post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Braxton Brigade]

The coop is 4x4x4 - not tiny. I only have 8 chickens and don't need a larger coop.

As said this was my first attempt and I think it's great for a hundred bucks.

Point was to share a pic of something I am proud of - not to have someone nit-pick it's shortcomings so thanks for that.

You have a nice day...

I am sorry you felt as if they were picking on your coop. That T-11 siding is a great material for building coops/shops! I have a coop build out of the same thing.

I like the style of it as well, I do have one pointer on winter, chickens actually are really hot blooded creatures lol. Their average temp is 105-109 degrees Fahrenheit, usually a group of chickens huddled out of the wind will do just fine during winter.

As long as you don't have opossums, foxes, minks or raccoons in your area they should be alright with the door open. Same for aerial predators, as long as you have something over them they generally should be just fine. I personally used welded wire for one of my past coops, its strong, easy to work with and has small openings. Just a bit of that over their run will keep them safe from nearly all creatures. But, like I said, this is all personal choices. The way you're keeping your birds is 1000% better than factory farms every could.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

Nice! I like it.

seems fast and easy too. Although I'm wondering if you could rip the pallets apart and rebuild or at least put plywood or something over it? Of course it would probably take longer but I'm thinking if I ever expand my parents may not want to spend more money on another coop but also wouldn't want an eyesore (no offense lol) even if I don't mind the look. So thinking if maybe it could be covered or painted or whatever. Probably?

I'm actually getting 5 more chicks in October but I think they will fit in the new coop. I have 8 in a 3x3 coop kit from TSC which is wayyyyy too small, obviously, and a 6x12 dog kennel run, also too small especially with the coop sitting in the middle of it (we took off the included run though so it's open) but the new coop is 4x8. I know technically the maximum number of birds for that size coop is 8 but my thinking is since it's a HUGE upgrade from the current coop that they won't mind. Especially since mine never even go in the coop during the day except to lay eggs and then at night to roost. Although I wonder if part of that is because they just can't fit inside, maybe with more comfortable accommodations they would. But anyway, if it does get crowded I think we can expand. We have an old dog house right near the coop we can probably fix and attach. Or we can maybe just expand out the back. We already attached the door and of course the gable vents have to go in but theoretically all we'd have to do is take the door off, expand, and put it back on. We also have a storage area we're putting in that we could maybe take out to add more space to the coop. We built the coop on a 6x8 frame to accommodate the nest boxes and a storage area. So it wouldn't add much space but maybe a little. But my other theory is I'm going to try to make the run as big as possible to accommodate for the coop and maybe free range. And of course have two 8 foot roost bars. Or an 8 foot and 2 4 foot. Maybe shelves or something for more floor space but I'm thinking that might take away space, I don't know. I think they'll be fine though, I'm going to try to brood outside and integrate early too.

Sorry, I'm rambling hahah

Anyhow, that box might be a good idea for fast extra space.

My coop is made from a pallet and a dog kennel. Maybe its kind of what you're describing when you say a pallet but not a eye sore. And space isn't as important if they aren't in there but at night.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The coop is 4x4x4 - not tiny. I only have 8 chickens and don't need a larger coop.

As said this was my first attempt and I think it's great for a hundred bucks.

Point was to share a pic of something I am proud of - not to have someone nit-pick it's shortcomings so thanks for that.

You have a nice day... 

I don't think they were trying to nitpick, they were just trying to help/concerned about the chickens, but that said sometimes the website can be quick to jump on things so I can see why you felt that way and sorry you do. As for the door, I used to close mine but now I leave it open but mine is inside a chainlink dog kennel so harder to bust in. With that run I would lock them up but then again your yard is fenced and you have all the dogs but things can climb over the fence. Once the run is updated it should be safer. But like yours mine like to wake up early so I can see why it would be easier. Mine are up as soon as the sun is, 5am or sometimes before 5 in the early summer. And we used to not let them out till 6 or 7, mostly 7 sometimes 8. And sometimes i would forget to let them out until 9 or 10 or one day later. Yes I know that's cruel and not normal but I don't do that anymore and then we started leaving the door open. As you can see and I'm sure you know even when you get up and let them out at 6, 7, 8am, they are dtill inside an hour, 2 hours, 3 hours longer than they want to be. The new coop I'll probably leave the door open too

 

[Braxton Brigade]

I don't think they were trying to nitpick, they were just trying to help/concerned about the chickens, but that said sometimes the website can be quick to jump on things so I can see why you felt that way and sorry you do. As for the door, I used to close mine but now I leave it open but mine is inside a chainlink dog kennel so harder to bust in. With that run I would lock them up but then again your yard is fenced and you have all the dogs but things can climb over the fence. Once the run is updated it should be safer. But like yours mine like to wake up early so I can see why it would be easier. Mine are up as soon as the sun is, 5am or sometimes before 5 in the early summer. And we used to not let them out till 6 or 7, mostly 7 sometimes 8. And sometimes i would forget to let them out until 9 or 10 or one day later. Yes I know that's cruel and not normal but I don't do that anymore and then we started leaving the door open. As you can see and I'm sure you know even when you get up and let them out at 6, 7, 8am, they are dtill inside an hour, 2 hours, 3 hours longer than they want to be. The new coop I'll probably leave the door open too

It's too hot here for us to shut the coop doors.

The chain link kennels makes things so easy lol, perfect person height and all haha.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My coop is made from a pallet and a dog kennel. Maybe its kind of what you're describing when you say a pallet but not a eye sore. And space isn't as important if they aren't in there but at night.

I bet it looks great. We have our coop in a dog kennel too, it's very secure. But the new coop we're building a new run too. I saw a coop on here a while a go or maybe a YouTube video where someone had built a coop out of pallets but they put T1-11 siding on it to make it look nicer, they just did the frame with pallets. Was thinking of that. And that's true. Thanks

 

[ShrekDawg]

It's too hot here for us to shut the coop doors.

The chain link kennels makes things so easy lol, perfect person height and all haha.

Thankfully it's not that hot here, 80s and 90s in summer, but I also leave the back door open now too instead of just the pop door. The new coop is bigger and will have more ventilation so hopefully it won't be too hot.

And yes, dog kennels are sooo easy. Especially since we got ot free from a neighbor years ago haha

 

[Intheswamp]

As I said - the pen is temporary right now so the chicken wire will be upgraded. That said, my yard is also fenced and I have 4 dogs. I don't necessarily agree with locking them in at night - they like to go in and come out when they're ready to. As is, I've never had an incident. This morning a red shouldered hawk swooped in on the pen but couldn't gain access. There is ventilation - and I keep the coop clean so I don't have a big ammonia problem. Like I also said...I may add some additional screened ventilation at the top still - probably via hole saw. I've checked out the inside during 95 degree temps at midday and since the coop is in the shade it was fairly cool inside still.

I'll also be adding a heat lamp during the winter despite that the chickens are hardy in the cold.

The coop is 4x4x4 - not tiny. I only have 8 chickens and don't need a larger coop.

As said this was my first attempt and I think it's great for a hundred bucks.

Point was to share a pic of something I am proud of - not to have someone nit-pick it's shortcomings so thanks for that.

You have a nice day...

 

[Braxton Brigade]

I agree with that.

 

[junebuggena]

The coop is 4x4x4 - not tiny. I only have 8 chickens and don't need a larger coop.

As said this was my first attempt and I think it's great for a hundred bucks.

Point was to share a pic of something I am proud of - not to have someone nit-pick it's shortcomings so thanks for that.

You have a nice day...

Not trying to nit-pick. Just trying to help you avoid issues further on. 4x4 is actually pretty darn small for 8 adult birds. And even in extremely cold climates, chickens do not need additional heating. Heat lamps in small coops are a massive fire hazard. Not worth the risk. And if the power goes out, you risk loosing some birds to the cold since they aren't acclimated to it.

 

[ShanandGem]

Nice! I like it.

seems fast and easy too. Although I'm wondering if you could rip the pallets apart and rebuild or at least put plywood or something over it? Of course it would probably take longer but I'm thinking if I ever expand my parents may not want to spend more money on another coop but also wouldn't want an eyesore (no offense lol) even if I don't mind the look. So thinking if maybe it could be covered or painted or whatever. Probably?

I'm actually getting 5 more chicks in October but I think they will fit in the new coop. I have 8 in a 3x3 coop kit from TSC which is wayyyyy too small, obviously, and a 6x12 dog kennel run, also too small especially with the coop sitting in the middle of it (we took off the included run though so it's open) but the new coop is 4x8. I know technically the maximum number of birds for that size coop is 8 but my thinking is since it's a HUGE upgrade from the current coop that they won't mind. Especially since mine never even go in the coop during the day except to lay eggs and then at night to roost. Although I wonder if part of that is because they just can't fit inside, maybe with more comfortable accommodations they would. But anyway, if it does get crowded I think we can expand. We have an old dog house right near the coop we can probably fix and attach. Or we can maybe just expand out the back. We already attached the door and of course the gable vents have to go in but theoretically all we'd have to do is take the door off, expand, and put it back on. We also have a storage area we're putting in that we could maybe take out to add more space to the coop. We built the coop on a 6x8 frame to accommodate the nest boxes and a storage area. So it wouldn't add much space but maybe a little. But my other theory is I'm going to try to make the run as big as possible to accommodate for the coop and maybe free range. And of course have two 8 foot roost bars. Or an 8 foot and 2 4 foot. Maybe shelves or something for more floor space but I'm thinking that might take away space, I don't know. I think they'll be fine though, I'm going to try to brood outside and integrate early too.

Sorry, I'm rambling hahah

Anyhow, that box might be a good idea for fast extra space.

I didn't want to cover it in plywood because a)expense and b)ventilation but you certainly could. Even staining it or painting it a jolly color and not using $6 blue tarps for the roof would pretty it up lol. It is fast and easy and when you have no will power when it comes to NOT buying chickens that is a wonderful thing.