post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Latestarter]

The ventilation is probably one of the most important aspects that new chicken owners and prefab coop designers forget (or disregard).

I can't tell from the pic, but the drop down above the nest boxes appears to be a hinged window... if so, you could probably close that only when it's really cold and windy, but leave the other one open year round for ventilation. You can always add windows or additional ventilation down the road if warranted.

The chickens will be fine down to sub zero weather as long as you keep the moisture (dampness) inside to a minimum, keep direct wind/breezes off of them on the roost, and allow them to hunker down and cover their toes with their feathers. They really are very hardy animals. You'll freak when one decides to molt in the middle of winter!

Nothing like worrying about a near nekid chicken when the temps are sub freezing

Cause they shed all their plumage to grow new.

Most auto pop doors now have/offer a solar panel charger for a battery to operate them. Most use so little juice to operate that a new battery should last a year or more. With a solar charger it should be good for many years. http://chickendoors.com/ <---My personal favorite. In addition, with the 12 volt system. you can get some really cheap 12 volt lighting and such for inside the coop... like what's in campers and boats... or to power a remote camera for chicken TV at all hours.

 

[SemperChicken]

The ventilation is probably one of the most important aspects that new chicken owners and prefab coop designers forget (or disregard).

I can't tell from the pic, but the drop down above the nest boxes appears to be a hinged window... if so, you could probably close that only when it's really cold and windy, but leave the other one open year round for ventilation. You can always add windows or additional ventilation down the road if warranted.

The chickens will be fine down to sub zero weather as long as you keep the moisture (dampness) inside to a minimum, keep direct wind/breezes off of them on the roost, and allow them to hunker down and cover their toes with their feathers. They really are very hardy animals. You'll freak when one decides to molt in the middle of winter!

Nothing like worrying about a near nekid chicken when the temps are sub freezing

Cause they shed all their plumage to grow new.

Most auto pop doors now have/offer a solar panel charger for a battery to operate them. Most use so little juice to operate that a new battery should last a year or more. With a solar charger it should be good for many years. http://chickendoors.com/ <---My personal favorite. In addition, with the 12 volt system. you can get some really cheap 12 volt lighting and such for inside the coop... like what's in campers and boats... or to power a remote camera for chicken TV at all hours.

Ah, duh... solar power. But the problem with where the coop is, and we didn't really take that into account when we planted all those plants that need a good 6 hours of sun, is that the coop and run probably only get an hour or two max of direct sunlight. Otherwise it's in the shade the whole time. I wonder if cutting trees down would be cheaper than running electrical out to the coop and shed.

You're right the one above the nest boxes is a window... and yes on a hinge. The other side is just wood and no window. I tend to close the other side more because when it rains bad it blows into the coop and onto where they roost (and the bedding). When I get the run extended, which will be done on the back side, I want to have it covered some so hopefully that'll help with that issue.

I'm definitely going to check that website out. Thank you!

 

[SemperChicken]

Wow I love that. I find that very intriguing that it's programmed like that and operated with a magnet! That's the kind of stuff I want to learn how to do lol (well, I am studying for a BS in Cyber Security Programming).

 

[Granny368W]

Mine was a prefab, 5x8, and I put the run together myself, 8x12. I've never done any wood work like this before and there's still some work to be done. I'll be adding hardware cloth soon over top the chicken wire, but the hens get locked up at night so they are safe. When we get the chain link fence extended in the future I'll be adding to the run behind the coop. Inside picture just showing the paint before putting the gang in. I had the nest boxes painted a dark brown cause I read the girls like their nest area dark. Thanks for looking!

Wow,that's really nice...where did you buy it?

 

[Granny368W]

Wow,that's really nice...where did you buy it?

Sorry, I just read your post. ..

 

[horncreekchicks]

So far so good against the predators getting into the pen. In all honesty, an intent bear could destroy it and there's no true defense against that. But against anything smaller, it seems like it will work well. We buried wire and rocks all around the perimeter to prevent foxes and other critters from being able to dig under the pen.

 

[Sylvester017]

Mine was a prefab, 5x8, and I put the run together myself, 8x12. I've never done any wood work like this before and there's still some work to be done. I'll be adding hardware cloth soon over top the chicken wire, but the hens get locked up at night so they are safe. When we get the chain link fence extended in the future I'll be adding to the run behind the coop. Inside picture just showing the paint before putting the gang in. I had the nest boxes painted a dark brown cause I read the girls like their nest area dark. Thanks for looking!

We really liked the Amish stype coops and their Barn coops were nice too. Some people have put curtains over the nestboxes for real privacy but you'll soon figure out what your girls will like best. We've seen the Amish style coops made out of fiberglass walls too. But we had to pass up on Amish prefabs because of our infernal hot humid SoCal climate and invested in a k9kennels chickencondo with more open wire. We're still working on its assembly since weather is not cooperating - either drizzling humid days or 100 degree heatwaves!!!

 

[MeeMa Brown]

the White house...our president IKE and 9 first ladies enjoy sand floor totally enclosed with hardware cloth even under the run. Added DE and ash so there is no odor...no flies. Chicks are 3no.

 

[napdognewfie]

Nice. Can you take pictures of the inside please?

 

[MeeMa Brown]

Vinyl floor and chalked seams for the coop. Roost and nest boxes shown. Outside storage for food at end in main pic. A cooler for 2gal water leads to pipe with nipples under coop.
Sand mix about 3 inches deep makes daily poop scoop easy.