post your chicken coop pictures here!

[perchie.girl]

We are wanting to install a PVC water nipple system in our new chickie coop and was wondering how high to make it and how far apart to put the nipples. I will have 12 girls in the new coop so would 4 nipples be enough or do I need more?
I know this is not where you would normally post this but I did post it earlier under feed and water but haven't had any response. Was hoping maybe someone on here can help.

I would probably say a foot apart. But I havent ever built one...

I prefer to use big water tubs in my climate. The deeper the water the cooler it keeps and in110 degrees I want it refreshing. wet mess isnt an issue here... probably an advantage for keeping feet cooler.

deb

 

[Latestarter]

We are wanting to install a PVC water nipple system in our new chickie coop and was wondering how high to make it and how far apart to put the nipples. I will have 12 girls in the new coop so would 4 nipples be enough or do I need more?
I know this is not where you would normally post this but I did post it earlier under feed and water but haven't had any response. Was hoping maybe someone on here can help.

Hey MaMa...

4-6 birds to a nipple average, so you could technically get a way with just 2 nipples if you wanted. 4 is more than adequate and gives you room for chicken math

Spacing at 8-12 inches is again, adequate. All 12 won't normally be drinking all at the same time and when that does happen, they all tend to want to share the same nipple anyway

silly birds...

Not sure what (size) birds you (will) have, but you should mount the PVC pipe at the proper height for when they are adults (unless you want to keep adjusting it and moving it up as they grow). You can always place some pavers or cinder blocks under for the birds to stand on while they grow. You could also make a two tiered system with a couple of nipples really low for future chick usage. Just as an aside, you should make the end cap removable for flushing of the system occasionally and draining if you are where freezing weather happens...

 

[Sylvester017]

They're okay with our flock, but I doubt they ever see it! They won't even go onto their back verandah out of fear of spiders. All it took was seeing one of our Aussie spiders twenty years ago, and that's it - won't touch anything green. I've been tempted to tell them several times that our massive spiders prefer to live in houses, and are pest-eaters, but I honestly believe it would merely terrify them.

Yep, we do! All the time, actually - it's everything from noxious weeds to poisonous plants, etc. They're just kind of helpless. I'm a city person, and I hate leeches, but even I'll go out to get stuff done.

About our kissing gate - it is very like one. However we have three areas in a 'Y', and the gate swings between the two chicken runs - it locks one run, and opens the other, while always allowing entrance to the third coop area. It means we can direct the chickens to go where we want, so every few months I can change the run and grow veggies in the poop-run.

Sounds like a paradise in your yard - well, minus the poisonous plants of course. I find chickeneering and gardening therapeutic - the chickens are always "helping" us dig in the soil so we're never alone when we have garden chores.

With a flock of chickens you'll cut down that spider population in no time at all - especially if they're allowed some free-range time. Our snail/slug population was wiped out the first year we had hens. By the second year the aggressive Leghorn destroyed all the rat nest babies and we had to catch a mouse before the hens got to it to tear it apart. The little lizards enter our garden at their own peril and we have raised garden beds around the yard and in potted containers to feed veggies to our small flock. The Silkies love the spiders, caterpillars, grubs, moths, crickets, giant flying green June beetles, earwigs, and any other insect that tarries too long in one place. Best bug catchers we've ever had and their poops are black gold for the garden! The stray neighborhood cats enter at their own risk because our Ameraucana aggressively chases them out of the yard. They don't come into our yard any more!

 

[riverlane91]

The large shed is for feed, rakes, shovels, etc... And attached to it we built the coop so it keeps the wind very minimum. Putting all the nests on one wall makes it easy for me to get in and out and also to insulate in the winter because we have no electricity out there. We do not free range because we live in the woods so we had to make the run extra nice with suet feeders for greens, perched, and a roof so we don't have mud. I love it

 

[cwrite]

Well, our Cove Products Chicken Condos Mobile Barn Coop w/Run arrived today after 4 scheduled but delayed delivery appts by the SAIA shipping company. There was over 700 lbs of pieces on the wooden construction crate (a large 8-ft CRATE - not a dinky pallet) and it took the driver, my DH, and myself (3 people!) to unload the coop pieces one at a time off the truck. My DH tin-snipped the metal straps and he and the driver moved each piece from the crate to the liftgate to dollies to get them into our garage. The coop walls and dog kennel wire panels were especially heavy but will be wonderfully sturdy once assembled. Whew! Lots of damaged and missing pieces and now to go through a claim process for lost/missing pieces. Wish us luck!

As I suspected the outside shed material is sturdy on the coop but the inside lining is particle board so we've got a lot of sealing/painting to do before we can assemble the parts which should be easy once we receive the replacement pieces. Both flimsy chicken ramps arrived broken and unuseable, 7@ roosting bars were not in the crate, one wire kennel panel was dented like a section had been boot-kicked hard, one out of 4 sliding tray support bar hooks was dented, and one Predator Eyes Light is missing. The 2@ chicken treadle feeders are in good condition and we can't wait to train the old hens to adjust to new feeders. Training them to nipple valve waterers took a little over a week so it will be interesting to see how long the treadle feeders take.

Considering the crate came from Colorado and SAIA drove around 4 days with our shipment before finally delivering I guess some damage was expected. Most people who have assembled DIY kits from coop or shed companies all seem to get some pieces damaged or missing so I'm just glad the main coop walls are in good shape. The missing pieces on the other hand will delay our final coop assembly.

That's annoying about the damaged and missing bits, but at least you can get started on painting while you wait for the replacements. I look forward to seeing pics as it goes up. : )

 

[flockofbantams]

The large shed is for feed, rakes, shovels, etc... And attached to it we built the coop so it keeps the wind very minimum. Putting all the nests on one wall makes it easy for me to get in and out and also to insulate in the winter because we have no electricity out there. We do not free range because we live in the woods so we had to make the run extra nice with suet feeders for greens, perched, and a roof so we don't have mud. I love it

I love it too
Looks great!

 

[saraiquimby1]

Run is under construction

And the poop boards are up . It's looking like a coop!!

 

[Sylvester017]

The large shed is for feed, rakes, shovels, etc... And attached to it we built the coop so it keeps the wind very minimum. Putting all the nests on one wall makes it easy for me to get in and out and also to insulate in the winter because we have no electricity out there. We do not free range because we live in the woods so we had to make the run extra nice with suet feeders for greens, perched, and a roof so we don't have mud. I love it

So very glad to hear you are being security-conscious with the woods surrounding you!!! That Rottie should be helpful in protection too - we had a total of 3 Rotties over the years. I'd love another one but our city backyard is way too small between chickens and raised garden beds to have enough room for a big dog. I just love those big loveable dopey Rotts yet protective too.

 

[Sylvester017]

That's annoying about the damaged and missing bits, but at least you can get started on painting while you wait for the replacements. I look forward to seeing pics as it goes up. : )

TY! I've been snapping photos as we assemble the coop -- it will be difficult to choose only a couple pix to post.

We found out the reason for the damages was that the crate was supposed to be shipped upright but it arrived lying on its side so major damage was found plus smaller pieces missing. The shipping company should make good on the damages as we noted the damages w/an Exception Protest when we signed for the shipment. We probably could've refused shipment and we'd be refunded the purchase price yet still get charged a 15% restocking/return fee and still have no coop to show for the charges. Customers are almost FORCED to accept damaged delivery or else get charged for refusing to accept the shipment. We're putting up w/ the inconvenience of something that should've been assembled in about 15 minutes but w/ missing or damaged parts it will take some weeks now. If we can just get the coop part together we can deal with the attached run damage later.

We painted today but ran out of paint so back to the hardware for more. The saga continues but we're still pleased w/ the size and appearance of the Barn Coop. After seeing it next to our old OSB coop its 10000% better looking and better secured.

 

[MandalaMaMa]

Thanks Latestarter for the helpful information about building a PVC nipple system. We went ahead and ordered some more nipples of Amazon. So we will have a few extra on hand. Way more affordable than at our local feed store.