post your chicken coop pictures here!

[vehve]

Be safe out there... If your like me then the heat index hits 100+ by 10am... Maybe a little later if there is cloud coverage... Don't over do it... I'm getting the layout for my 8'x4' ready today while my husband isn't here... I'll let him bolt everything down and such... I'm just trying to figure our how to make it fast, safe and (God willing

) be set up by this weeks end.....

What kind of floor plan are you going with?

Here's mine for inspiration, so far I haven't noticed any flaws with it. This is about the same footprint as yours.

 

[TJordan]

This looks to be what my layout will be... 4'x8' 3' in back with sloping roof for drainage that will flip up for cleaning... 2.5' in front on a 2' frame so I won't need a ladder to reach it all... I'm thinking 4 nesting boxes, 2 per side for easy access with a fold down door/ramp in front for the birds.. My husband is leery about the sweet PDZ because he fears it will clump to much if wet but it's got to be cleaner then the pine shavings that mold right.... My question is will they try to take dust baths in it lol...
He thought about just putting hardware cloth on the bottom so poop will just fall out... I'm welcome to suggestions... My fear is that with the cloth bottom they will freeze or get really drafty in the winter... Oh and I live in lower Alabama so our winters can be literally ANYTHING lol...

 

[vehve]

This looks to be what my layout will be... 4'x8' 3' in back with sloping roof for drainage that will flip up for cleaning... 2.5' in front on a 2' frame so I won't need a ladder to reach it all... I'm thinking 4 nesting boxes, 2 per side for easy access with a fold down door/ramp in front for the birds.. My husband is leery about the sweet PDZ because he fears it will clump to much if wet but it's got to be cleaner then the pine shavings that mold right.... My question is will they try to take dust baths in it lol...
He thought about just putting hardware cloth on the bottom so poop will just fall out... I'm welcome to suggestions... My fear is that with the cloth bottom they will freeze or get really drafty in the winter... Oh and I live in lower Alabama so our winters can be literally ANYTHING lol...

If it gets wet enough to go moldy, there's something wrong with your design. Leave enough overhang on the roof to protect the walls from rain. We've had about 8-10 inches of rain during the past week, so far none of it inside the coop.

I would not go with the hardware cloth floor.

 

[TJordan]

If it gets wet enough to go moldy, there's something wrong with your design. Leave enough overhang on the roof to protect the walls from rain. We've had about 8-10 inches of rain during the past week, so far none of it inside the coop.

I would not go with the hardware cloth floor.

Thanks... And yeah we had to use two pieces of plywood for the roof on the small one and we haven't been able to keep it from blowing in through the vents... We have gotten a tarp on it now but it's not rained sense to see if it's fixed lol...

I don't like the cloth floor anyway lol... He will just have to get over it...

 

[vehve]

Quote: A slanted grill on the vents would keep the rain out. What is your roof covered with?

 

[TJordan]

A slanted grill on the vents would keep the rain out. What is your roof covered with?

The slanted grill was an idea my husband had last night as well... He's getting some today... We covered it with a plastic tarp and it's held down right now with boards until we get the new one built and our birds in the new one... We even thought about getting a metal roof for the new one... But I don't want it cooking the birds ....

 

[tridentk9]

[quote name="TJordan" url="/t/ My husband is leery about the sweet PDZ because he fears it will clump to much if wet but it's got to be cleaner then the pine shavings that mold right.... My question is will they try to take dust baths in it lol...
[/quote]

I used the powdered Sweet PDZ for years outdoors with no problems. But I was spreading it over gravel not scooping through it. I did have to let it settle for a bit before letting my long haired black dogs run through the white powder . The Sweet PDZ settled down into the gravel, I didn't see any clumping on the ground or on the dogs. Have you been to their website?
http://www.sweetpdz.com/our-products.html

 

[TJordan]

[quote name="TJordan" url="/t/ My husband is leery about the sweet PDZ because he fears it will clump to much if wet but it's got to be cleaner then the pine shavings that mold right.... My question is will they try to take dust baths in it lol...

I used the powdered Sweet PDZ for years outdoors with no problems. But I was spreading it over gravel not scooping through it. I did have to let it settle for a bit before letting my long haired black dogs run through the white powder . The Sweet PDZ settled down into the gravel, I didn't see any clumping on the ground or on the dogs. Have you been to their website?
http://www.sweetpdz.com/our-products.html[/quote]

Thanks for the link... I'm going to check that now...

 

[vehve]

Quote: You can put down plywood first, and leave a couple inches of airspace under the tin roof, that way it won't heat up as much.

 

[TJordan]

Ok I checked that sight and the larger granular type might be the better item... Thanks