post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Mikejr05]

My Brother in Law's dad finished my coop today. Moving it to its new home, sure hope this snow melts before March or I don't know how I will get it into my yard.

 

[bigmrg74]

BIG lesson learned today....



Be careful of the lock on the coop....



You might need to make an unorthodox escape hatch

Yes the brilliant me locked herself in the coop while checking for eggs... That were not there...

Sounds like you need to add your tale to this thread.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/937072/ever-been-locked-in

 

[Beekissed]

...and outside access to nest boxes.

 

[perchie.girl]

My Brother in Law's dad finished my coop today. Moving it to its new home, sure hope this snow melts before March or I don't know how I will get it into my yard.

Some people opt to buy a small towable trailer and mount the cop perminantly on that... Kind of like a chicken motor home. Then you dont have to worry about moving it. Just mount a caster under the hitch You might have to widen the gate into the yard...

Just thinking out side of the box.....

deb

 

[TJordan]

Sounds like you need to add your tale to this thread....  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/937072/ever-been-locked-in

Thanks. I found the tread and added my story.

now my blunder is engraved an a website for the world of chicken lovers to laugh at and hopefully use as a cautious take to avoid the same fate.

 

[TJordan]

...and outside access to nest boxes.

I'm not done with the coop. We were limited on time due to constant rain and storms so we just put it up and will add to it when it drys out. This back area will either be my nest box access or a closable air vent with hardware cloth over it and a flip door. Maybe both. Spilt it up into 2 doors. I am also going to drill a hole for emergency latch release and put a sliding door over it. That way I can just slide it over, reach through and unlatch. Saves me if the rope breaks. We are going to be adding hardware cloth all around and under the coop and cementing the legs and base into the ground for storm strength. A run area is here but I need husband to help me put it up. A privacy fence will be going up next month with hardware cloth skirting around the bottom and our mamma hen thinking dog will patrol the area between the fence and the run. A cover will go across the run for aerial support and I will add an outdoor feeding and watering station inside the run. The indoor stations will be hung up to cut down on wastes and I want to add a few things like better roost bars and start the deep litter idea inside the coop. A small compost heap will be in the corner of the run for scratching fun and a 6'x8' chicken veggie garden for fun treats to grow will be built in the next few weeks. I'm thinking clover, alfalfa and a few dandelions for the chicken garden. Weeds and leftovers from my 'Human' garden will find its way into the heap as well.

 

[bruceha2000]

BIG lesson learned today....



Be careful of the lock on the coop....



You might need to make an unorthodox escape hatch

Yes the brilliant me locked herself in the coop while checking for eggs... That were not there...

One might think it obvious that there is a hole in the catch lever. I bet they designed that in on purpose

Glad you enjoyed your personal time with the girls and did get out but I think I am a bit concerned about how easy it was for you to kick out that piece of luan without significantly damaging it.

I have a lockable barrel bolt on the outside of my coop so if anyone were to get locked in it would have to be by someone on the outside. The door has self closing (spring loaded) hinges and I put a hook and eye on the inside in case I felt the need to make sure the door stayed closed when I was inside. So far that has not been necessary. In fact I use the carabiner on the end of a long string to both "lock" the barrel bolt at night and to hold the door open during the day.

 

[TJordan]

One might think it obvious that there is a hole in the catch lever. I bet they designed that in on purpose   

Glad you enjoyed your personal time with the girls and did get out but I think I am a bit concerned about how easy it was for you to kick out that piece of luan without significantly damaging it. 

I have a lockable barrel bolt on the outside of my coop so if anyone were to get locked in it would have to be by someone on the outside. The door has self closing (spring loaded) hinges and I put a hook and eye on the inside in case I felt the need to make sure the door stayed closed when I was inside. So far that has not been necessary. In fact I use the carabiner on the end of a long string to both "lock" the barrel bolt at night and to hold the door open during the day. 

We are going to add more support when we put in the real nest box. We just had to get it up so we could move the ladies before bad weather set in. Thankfully we had only put up the exterior wall and not the interior one as well. That would of been bad. As for the hoe yeah. We were going to add a pull cord later. Didn't think I would need it so soon

 

[TJordan]

Well we put up the run today. Decided on a 5'x15' run that's 6' high until our privacy fence is installed. Then we will expand. My ladies escaped this afternoon.

took 30 mins with 4 of us (me,husband and both kids) herding them around until 1 by 1 they were caught and put back up. The last one almost became doggie dinner

. She jumped up on the fence and then over. I grabbed her lleg just as she took the plunge. Safe bird but not happy at the way I did it

 

[the poppster]

Well we put up the run today. Decided on a 5'x15' run that's 6' high until our privacy fence is installed. Then we will expand. My ladies escaped this afternoon.

took 30 mins with 4 of us (me,husband and both kids) herding them around until 1 by 1 they were caught and put back up. The last one almost became doggie dinner

. She jumped up on the fence and then over. I grabbed her lleg just as she took the plunge. Safe bird but not happy at the way I did it

Pick up a roll of aviary netting. It's cheap and easy to use. Just spread it over the top of your run and secure it to the run wire...it should keep the birds in and any flying predators out.