post your chicken coop pictures here!

[LindaB220]

The coops on here are fabulous. I'm a little embarrassed to post mine. When I turned 66 I retired. I already had my chickens. I had two very small bought coops that I had under a canopy to keep the rain out. When the canopy started to dry rot I had the thought to build a canopy out of wood and shingles. I found some posts on the side of the road and that started it.

They were too tall, so I first cut them down and set four of them as the beginning framework around which I would build the shelter.

I framed out the roof. I got a broken pack of shingles for $11 from Lowe's.

I added plywood and shingles to the roof.

I painted and added trim and a little turkey decoration to finish the shelter.

BUT I HATED HOW THE COOPS FIT INDER THE SHELTER!!!!

So, I decided to build a coop under the shelter. I did not buy many materials. It was almost built entirely from leftovers I had or materials I found on the side of the road. But I did start with foundation blocks from Lowe's.

I put in a very sturdy floor and outlining framework. I added a linoleum floor and caulked it.

I bought a cheap screen door on sale at Lowe's and cut off the bottom. I painted it and added hardware cloth. I then made panels for the front, painted them and added hardware cloth. I put some old heavy posts to reinforce each side of the door.

I made the sides out of panels I built from repurposed wood. I painted plywood for the back and top.

I painted and stained, added trim and perches.


I then got some great outdoor, waterproof fabric on sale at JoAnn's and made a poop sling which is connected by Velcro to two dowels. Once a week I take it off, dump the poop, hose it off and replace it in the coop. It drys very quickly. The process is easy because of the Velcro.

I don't know what I spent on everything, but pretty sure it was under $200. The main thing is how much fun I had and I really like how it came out. Now I am going to build a little house with a porch to keep my supplies in.

Prim, I'm so glad that you kept pictures of all the remodel. Great job!!!

 

[Sylvester017]

Under the pavers is 2 x 3 welded wire..... above the metal roof panels, at the bottom of the "cheap chicken wire" is an electric fencing wire at 9,000 volts...... The "cheap chicken wire" and roofing panels are grounded to the ground side of the electric fencer...




We don't have raccoons here.... our neighbors are 1/4 mile away and one of them shoots all stray dogs and coyotes.. they kill his calves during calving season...
My thoughts are, each individual has to evaluate what threats are present and build accordingly....
Thanks for your thoughts.......

Wish we could shoot all the stray dogs irresponsible neighbors let loose on our streets!

That's why we bring up the questions sometimes - to get the full story of a build. Your electric fencing is great as are the additional precautions you stated. Still, don't feel that there aren't Raccoons around. Those critters are honery, mean, aggressive, manipulative, tenacious, getting smarter with each new generation of kits being taught all the new stuff the parents have learned. Raccoons and wild Asian pigs are the two most growing problems in the U.S. Ontario Canada and Chicago are the two most inundated cities with mass Raccoon problems with them entering doggie doors into houses to raid kitchens and pantries and attacking humans. The populations have spread northwards as far as Alaska. Not the cute critters they appear to be. Japan had imported them and then owners found them too hard to handle as adult pets and released them into the forests where the Raccoons have multiplied and ruined many historical temples and buildings. Japanese monuments and temples that have stood for hundreds of years have been invaded by the American Raccoons that can squeeze through doors and crevices using their collapsing spines and then roosting in the buildings where their feces and urine rot the timers. Japan has an active eradication program to destroy the non-native Raccoons before they start over-running city populations.

With your setup suffice it to say you have all predators covered! I've always wondered - how do you keep the chickens away from the electric shocks?

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm thinking clear 3-5 for a farm, house and barn then use the rest as hunting/camping land lol

It better be pretty darn good hunting for all the taxes that the govt assesses

 

[DaveOmak]

With your setup suffice it to say you have all predators covered! I've always wondered - how do you keep the chickens away from the electric shocks?

The chickens are only exposed to the "ground" side of the fencer.... Do you see the yellow insulators that run around the outside of the run.... that is where the hot wire is located.... on the insulators...
I grounded the run because the ground is too dry for an electric fence to work here 6-8 months of the year..... I learned that from my neighbor with the beef..... he runs his electric fence wires, hot, ground, hot, ground and finally a hot wire... 5 strands.... 3 hot and 2 ground... about 8 inches apart.... wherever they stick their heads, they get a zap.... no point in having an electric fence if there is no ground......

Works for 1500 head of angus.... should work for 8 chickens....

 

[apteryx]

It better be pretty darn good hunting for all the taxes that the govt assesses

One of the things about where TJordan lives are the low property taxes. I have seen 50 acre parcels with annual property taxes of about $400. Of course that is assuming that the realtor didn't make a typo when preparing the listing.

 

[apteryx]

The chickens are only exposed to the "ground" side of the fencer....  Do you see the yellow insulators that run around the outside of the run....  that is where the hot wire is located....  on the insulators... 
I grounded the run because the ground is too dry for an electric fence to work here 6-8 months of the year.....   I learned that from my neighbor with the beef.....  he runs his electric fence wires, hot, ground, hot, ground and finally a hot wire...  5 strands.... 3 hot and 2 ground...  about 8 inches apart....   wherever they stick their heads, they get a zap....   no point in having an electric fence if there is no ground......

Works for 1500 head of angus.... should work for 8 chickens....

With that configuration your neighbors fence would certainly be effective. By the way, I like your energizer - a good brand.

 

[TJordan]

I like this idea, except for me I can't clear cut, I would have to leave a lot of trees. (I was a tree in a past life, LOL) I cannot cut them down just because I want space, but that's just me.

I always said when I won the lottery...which I do Not play...um, anyway- I would buy up the available farm land and dole it out to those who would use it responsibly. I know many who are ready made farmers but just don't have the means to get their own land. It would be a gift and get it out of corporate farms hands and back into the hands of the people, where it belongs.

One day people will wish they knew how to farm again..... I would try to leave as much natural as I could but I would need some clear for the garden and barn lol

 

[DaveOmak]

With that configuration your neighbors fence would certainly be effective. By the way, I like your energizer - a good brand.

Thanks apteryx..... I put a lot of thought into that build... hoping to remedy any future situation "without" over building.... Some folks think I overbuilt... but..... I hate doing stuff twice....

BTW.... Apteryx.... what is that.... I looked it up and it is either a short legged fish eating bird, or an ant eating bird.... cool looking, and a bit prehistoric at the same time...

 

[jtbass2756]

One day people will wish they knew how to farm again..... I would try to leave as much natural as I could but I would need some clear for the garden and barn lol

You need to have a place surrounded by those trees that is cleared out for your garden area! If things start getting bad, you are not going to want everyone knowing that you have a garden....it will be raided...!

 

[apteryx]

Thanks apteryx.....  I put a lot of thought into that build... hoping to remedy any future situation "without" over building....    Some folks think I overbuilt...  but..... I hate doing stuff twice.... 

BTW....   Apteryx....  what is that....  I looked it up and it is either a short legged fish eating bird, or an ant eating bird....    cool looking, and a bit prehistoric at the same time...

Apteryx is the genus name for all kiwi, the national bird of New Zealand. They are a nocturnal, forest dwelling bird that usually feeds on insects.