whatever position you choose to support. CRIMINALS who use guns to commit CRIMINAL acts should be prosecuted and punished accordingly. Punishing LAW ABIDING gun owners for something they "might/could" do, or for what criminals do, is ridiculous.

What's scary is the govt removing guns from LAW ABIDING Americans by unconstitutional "laws" when criminals (by definition) do NOT obey laws, and so will still have guns which the disarmed populace will no longer have the ability to countermand. I have the God given right to self defense and to defense of my belongings and loved ones, which no govt has the right to remove or legislate away. If those who would prey on me will be armed with guns, then what chance do I have to exercise my right to life if I can't be equally armed? And yes, a fox may indeed kill one of my chickens because I wasn't "right there" when it happened, to be able to stop it. However, it's equally possible that I COULD be right there to stop it. Removing my ability to do so guarantees that fox/coyote/stray dog/whatever the ability to eat my chickens any time it wants to or is able to.

If you choose not to own guns for whatever reason, that is your right and choice. To force that choice on others is NOT your right. Now having said all that, I completely agree that people who are choosing to exercise their right to gun ownership should receive training, and learn the responsibilities of gun ownership and use. This used to be provided by parents as part of raising their kids. I'm sorry to say that many parents have turned their parenting responsibilities over to govt and govt sponsored entities like the public school system. Just one of many social problems this nation is experiencing that can not be "legislated" away.

It will be interesting to see if those who disagree with this position "flag" this post, causing it to be removed, which removes/eliminates my 1st amendment rights to freedom of speech....

The only reason this could get flagged is that is has nothing to do with coops. But if that's the case, then the person you were responding to should be equally flagged. All you did was state some inconvenient truths....

 

[perchie.girl]

I aggree Deb, thats why i sold all mine. I found out even i could be tempted to use one inappropriately and i took all the classes and studied gun handling with a passion. As I said, most gun owners have not earned the right to own one, it was just given to them and that is scary. Lets see some stats on who most often gets shot by who...i did study that a little.

Yep.... Id rather rely on my ability to slip out the door and fade into the desert. they can have my stuff.... the stuff I treasure is not obvious.

deb