post your chicken coop pictures here!

[gpeters3]

Here are some of my latest pics. I need to say here how much I have appreciated the input from this forum (and others) for the ideas I have put into place in my coop and run. Notice the peck proofing in the corners, the flat 2x4 roosts and framing around the ramp door to prevent any sharp edges from injuring the chickens. Another reason I use furring strips to cover the edges of the wire but it is also the fastest way to get it attached. (just learned how to spell 'furring' ) It's covered over now but I used hardware cloth around the perimeter about 2' to prevent digging, another idea I got from this forum.













Some of the corners will be removed when I fully integrate the chicks with the hens since I will be removing the brood pens. I may just re-arrange it so I leave the larger plywood pen in place for future use but it will have to be water proofed if it stays. Still have to finish furring some of the outside wire ends etc. but otherwise I'm just about done. Decided to leave the roost in front of the nest box since they can all get up on it and the other design would be too high (for the nests). Only thing left to do, later toward fall, is to add the sliding barn door to the run for cleaning and maintenance access. When I do that I may switch the coop door to the side, inside the run for easier chore access etc.. I'm waiting on the sheet steel for the end of the run to further ensure my privacy and prevent any snoopers from turning me in. Once that's done I will feel much better about the project and anyone asking about my chickens will have to have a warrant to see them. It will also dress up the end of the run to match the barn and look nice from the road. The happier I keep my neighbors the less trouble I have. (another reason I don't own any guns, cant shoot strays, thus angering the neighbors, without a gun ) I feel very happy that my immediate neighbors are very nice and approve of my project but also sad that my nice country estate has become part of a suburb full of city slickers. I miss the good old days when I couldn't even see my neighbors house........I'd move but I'm too old to start over. Here's hoping no one objects, ever, and I can pretend till I die that I'm still a country boy

 

[gpeters3]

I don't like to quote large posts so, regarding Chickichick12's coop, I really like it. Something I just learned though is less light is better for laying, especially in warm months. I put my heat lamps in the run an my timer witch also lit the red lamp in the coop and changed the time to run during the night when it gets colder and my hens quit laying because the light was on all night, I'm assuming. When I removed the bulb, the very next day they started laying again

I am also considering a motion light for the back yard to further deter predators from snooping around at night but have to be careful that the movement of the chickens won't trigger it. I also like the idea of walking out back and having the light come on as I round the corner of the coop to check on the chickens etc. because we have coyotes (just learned how to spell that too ) and I can't help but feel that if conditions were right and there were enough of them I could be in danger of an attack. It's just a thought I've been having as I wind down on this project. (Got to keep my mind occupied with something )

 

[chickiechick12]

Yes I've heard about less light! I have those lights on a switch in the garage so I can flip it on when I go out to lock them up at night

 

[timothyyoung]

Temporary run is up, the chickens and ducks had their first day outside.

 

[NanaNeen]

My girls are 8 weeks and temperature at night in the upper 40s-50s. Can I turn off their warming light at night or do you think I should leave it longer.

 

[junebuggena]

My girls are 8 weeks and temperature at night in the upper 40s-50s. Can I turn off their warming light at night or do you think I should leave it longer.

They don't need any supplemental heat once fully feathered. They probably haven't really needed the heat lamp for the last month.

 

[gpeters3]

My chicks swarm all over me when i carry the water drinkers in to hang them even if two of the drinkers are full. They seem to be really curious rather than thirsty. BTW, my white turkey is very close to gobbling. Kind of like the young roosters when they start practicing crowing.

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:
As I read it, the ropes used to lift the hay to the trolley were pulled by horses. Seems that winch is unnecessary. If she wants to eat, she can work for it

Quote:
One of my Anconas hit the nipple even before I had water in the system. Not hard to train them. Mine will ALWAYS choose open water over nipples. And there is nothing wrong with water in a puddle. Ever watch your chickens eat when they are outside? Ever seen them take that tasty grub or worm to the hose and wash it off??

Here is my coop. My friend built it for me. It is 4 x 8, and I have nine chickens which I know is maximum for the coop. They will free range during the day and go in the coop at night. I still have a couple little things to do. And I have a couple questions.
Is there a enough ventilation?
Do the spaces at the roofline need hardware cloth? If so what would be the easiest way to attach it?

Absolutely, unless you want to lose your birds to weasels at night. And yes, if you live in the USA, you have weasels, you just don't know it.
The "after the fact" 'how' is another thing entirely.

Finally got the coop finished enough to put my girls in it tonight. What a RELIEF to have them out of my basement!!
Now I have to figure out an easy & cheap siding to put on to make it look pretty. Any suggestions?
Also, I had to physically put them inside the coop at dark, it was looking like they were getting to ready to sleep in their run. Is this normal? How long will it take them to figure out how to use the roosts?

Put a light in the coop so it is still light inside as the sun goes down. They don't see well in the dark. Put them in the coop as the sun goes down, turn off the light while it is still somewhat light outside so it isn't a huge LIGHTS OUT event. After a few days, they will head into the coop as the sun gets low, stop using the light then. Unless you have them trained to scratch or BOSS. If you do, just toss some in the coop before the sun goes down, shut the door when they all get inside. I would put some windows in the coop, that way there will still be some light in there while it is still light outside. And they will get natural sunrise and sunset light.

Most chickens will naturally roost as high as they can get, they feel safer off the ground. However I gather some breeds are ground sleepers. I don't have any that do.

Quote:
DO NOT use a staple gun. Those T50 staples will pop out like a button on a tight pair of pants if you or a predator pulls on the wire. Use them only for positioning the wire, then use poultry(fence) staples, screws and fender washers or batten strips.

My girls are 8 weeks and temperature at night in the upper 40s-50s. Can I turn off their warming light at night or do you think I should leave it longer.

They stopped needing any supplemental heat 4 weeks ago. And they don't need heat in the winter.

 

[gpeters3]

Mine like to sun themselves during the day but at night they pile up under the heat lamps. They may not need them but i think they like it kind of like we like to curl up in warm blankets at night.

 

[ShrekDawg]

As I read it, the ropes used to lift the hay to the trolley were pulled by horses. Seems that winch is unnecessary. If she wants to eat, she can work for it 


One of my Anconas hit the nipple even before I had water in the system. Not hard to train them. Mine will ALWAYS choose open water over nipples. And there is nothing wrong with water in a puddle. Ever watch your chickens eat when they are outside? Ever seen them take that tasty grub or worm to the hose and wash it off??


Absolutely, unless you want to lose your birds to weasels at night. And yes, if you live in the USA, you have weasels, you just don't know it.
The "after the fact" 'how' is another thing entirely. 


Put a light in the coop so it is still light inside as the sun goes down. They don't see well in the dark. Put them in the coop as the sun goes down, turn off the light while it is still somewhat light outside so it isn't a huge LIGHTS OUT event. After a few days, they will head into the coop as the sun gets low, stop using the light then. Unless you have them trained to scratch or BOSS. If you do, just toss some in the coop before the sun goes down, shut the door when they all get inside. I would put some windows in the coop, that way there will still be some light in there while it is still light outside. And they will get natural sunrise and sunset light.

Most chickens will naturally roost as high as they can get, they feel safer off the ground. However I gather some breeds are ground sleepers. I don't have any that do.


DO NOT use a staple gun. Those T50 staples will pop out like a button on a tight pair of pants if you or a predator pulls on the wire. Use them only for positioning the wire, then use poultry(fence) staples, screws and fender washers or batten strips.


They stopped needing any supplemental heat 4 weeks ago. And they don't need heat in the winter.

Lol that's true, they definitely don't wash bugs off. Normally I don't care about puddles but the only reason i cared this time was it had just rained and the run was all muddy and poopy. The new run I plan to fix that and I've been trying to in this one plus once it dries out it's fine but there was a lot of poop and mud and I didn't want her or me getting sick haha