post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Sylvester017]

Finally getting a chance to post our playhouse turned chicken coop. Our chicks aren't old enough to be out of the brooder at night yet but they love using the run during the day.

Very nice.

Teeny Tiny suggestion. Put a paver stone walkway, cinderblocks, or rock boulders around the base of the pen to discourage digging predators. We had a couple large stray mutts break into our yard and the paver stone walkway kept them from digging under.

 

[Sylvester017]

The 2x4 around the perimeter does not allow a dog to use it's nose as a wedge like under a regular fence, where he digs a little and wedges the fence up a little. Also he cannot pick this coop up with his nose. He will have to dig his entire body depth and length to get in. At night when fox and raccoons are out, the chickens are up in the elevated decks and roost and the predators cannot hear or see them. We check our coops each day for digging, or signs of attempted entrance and take appropriate action when needed.

I thought maybe with a nice large portable like yours it would have less problems than those smaller low-to-the-ground ones. Since mutts broke into our yard I'm more leery of them than of the wild outdoor critters. If not for a wide paver stone pathway around the coop and a good neighbor we would've lost our flock.

 

[iwiw60]

Quote: Absolutely agree! I have Black Australorps...they are only 12-13 weeks old and already huge! The ramp in that pic is way too steep for large breeds, and you might make it wider while you're at it. Best of luck to you!

 

[iwiw60]

Quote: Had to laugh at your post! My friends and family all think I'm insane with the money I've spent so far on my little flock. But I just smile at them.....and say....."yeah, but they'll be the yummiest $1,000 eggs I'll ever eat!!"

 

[tntchix]

Absolutely agree! I have Black Australorps...they are only 12-13 weeks old and already huge! The ramp in that pic is way too steep for large breeds, and you might make it wider while you're at it. Best of luck to you!

You could make an L-shaped "handicapped" ramp for those big uns. Lots of room to walk up and sturdy too.

 

[Sylvester017]

You could make an L-shaped "handicapped" ramp for those big uns. Lots of room to walk up and sturdy too.

An L-shapped ramp with a landing in the middle would be good like the photo in Post #3655 on this thread.

 

[tntchix]

An L-shapped ramp with a landing in the middle would be good like the photo in Post #3655 on this thread.

hahaha! I thought that sounded familiar as I was typing it. It just popped into my head not realizing I had seen it earlier in the thread. Oops.

 

[LindaB220]

That helps a lot... I think I'm going to up-size to a 4X6 or 4XX8 foot coop with an 8 foot run (tractor style). I want about 6 laying hens and enough room to access the coop for proper cleanings. my landlady has an old shed that is around 8X10 foot so I might renovate that for ra9ising some meat birds. I''m going to make an elevated coop with a 24" space enclosed on 3 sides for feeders and water sources. My design is evolving, so today I had the privilege of throwing away the drawings I made a few days ago and started over from scratch

Good idea on the old shed. If so, do the deep litter. Search at the top for the deep litter thread. Also, consider fermenting your feed. It cuts down on the stinky poo smell.

 

[mandydj]

How do you ferment the feed?

 

[chickennguinea]

Pretty happy with this. Aviary in the front, inside is for sleeping and egg laying!

[/IMG]

This design is working out great especially with the heat we're having now. The whole area above the wall where everyone likes to roost is open with just wire mesh.