post your chicken coop pictures here!

[RenaG]

OK.......

.....I have one portion of the run not covered with the netting...maybe a 3x4 section.... I was thinking everything is ok for a this evening..and all would go into the coop to roost where they have been for so long..

Well, I went out to close the ladies up only to see the EE (mother..kinda) on TOP of my coop! (as in ...not in the run...!! And the rest of them had flown up on the window to roost! What the heck??? I reached up and picked each on off the window while getting pecked by the one next to her. Finally got the big EE down into the run and then had to get them in the coop.......they did NOT want to go..

Another AFV opportunity missed. Made a mistake of not putting away my ladder because I'm not finished with it..!!!! Plucked 3 off the ladder at one time..and I am not using that "plucked" word loosely! Would catch one and then into the coop.,,,took a while trying to get all of them in there. At one time I finally just held everyone in my arms until I could stuff them all in there!

To say the least,,,none were happy with me! But NONE will get to come out tomorrow until I have all the top in place!

I need 3 people to help me get them in at one time!!!

My hubby was sitting on the top of the ladder as we were building the top of the run and our EE flew up into his lap. A few minutes later he came down off the ladder and she flew up there again only this time a hawk was circling over. Made us very determined to get it done quickly to keep her in and the hawk out.

 

[Sylvester017]

Planned on adding an exterior layer boxes with hinged roof...

I'm tired of building.

Thought I'd try these and see.

The chix should absolutely love these since they are roundish entrances. Eventually you can add a drop door at the back of these boxes to collect eggs from outdoors. For commercially made egg nests I thought these were super and not made out of wood which soaks up a broken egg. I had to put plexiglass at the bottom of my wood boxes because we had one OCD Silkie that scratched the wood bottoms until they splintered and made her toes bleed.

 

[Sylvester017]

My hubby was sitting on the top of the ladder as we were building the top of the run and our EE flew up into his lap. A few minutes later he came down off the ladder and she flew up there again only this time a hawk was circling over. Made us very determined to get it done quickly to keep her in and the hawk out.

What kind of hawks do you get - Red-tailed or Cooper's (chicken hawk)?

 

[tridentk9]

e [COLOR=800080]Well, I didn't get a whole lot done today but did get a little......was determined to get a netting over the top due to the airborne threats around here.....got enough done .,.,... I POPPED THE POP DOOR for them....[/COLOR] <img alt="" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="6552711" data-type=" [COLOR=800080]AND OF COURSE....THEN IT RAINED ! [/COLOR] [COLOR=800080] [/COLOR] :yiipchick :cd

Is the hardware cloth attached to the larger spaced wire above? I can't tell from the photos. It appears that a determined individual could fit between the two. I used to have a difficult time getting all the kids in when it wasn't dark yet. Reminded me of herding cats. Three things helped: The really difficult ones went to the neighbor's friend. I had one of the dogs walk with me. I used the dog that is careful around the chickens. I had dog treats so the dog had no idea she was "herding". I only had to do that a few times. Tossing dried cranberries into their night pen. Their favorite treat.

 

[Sylvester017]

Just a little bit more paint. This is about 50% reclaimed wood and total cost was only around $350. My labor cost is priceless. ;-)

On the right are quail hutches.


The grow out pin. This also works as a selective breeding pin.


Plenty of room to roam.

It's a pretty build but has some safety issues. There's definitely lots of room to roam and plenty of tree too for hawks or raccoons to watch your flock. We and all our neighbors have cut down our old trees and we've all had less rat, squirrel, cat, hungry wildbirds, raccoon, oppossum, and hawk visits. We replaced our tree with a popup canopy for the girls as one of many shelters for them to hide/snooze under in our open yard. Your little grow out pen doesn't have a cover over it either. JMO.

 

[jtbass2756]

Is the hardware cloth attached to the larger spaced wire above? I can't tell from the photos. It appears that a determined individual could fit between the two.

I used to have a difficult time getting all the kids in when it wasn't dark yet. Reminded me of herding cats.

Three things helped:
The really difficult ones went to the neighbor's friend.

I had one of the dogs walk with me. I used the dog that is careful around the chickens. I had dog treats so the dog had no idea she was "herding". I only had to do that a few times.

Tossing dried cranberries into their night pen. Their favorite treat.

Not yet...that's why I don't let them out but for a break. I'm going to rip some 1x10' that were salvaged and use them between the posts to attach the layers of wire to. I've been working on this for months as the chicks were growing...

..I was determined to at least allow them some natural sunshine even though it was hot. Haven't been able physically to do but a little each day and then somewhere in the middle ...was diagnosed with Rocky mountain spotted fever.!! yuk.

I have been working with absolutely no building experience!!! LOL bet I've built this thing at least 2x while learning how not to do things.

I'm a firm believer in Ft. Knox....so there will be a lot of security issues addressed before I trust it.

I like the idea of cranberries...Haven't tried those as a treat. They like crack corn but I don't like to give them too much of that..,as for the k9 variety...LOL...I have a 8lb poodle...reckon he would get killed...LOLOL

 

[jtbass2756]

My hubby was sitting on the top of the ladder as we were building the top of the run and our EE flew up into his lap. A few minutes later he came down off the ladder and she flew up there again only this time a hawk was circling over. Made us very determined to get it done quickly to keep her in and the hawk out.

When I went out last night and found the EE out of the run and on top of the dang coop...I about freaked out.

Just knew I wouldn't be able to get her back in! Then I realized the young ones were taking to the roost on a window that was propped open...and right above them was the open (not yet covered) area...

It absolutely made me even more determined to get it covered..!!! Because they don't have the smarts to know that they would make a great meal for the hawks!!

 

[iwiw60]

I've got two kids... He knows I'll always cook food... Now I did go 2 weeks once leaving his dirty work cloths right where he dumped them....

it got filthy right next to his chair... And then there was the time I was sick for a week and in the hospital... I came home and wanted to torch the house...

 

[RenaG]

What kind of hawks do you get - Red-tailed or Cooper's (chicken hawk)?

I am not sure but my kids say that they are Red-tailed. They are big and are not afraid to try to swoop down even when we are standing right there.

 

[702marine]

It's a pretty build but has some safety issues.  There's definitely lots of room to roam and plenty of tree too for hawks or raccoons to watch your flock.  We and all our neighbors have cut down our old trees and we've all had less rat, squirrel, cat, hungry wildbirds, raccoon, oppossum, and hawk visits.  We replaced our tree with a popup canopy for the girls as one of many shelters for them to hide/snooze under in our open yard.  Your little grow out pen doesn't have a cover over it either. JMO.

We don't have those problems here (rat, squirrel, raccoon, oppossum, or hawks). We are also what you would call an "urban ranch". We are in the city of North Las Vegas and I have 8' brick walls all around the yard with no way for anything to get in, or out. I also have a lab that protects the flock. I love the tree because it provides all of the shade that is needed for the 100+ degree days we have during the summer months. We clip wings of the chickens that are able to jump and fly anything over 3 feet so no one is able to get out...