post your chicken coop pictures here!

[jtbass2756]

Peggy, I have the same exact coop. What kind of chickens do you have? Mine are silver and golden laced wyandottes so they will be largish girls when fully grown. I too have six and had planned to rehome two of them bc this coop was advertised for 4 chickens. Well, long story short, I am getting another coop because I cannot rehome...I'm too attached to them all at this point

. In my opinion, from what I can tell, this coop would only be big enough for three fully grown chickens. My girls are 10 weeks old and are not wanting to go in the coop at night because there is not enough room. My new coop should be here this week. Can't wait

. Anyway I just wanted to give you my opinion about the number of birds this coop might really hold. Good luck!

I have a small coop it is open with inside nesting boxes and only one roost but with 4 hens. It was gifted to me so I can't complain...So greatful to have it. It is totally 10x4' including the run.. I have 2 RIR, 1 brahma (big girl), and one GLW. They share the one roost but I wish I had another safe roost especially for my big brahma. The ceiling to the coop was made to garden with but had sat in the rain so it bowed. Not my room for them to roost under! If you have room in yours to stagger a couple of roosts without them pooping on each other........it would be great.You can see in the picts that I connected them and moved them under the front wing of our shed and cut a matching door in the front wall of the wing....it came with chicken wire, I just wrapped 1/4" hardware cloth wire over the top of that and we raised it up on tall cement blocks.. If you look thru the doors, you will see the whole coop....not much too it.

 

[Sylvester017]

Is this a good coop for 2 bantam silkies? I will construct a completely enclosed run and better coop door if I get it. It is 8 in off ground
Main box is 24 in X 37 in
Laying boxes are 12 X 11in.

If you keep just 2 bantams the housing area will do fine. Chickens only use the house for laying their eggs or going to roost. The better part of their day is foraging so having a lot of run area is what they have fun in.

Only suggestion is to raise the coop off the ground about 12-18 inches on skids and that there are locks on all doors/lid boxes. If you raise the coop higher you'll need to make a new ramp with step cleats about 3 inches apart on the ramp for Silkies. Of course if the coop is recycled do a good cleaning too.

We started out with two Silkies in a 4x6 coop but within a couple months we started free-ranging them along with a White Leghorn pullet gifted to us. They did so well free-ranging that they are out all day now. Of course we provide a pop-up canopy for shade in the backyard, a few makeshift low lean-tos, rose bushes along the fence, and recycled doghouse for them to snooze/hide under from aerial view. We've had a Cooper's Hawk for 3 years in the city but it's never gone after our hens - we don't have baby chicks for him to pick off. It's amazing how savvy the flock is without a roo for protection - they sound their own predator alarm and dive for cover - the Hawk doesn't want to go after hiding hens. We have a wild bird feeder and the Hawk prefers flying after the smaller wild birds instead.

And I think Silkies are the best, prettiest, hardiest bantams in spite of all their fluffy cuteness! - Amazing breed that really surprised us when we got them.

 

[Sylvester017]

Husband already has that factored into the plans. The door you see here is my door. Pop door will be on the right leading into the chicken proof run. I say chicken proof, because it will be just that-- keeping chickens in if I need to keep them contained. Otherwise we free range with an exception of December/January. So close to completion, finished pics to come!

So glad you are letting them free-range. It's really what chickens absolutely love. We were afraid to do it at first but after 3 years our hens are quite a savvy flock without a roo. Of course we provide cover for them like a popup canopy, low lean-to's, a recycled doghouse, and a few bushes around the fence for them to snooze/hide under. We don't clip their wings for natural flight in case they need to escape. We have an APA Ameraucana that chases stray cats out of the yard! The Cooper's Hawk doesn't bother the flock because there are no easy chicks to pick off. He prefers going after the smaller wild birds at the wildbird feeder instead.

I love your coop - its nostalgic and goes along with a rural setting.

 

[itstrist]

If you keep just 2 bantams the housing area will do fine.  Chickens only use the house for laying their eggs or going to roost.  The better part of their day is foraging so having a lot of run area is what they have fun in. 

Only suggestion is to raise the coop off the ground about 12-18 inches on skids and that there are locks on all doors/lid boxes.  If you raise the coop higher you'll need to make a new ramp with step cleats about 3 inches apart on the ramp for Silkies.  Of course if the coop is recycled do a good cleaning too. 

We started out with two Silkies in a 4x6 coop but within a couple months we started free-ranging them along with a White Leghorn pullet gifted to us.  They did so well free-ranging that they are out all day now.  Of course we provide a pop-up canopy for shade in the backyard, a few makeshift low lean-tos, rose bushes along the fence, and recycled doghouse for them to snooze/hide under from aerial view.  We've had a Cooper's Hawk for 3 years in the city but it's never gone after our hens - we don't have baby chicks for him to pick off.  It's amazing how savvy the flock is without a roo for protection - they sound their own predator alarm and dive for cover - the Hawk doesn't want to go after hiding hens.  We have a wild bird feeder and the Hawk prefers flying after the smaller wild birds instead.

And I think Silkies are the best, prettiest, hardiest bantams in spite of all their fluffy cuteness! - Amazing breed that really surprised us when we got them.

I Will definitely be adding locks to all openings, plus making a ramp that will act as the coop door when closed. It's only $50 on craigslist and I can make a real nice enclosed run with hardware cloth and 2x4's.

 

[Peggy O]

Peggy, I have the same exact coop. What kind of chickens do you have? Mine are silver and golden laced wyandottes so they will be largish girls when fully grown. I too have six and had planned to rehome two of them bc this coop was advertised for 4 chickens. Well, long story short, I am getting another coop because I cannot rehome...I'm too attached to them all at this point

. In my opinion, from what I can tell, this coop would only be big enough for three fully grown chickens. My girls are 10 weeks old and are not wanting to go in the coop at night because there is not enough room. My new coop should be here this week. Can't wait

. Anyway I just wanted to give you my opinion about the number of birds this coop might really hold. Good luck!

I've heard that. For now all 6 are in there happily (they're still smallish) but if space for our 4 becomes an issue it won't be that hard to take a panel off and enlarge it a bit. We drew up plans for the additional run this morning, (attacking that this weekend) and other half and I agreed we should fence in the entire coop, for additional predator protection, and also to allow the option of building another little area off one side in the future. Going to be about 12 x 6 probably) We have one Aurtralorpe, one Orphington, four Wyandottes. Rehoming 2 when they grow up.

 

[itstrist]

If you keep just 2 bantams the housing area will do fine.  Chickens only use the house for laying their eggs or going to roost.  The better part of their day is foraging so having a lot of run area is what they have fun in. 

Only suggestion is to raise the coop off the ground about 12-18 inches on skids and that there are locks on all doors/lid boxes.  If you raise the coop higher you'll need to make a new ramp with step cleats about 3 inches apart on the ramp for Silkies.  Of course if the coop is recycled do a good cleaning too. 

We started out with two Silkies in a 4x6 coop but within a couple months we started free-ranging them along with a White Leghorn pullet gifted to us.  They did so well free-ranging that they are out all day now.  Of course we provide a pop-up canopy for shade in the backyard, a few makeshift low lean-tos, rose bushes along the fence, and recycled doghouse for them to snooze/hide under from aerial view.  We've had a Cooper's Hawk for 3 years in the city but it's never gone after our hens - we don't have baby chicks for him to pick off.  It's amazing how savvy the flock is without a roo for protection - they sound their own predator alarm and dive for cover - the Hawk doesn't want to go after hiding hens.  We have a wild bird feeder and the Hawk prefers flying after the smaller wild birds instead.

And I think Silkies are the best, prettiest, hardiest bantams in spite of all their fluffy cuteness! - Amazing breed that really surprised us when we got them.

also, should I change anything about ventilation or do you think it will be good enough how it is?

 

[Sylvester017]

I Will definitely be adding locks to all openings, plus making a ramp that will act as the coop door when closed. It's only $50 on craigslist and I can make a real nice enclosed run with hardware cloth and 2x4's.

It seems the most expensive part of any coop is the run area - especially using hardwire instead of cheap poultry wire. Have fun fixing it up and be sure to sterilize it and dry thoroughly. Give us an after photo of the modified project!

 

[Sylvester017]

also, should I change anything about ventilation or do you think it will be good enough how it is?

How handy are you? I'm not. But if you are handy, make a cut-out at the top that drops down on hinges like a narrow drop down lid and put hardwire over the inside so that when the drop down lid is open the hardwire protects from predators. If you are not so handy I've seen people drill 2 or 3 round holes on the wall directly under the roof line and cover the holes from the inside with some hardwire. If you are extremely talented a little window that opens is nice with hardwire over the opening when the window is open. Silkies like ventilation and breezes - just not cold breezes. I have a Silkie that taps with her beak on my floor fan to turn it on for her so she can stand in front of it and feel the breeze ruffle through her fluffy feathers.

 

[Sylvester017]

All done but the roofing material. Couldn't be happier

Sigh of relief. Now for the happy chickens to enjoy!

 

[wvcountrygirl]

This will be the new home for the chicks I have yet to order. It was just moved from my old house, where it was my hubby's storage building, this morning. It's a 10x14 building and I think I'm gonna make the run about the same. Hopefully within the next month the run and inside will be done! So now it's time to decide what kind of chicks I want!