post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Burkelberry]

And the problem would be?

Climbing ladders is not exactly a natural chicken thing to do. And going down a ladder is pretty much an impossibility.

Jumping and wing flapping are natural chicken things to do. 3' is nothing to a full grown chicken, REALLY. One hop combined with 2 flaps and they are up. 4' takes an extra flap or two. They do need "runway" space to come down, at least twice the height of the roost. Better to put in a half height landing bar or platform if you don't have runway space or maybe for older birds that may get injured landing if the roost is high.


That ramp is WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too steep.

And they don't need it since your roost bars are tiered. They can easily get from the ground to the highest one but since you have the lower two, they will likely go up in stages. I bet if you watch, you will see that is what they are doing.

I removed the ladder a while back. Sorry I'm still trying to figure this out.

 

[Burkelberry]

Our work in progress:

I really like this one. The porch looks like a cool place to hang out.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Thanks!

 

[Alabama Jack]

It's a cool place, because of the ceiling fan...

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

we need help with chickens in new coop, they never sleep in the nest before, just went out to check them and ten of them are in nests, dh said tomorrow he would cover the nest, but they lay eggs before we get out there, we have roost higher then nest also they can lay on top of nest which there are 10 up there

It gets dark early this time of year up north, so this will be less of a hassle if it's still winter where you live ...

You have at least these three choices.

1) Go out after bedtime each night and carry the chickens to bed. Just pick them out of the nests and put them on their roosts. Lullabies optional. After a few days of doing this, most of the chickens will just go to bed on the roosts. Or you'll end up with super spoiled pet chickens. (less effective method, but fun).

2) If your nesting boxes have exterior access lid like the very nice box shown above, then go out shortly before bed and open the boxes. I guarantee the chickens will not go to bed in an open box. After everyone is up on the roosts and purring, close the boxes. I do this while my dog and I play sunset frisbee. This is a very effective method.

3) Close the chicken-entry side of the nest boxes in the afternoon, then go out after dark and open the boxes so the chickens on early shift can go to work and you can sleep in. This is best if you happen to think of it before you build your nest boxes. Our chickens tend to lay late in the day so this doesn't work so well for us.

 

[Burkelberry]

you have me mixed up with someone else my chickens have never slept in the nesting boxes

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

you have me mixed up with someone else my chickens have never slept in the nesting boxes

Fixed ... screen was jumping around when I was clicking the quote button. Weird!

 

[gilcamp4]

It gets dark early this time of year up north, so this will be less of a hassle if it's still winter where you live ...

You have at least these three choices.

1) Go out after bedtime each night and carry the chickens to bed. Just pick them out of the nests and put them on their roosts. Lullabies optional. After a few days of doing this, most of the chickens will just go to bed on the roosts. Or you'll end up with super spoiled pet chickens. (less effective method, but fun).

2) If your nesting boxes have exterior access lid like the very nice box shown above, then go out shortly before bed and open the boxes. I guarantee the chickens will not go to bed in an open box. After everyone is up on the roosts and purring, close the boxes. I do this while my dog and I play sunset frisbee. This is a very effective method.

3) Close the chicken-entry side of the nest boxes in the afternoon, then go out after dark and open the boxes so the chickens on early shift can go to work and you can sleep in. This is best if you happen to think of it before you build your nest boxes. Our chickens tend to lay late in the day so this doesn't work so well for us.

i think i will have to do the first one as we have nest in the coop no outer box and we have half the lay in the morning sometimes at 6:00 and then some between 12;30 and 3:30 in the afternoon we may try the moven them.

 

[Watermelon123]

Just a quick question. Can I make a coop out of a 8 times 12 wooden storage shed? I am looking to make one and wanted to know if I can save a little money buying a shed insted of alot of materials to make it.

Thank you,
Bridie

 

[Sylvester017]

I built the nesting box in garage today and thought I would show it off... Its 6' long all the exterior is weather proof Masonite with ceder trim.



Also eventually the exterior will be covered in vinyl siding. with the run to the back and side.

It's nice to use the siding over the OSB/particle board but as one BYCer said OSB is basically cardboard and will need sealer/paint before putting up siding over it.