post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Sylvester017]

Almost move in ready!! Still needs a door and wire around the top where the roof is. We are also building a roof over the nesting boxes soon.

Until your coop gets attacked you'll never know you had predators. May I suggest paver stones walkway around the coop to keep digging predators out like canines or raccoons. Or a cinderblock border or even heavy rocks gleaned from your propery. A 3 foot paver stone walkway around our entire coop and pen kept a stray German Shepherd and mutt friend from digging under our coop.

 

[Sylvester017]

@iwiw60 Thank you first of all. The roof is going to overhang the nest box about 4 inches, however I am still undecided whether I want to make the nest box top accessible or back side accessible. If I go with the back side accessible option, I can always add flashing on the angle, but if I go for top accessible I can always .... I wouldn't know what to do to keep the water out. Any ideas?

Attach or build an awning to cover the whole nestbox when the lid is opened. We are considering a drop down lid rather than a lift up lid when we order our next coop which also means the coop will have to stand on higher legs so we don't have to stoop so low to access eggs. Another option we are considering is to have a canopy over the coop to keep rain and sun from beating down and eating away at the finish on the coop.

 

[Sylvester017]

Backside.
Here's what I did.

Looks like your hen's nestbox entrances are round-holed entrances - hens love those round hole entrances, or curtains.

 

[vehve]

Looks like your hen's nestbox entrances are round-holed entrances - hens love those round hole entrances, or curtains.

Yeah, here's the view from inside. Still have to put up a screen in the big hole to make an infirmary, and I'm told we are putting curtains on the nests.

 

[Sylvester017]

Yeah, here's the view from inside. Still have to put up a screen in the big hole to make an infirmary, and I'm told we are putting curtains on the nests.

I had never heard of nestbox curtains until this past year but they are a good fix for privacy on the big open nestboxes. However we've had our round holes for 3 years and the boxes are 16x16 by 36" tall and never found it necessary to cover the round hole entrances. Our hens tuck to the side or back of the big nestboxes and sometimes peek around the hole to see what's going on in the main coop. I like our tall nestboxes because we have one very tall statuesque Ameraucana that when she stands in the box to lay her egg (why do they stand?) we know she has plenty of head room. Round hole nestboxes are good for the Silkies that love to pile on the floor at roost time. Our Silkies go into the round hole boxes to sleep.

 

[GNRMorgans]

Yeah, here's the view from inside. Still have to put up a screen in the big hole to make an infirmary, and I'm told we are putting curtains on the nests.

You were told, eh? LOL!

Sounds like something I would say and do...

I have to agree that I have also heard and read from the Chicken Chick's writings that Nest Box Curtains make the hens happier - and hey, they give the coop panache!

 

[OldMcContri]

Here is our coop about finished, just need to add my herb garden on top of the nesting boxes

What did you use for the finish of the wood? I am really leaning towards keeping the wood look on mine once it is done?

 

[Lstump67]

built this one for my fiancé . She want a barn painted john deere green and yellow.

 

[vehve]

You were told, eh?  LOL!    Sounds like something I would say and do... 

I have to agree that I have also heard and read from the Chicken Chick's writings that Nest Box Curtains make the hens happier - and hey, they give the coop panache!

Around here, the men always get the last word. It's usually "Yes, dear."

 

[BarnMom719]

Here is our coop. I'm soo proud of my DH ....I think he did a great job. It's still a work in progress but the girls are happy!