post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Kent1979]

 

[Sylvester017]

Here is our nearly done coop. It's our first ever coop and we are new to chickens!




We would love some feedback on our coop!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/english-family-coop

Do you have cleats/steps on the ladder/ramp? When my chickens were younger they just flew up the ramp but now that they're getting older they actually like to walk up the ramp and the steps help them grab hold as they walk up (or down). Our first ramp had steps 3-inches apart but when we made a new ladder we made the steps 4-inches apart. Wish we kept the 3-inches apart measurement. Makes it easier for older hens or smaller bantams to maneuver using the 3-inches. Our new coop came with ramp cleats/steps too far apart and we have to modify them closer.

Most BYCers will probably suggest you use 1/2-in hardwire instead of the chicken poultry wire. We have city raccoons and possums where we live and hex poultry wire is easily torn apart by clever paws and teeth. Personally I'm not comfortable with anything but chainlink or dog kennel wire to keep out predators. We've got raccoons the size of small goats coming out of the street sewer drains! A couple years ago a Black Bear juvenile was caught by authorities a couple miles north of us. The really big beasties are few and far between but the city raccoons are a constant reminder that our chickens aren't safe at night with just chicken wire.

 

[Sylvester017]

What should i be using? I have three gaurd dogs on our property that keep anything large away and a fiesty rooster that doesnt seem to have issues with keeping critters away aswell. Im a newbie at this. Just hit our one year mark

Feedback greatly appreciated

You're lucky you haven't had any critter issues yet. We were barely a month into having chickens when 2 stray neighborhood mutts broke our fence gate and mangled the hex chicken wire on our little coop trying to get to our scared girls. Thank goodness for a Good Samaritan next-door neighbor who chased off the mutts but the hex wire was beyond repair. 1/2-inch hardwire is good stuff. Our newest coop has heavy black dog kennel wire panels for a run. The kennel wire won't keep out stuff like small snakes or rats but my concern is more with big aggressive critters like stray dogs, feral cats, city raccoons, and 'possums. Seems like the critter areas we live in dictates the type of security we choose. We leave a light on during the night and have a solar predator eyes unit and they seem to deter night critters so far.

 

[perchie.girl]

Awesome coop.... Love the dog snoozing in the run... did you bend those tubes yourself?

If you die did...how did you get the legs parallel and in line with each other.

edited to correct a word.
deb

 

[Kent1979]

Yes, bent the electrical conduit with a bender and put a coupling in the center. I used a level to make strait and then screwed 2 pipe straps at the bottom of each. Once the hardware cloth is installed the pipe is held stable at the top.

 

[Latestarter]

Yes, bent the electrical conduit with a bender and put a coupling in the center. I used a level to make strait and then screwed 2 pipe straps at the bottom of each. Once the hardware cloth is installed the pipe is held stable at the top.

Nice job w/the pipe framing and hardware cloth. My son has a Bernese Mnt dog... beautiful animals and very friendly Like the "free" sign too... free is better!

 

[perchie.girl]

Yes, bent the electrical conduit with a bender and put a coupling in the center. I used a level to make strait and then screwed 2 pipe straps at the bottom of each. Once the hardware cloth is installed the pipe is held stable at the top.

I love it.... I bought a conduit bender some time ago but still cant figure out how to keep it all flat once the bend goes in....

I am trying to span 24 feet. planning stages only making an aviary style run.

deb

 

[yolksonus]

Ours is almost ready! Move in day is tomorrow- just need the paint to dry a bit more. The girls (7 week old Wyannotes) are more than ready!

 

[perchie.girl]

Ours is almost ready! Move in day is tomorrow- just need the paint to dry a bit more. The girls (7 week old Wyannotes) are more than ready!

I love your perches.... I love your whole setup....

deb

 

[yolksonus]

Thanks Deb!! It's our first time with chickens. My husband came up with the idea of the roost bars so that we could remove to clean if needed. They also swing up for easier cleaning of the coop, or we can add links to the chain and they can slope down for easier access for the girls.