post your chicken coop pictures here!

[dreiman9]

Nice job on your setup. I'm curious about your location...climate-wise. Is there a window on the wall opposite the next boxes? Do you have a floor plan for how you've got the inside set up? It seems that most people use 1/2" wire for their aprons but if dogs can tear through it as the main fence then why can't they dig through it?...I think 2x4 is better. But, I guess 2x4 mesh won't stop rats from tunneling in. Depends on which varmit you're trying to defend against. Again, nice job.

Ed

Thanks! Located in central CT, their is the same widow opposite the nest box wall so should be getting plenty of venting. Rafters are open too with 1/4" hardware cloth mesh covering them. Also coop is in shade pretty much constantly so will never get too hot. SOO Many predators to guard against! ha. Was targeting the bigger ones with skirt, dogs, coyotes and foxes. Have some extra 1/2 inch so maybe could add that on top. Interior is still a work in progress, as well as some more trim boards for the exterior. Just open with water and nipple waterer hanging from the ceiling. In the next few weeks, I plan to build a 3x4 poop shelf to put roosts over near the window next to the door. Will then hang the waterer and feeder below that. Dan

 

[Intheswamp]

Thanks Swamp man, the coop is 4'×6' and is constructed with all recycled pallet wood. I have 8 chickens. I like all of your ideas and suggestions. Its crazy that you mentioned the plywood up top because I just had the same thought about placing plywood uptop to help with any radiant heat from the roof.Like they say "Great minds think alike!"

I can make those front windows larger but I cant join them together because thats my doors. The entire front of my coop opens up and its french style doors without a stud in the center but thats not a problem, I can make the windows larger. I need to do everything I can to let some of the heat out of the coop though. Its getting way to hot in there and if for some reason my family and I arent here to let them out I would lose my flock. Crazy hot here! Thanks again bud for the compliments and suggestions.
Brad

Howdy Brad. Yeah, the heat is tough. 4x6 is gonna be a little crowded for eight chickens...watch their behavior, especially in this heat. Anything to help move some air is good. If you could make a free-standing shade tent over the coop, even. I have a few bee hives and I have built some square frames (they look like tic-tac-toe gameboards) and covered with some cheap weed barrier fabric...creates a nice shade. I simply set them on top of the hives and anchored them down with bricks. The first year I shaded the hives I used some big pieces of heavy-duty corrugated cardboard...it worked. You'd would need a bit larger one cover with a couple of extra cross pieces to it. Make it large so the shade extends beyond the roof. Any way to get shaded ground around the coop will help.

 

[Intheswamp]

Thanks!
Located in central CT, their is the same widow opposite the nest box wall so should be getting plenty of venting. Rafters are open too with 1/4" hardware cloth mesh covering them. Also coop is in shade pretty much constantly so will never get too hot. SOO Many predators to guard against! ha. Was targeting the bigger ones with skirt, dogs, coyotes and foxes. Have some extra 1/2 inch so maybe could add that on top. Interior is still a work in progress, as well as some more trim boards for the exterior. Just open with water and nipple waterer hanging from the ceiling. In the next few weeks, I plan to build a 3x4 poop shelf to put roosts over near the window next to the door. Will then hang the waterer and feeder below that.

Dan


I hear you on the predators...my problem will be coyotes, I'm afraid. But hopefully will be able to deal with them. It sounds good in regards to the shade. Just remember in the winter not to lock it up to tight...let it breath. How are the horizontal nipples working out with your chickens? I'm in between deciding on a 4x8, 8x8, or 8x12....everybody says to build BIG but I'm not so sure how big I want to go. Still undecided.

Ed

 

[FarmerPhronc]

Quote: I live in rural Colorado.



If there is a predator we most likely have it. That's why I put 1/2" welded hardware cloth all along my coop and run extending 2' up and out as well as having protection over my run. This was last Oct. and has since grown over with grass and the blocks are no longer needed to hold the wire down.






This was taken before the 1/2" hardware cloth was applied however if you look closely you can see the dog kennel panel over the top to keep out birds of prey, eagles,hawks, owls, etc. If you look real close you will see one of my 2 dogs that also keep an eye on the ladies.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Thanks! Located in central CT, their is the same widow opposite the nest box wall so should be getting plenty of venting. Rafters are open too with 1/4" hardware cloth mesh covering them. Also coop is in shade pretty much constantly so will never get too hot. SOO Many predators to guard against! ha. Was targeting the bigger ones with skirt, dogs, coyotes and foxes. Have some extra 1/2 inch so maybe could add that on top. Interior is still a work in progress, as well as some more trim boards for the exterior. Just open with water and nipple waterer hanging from the ceiling. In the next few weeks, I plan to build a 3x4 poop shelf to put roosts over near the window next to the door. Will then hang the waterer and feeder below that. Dan I hear you on the predators...my problem will be coyotes, I'm afraid. But hopefully will be able to deal with them. It sounds good in regards to the shade. Just remember in the winter not to lock it up to tight...let it breath. How are the horizontal nipples working out with your chickens? I'm in between deciding on a 4x8, 8x8, or 8x12....everybody says to build BIG but I'm not so sure how big I want to go. Still undecided. Ed

If I were you I would go with the 8x8 coop. Does anyone know why my hens won't go in the coop they are crowded I have to put the silkies back on the floor so the rest of the chickens has some room but tonight I had 6 of the fully grown chickens on the roost in the run and I had to put them through the door one by one and turn the light on in the coop to help hem see to get up.. But anyways can over crowding be a reason as to of why they aren't going in even some of the ones I had before I just brought those 4 home they have been setting on the roost in the run and won't go in they arnt getting picked on or pecked on and the one she is highest of the pecking order and I have to put her in every night along with 3 or 4 others.

 

[TerryH]

Does anyone know why my hens won't go in the coop they are crowded I have to put the silkies back on the floor so the rest of the chickens has some room but tonight I had 6 of the fully grown chickens on the roost in the run and I had to put them through the door one by one and turn the light on in the coop to help hem see to get up.. But anyways can over crowding be a reason as to of why they aren't going in even some of the ones I had before I just brought those 4 home they have been setting on the roost in the run and won't go in they arnt getting picked on or pecked on and the one she is highest of the pecking order and I have to put her in every night along with 3 or 4 others.

You have 21 chickens in a 4x8 coop, right? 1.5 sq.ft. per chicken is not enough room.

 

[gilcamp4]

if it were me i would take the roost out of the run and put it in coop, i picked my two up and took them right to the roost inside and never had them try to sleep outside again

 

[dreiman9]

Thanks! Located in central CT, their is the same widow opposite the nest box wall so should be getting plenty of venting. Rafters are open too with 1/4" hardware cloth mesh covering them. Also coop is in shade pretty much constantly so will never get too hot. SOO Many predators to guard against! ha. Was targeting the bigger ones with skirt, dogs, coyotes and foxes. Have some extra 1/2 inch so maybe could add that on top. Interior is still a work in progress, as well as some more trim boards for the exterior. Just open with water and nipple waterer hanging from the ceiling. In the next few weeks, I plan to build a 3x4 poop shelf to put roosts over near the window next to the door. Will then hang the waterer and feeder below that. Dan I hear you on the predators...my problem will be coyotes, I'm afraid. But hopefully will be able to deal with them. It sounds good in regards to the shade. Just remember in the winter not to lock it up to tight...let it breath. How are the horizontal nipples working out with your chickens? I'm in between deciding on a 4x8, 8x8, or 8x12....everybody says to build BIG but I'm not so sure how big I want to go. Still undecided. Ed

Horizontal nipples are working great! Have 4 in a 3 gallon bucket. Refill to about 2/3 full when I refill the 7 pound feeder. When the feeder is empty after about 5 days their is a little less than 1/4 left in the waterer. Had chick waterer and nipples for a couple weeks for them to get used to it and show them how to use it. Took away chick waterer when I thought they pecked with enough force to get water consistently from the nipples

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

You have 21 chickens in a 4x8 coop, right? 1.5 sq.ft. per chicken is not enough room.

Yes I know that's why I have been waiting to get the new coop built but with my gram in the hospital and stuff we haven't had time to get anything done. But within another week or two I am hoping to have at least something started.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

if it were me i would take the roost out of the run and put it in coop, i picked my two up and took them right to the roost inside and never had them try to sleep outside again

I can't take the roost out of he runs because the water hangs from the one and the feeder hangs from the other and to make more room in the coop to maybe put another roost or something I put a board on the side of the coop and screwed it to the roost with the feeder and I put wee nesting boxes on the board outside the coop in the run so the roosts are going to have to stay.