post your chicken coop pictures here!

[jtbass2756]

I wish I knew how to build things. We looked at design plans, but they all seemed overwhelming (we have a 13 month old and she keeps us very busy!) We just ordered a cheapo coop kit on line. I know it is going to be cheesy and thin, but it's something to get started. We hope to build something sturdier this summer. For now I am enclosing this in a "cage" type thing made of 2x2's and chicken wire. (I can manage making that) I am afraid predators could get into this. We're also adding hardware cloth to the bottom of the coop yard if it does not have it. I don't think this will be OK in the winter here, so we're going to have to make something better ASAP. This is our first chicken-experience. We are getting 3 from TSC when they get them in.

Go ahead and get some L brackets to reinforce the corners as you put them together....it will not be as good as the one you will build yourselves but it will be fine. Get enough pavers to put around the perimeter to keep the predators from digging..what kind of wire will go on it? If you have the choice, go get the 1/4" hardware wire....make sure your fasteners are 2 part latches so that it will take a raccoon out of the picture. They are smart and they can tear into regular chicken wire..Will you be closing them up at nite?...Some animals will be able to reach through the wire and grab the ladies.... I'm a newbie. Got mine last May but I was determined not to have to go pick up the pieces if a predator got to them..he calls mine a little Ft. Knox!! . You are going to be fine...just read a lot. This BYC group has a forum for everything....people here are great.

 

[Peggy O]

Thanks! So far this forum has been really great and very helpful.

The coop in the picture has hardware cloth. So when we go out and also at night, we'll get them inside it. The big thing we want to build around this will be regular chicken wire, for now. I have TONS from my old garden. I have never seen a raccoon here, but I have seen foxes (not in our yard) and snakes (snakes were in our yard). There must be racoons out here somewhere though. We moved here from the suburbs last winter. There are 12 chickens kept by a neighbor about 300 feet from our coop area. He just uses the rectangular large hole fencing stuff, WAY bigger than chicken wire holes or hardware cloth, for his. No losses. Our other neighbor has a huge old dog run for his larger flock, so chain link type stuff. I want smaller openings though. I'm scared of birds of prey and mostly one neighbor's semi uncontrolled dogs.

 

[JaceAgain]

Greetings fellow Backyard Chicken Peeps...this is my first post here. Love the BYC site and forum. Here's a picture and diagram of my chicken coop...which actually serves double-duty for a bunny hutch. I look forward to reading & seeing more on this forum. Take care, D.

THis is incredible!! Did you build it yourself?

 

[DougRYGblog]

THis is incredible!! Did you build it yourself?

JaceAgain...thanks for your kind words my fellow chicken-friend. I designed the coop and had the exterior built by some amazing handyman friends of mine. Then I completed the interiors and built the run & connecting chute, (which you can barely see). It really has turned out to be a great coop. The only thing we really had to think through this year was a solution to it being too drafty when the winds kicked up on some really cold days (at least really cold here in Atlanta)...given that the entire front is hardware cloth and all the large windows on the other 3 sides. Our solution was simply making roman shades of sorts made out of drop cloths used by painters that we raise and lower with the temperatures. It seems to do the job.

Thanks again for your post.

Take care,
Doug

 

[jtbass2756]

Thanks! So far this forum has been really great and very helpful.

The coop in the picture has hardware cloth. So when we go out and also at night, we'll get them inside it. The big thing we want to build around this will be regular chicken wire, for now. I have TONS from my old garden. I have never seen a raccoon here, but I have seen foxes (not in our yard) and snakes (snakes were in our yard). There must be racoons out here somewhere though. We moved here from the suburbs last winter. There are 12 chickens kept by a neighbor about 300 feet from our coop area. He just uses the rectangular large hole fencing stuff, WAY bigger than chicken wire holes or hardware cloth, for his. No losses. Our other neighbor has a huge old dog run for his larger flock, so chain link type stuff. I want smaller openings though. I'm scared of birds of prey and mostly one neighbor's semi uncontrolled dogs.

If you have hardware cloth...you will be good. Mine was built by my SIL and is really well built but had chicken wire.. I just put 1/4" hardware cloth right over it so I actually have 2 layers of wire! That will keep out most snakes..Yours is going to be fine...I'm so excited for you.. Let us know how everything is going when you get your coops....

 

[DufferChick]

[COLOR=333333]Greetings fellow Backyard Chicken Peeps...this is my first post here. Love the BYC site and forum. Here's a picture and diagram of my chicken coop...which actually serves double-duty for a bunny hutch. I look forward to reading & seeing more on this forum. Take care, D.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]

Welcome to BYC. Beautiful set up! It appears that you are very organized. Nice style. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DufferChick]

I wish I knew how to build things. We looked at design plans, but they all seemed overwhelming (we have a 13 month old and she keeps us very busy!) We just ordered a cheapo coop kit on line. I know it is going to be cheesy and thin, but it's something to get started. We hope to build something sturdier this summer. For now I am enclosing this in a "cage" type thing made of 2x2's and chicken wire. (I can manage making that) I am afraid predators could get into this. We're also adding hardware cloth to the bottom of the coop yard if it does not have it. I don't think this will be OK in the winter here, so we're going to have to make something better ASAP. This is our first chicken-experience. We are getting 3 from TSC when they get them in.

This will be a good first coop for 3 hens. We all keep tweaking our coops to improve them. If you don't build a different coop before winter, you can use tarps to provide additional protection. Also, moving the coop to a protected location makes a big difference. Enjoy your new flock!

 

[Summerford]

Here is mine. Coop is 2x4 and total length of coop is 8 ft long. The added run is 4x8. The two pull apart. This way I can move the coop around the yard.

 

[Peggy O]

That's a good idea!

 

[jmayday]

Peggy make sure you burry the wire down in the dirt a little so predators don't get in ... They will if you don't