post your chicken coop pictures here!

Basically finished (most) everything on Sept 1st and got 4 hens the following day after work. These are my first hens, I am amazed at what interesting critters they are. I started building this coop a few years ago but rescued a pup that ended up taking a lot of my time so it got put on hold. A few weeks ago I was going to clean out the garage and dragged the partially build coop out and decided that I should just go ahead and finish it. I built it using almost all recycled wood (from work packing crates) and slapped a coat of paint on it, I think it turned out o.k and the hens seem to like it. Next up is a tractor so that I get get them out to different areas of the yard.
That is so cool that you got it done and have the chickens! Once you have chickens you're hooked LOL! That's a nice coop. For rainy days to keep the nestbox materials dry put an awning over the nestbox window to keep out leaks/rain. It seems no matter how well-built chicken coops are they all eventually warp or develop a leak somewhere and nestbox material is one thing that needs to stay dry. I got so tired of having to tarp our first coop outdoors or use a pop-up canopy over it. The next coop we got we built a patio roof over it so we didn't have to struggle with tarps and canopies any more.
 
I have added an overhang above the coop door at the top of the ramp to keep the weather out. We've had some pretty good rains the past week and the coop bedding is staying dry. :)

I let the hens out to check out the raised garden beds for the first time. They were out for about an hour, it's really entertaining to watch them chase bugs and scratch. They started to do some good work in the gardens cleaning up.
 
Trying to post but no dice. Apparently the password has changed and the high mountain gate will be forever closed to me.
 
Trying to post but no dice. Apparently the password has changed and the high mountain gate will be forever closed to me.

Hunh?
caf.gif
 
the color is barn red and I want to get about 8 hens

So wait just a minute here... you mean to tell us you built the coop and run BEFORE you got your chickens? Oh man! You've got this thing ALL kinds of backwards... I suggest you tear it all down and start over and do this right... you need to get the CHICKENS first... then, after your house is full of dander, dust and feathers, you START building the coop. The idea is that when you finally get the coop built, you need to do a complete interior remodel of your home. Oh, and then? you get MORE chickens so the coop you finally got built isn't big enough. That way you have a whole new bunch of chickens growing up INSIDE your newly remodeled home again! Rinse and repeat!
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Welcome to BYC and that's a really nice looking build! Being that you're in PA, I imagine you're gonna get some cold winter temps. You may be concerned about your girls, but as long as there aren't drafts directly on them while roosting they'll handle the cold just fine. Having said that, you might want to look at adding some additional high ventilation that will remain open 24/7/365. Up under the run overhang would be the ideal place. Then add some low vent holes to let fresh air in, which will drive the moist fouled air up to that upper vent... I'd be thinking under the nest boxes might work good. I recommend this because in those winter storms, you'll be wanting to keep the coop all closed up and the girls aren't really going to want to go outside during bad weather. They create a LOT of moisture from breathing and pooping and without good ventilation, you're going to have frost bite and freezing combs/wattles/toes to worry about. If I was a chicken, I'd want to live there! Good job!
 
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So wait just a minute here... you mean to tell us you built the coop and run BEFORE you got your chickens? Oh man! You've got this thing ALL kinds of backwards... I suggest you tear it all down and start over and do this right... you need to get the CHICKENS first... then, after your house is full of dander, dust and feathers, you START building the coop.

....

Dang @Latestarter you beat me to it! I had multi-quoted intending to say JUST THAT!

We think too much alike
wink.png
 
So wait just a minute here... you mean to tell us you built the coop and run BEFORE you got your chickens? Oh man! You've got this thing ALL kinds of backwards... I suggest you tear it all down and start over and do this right... you need to get the CHICKENS first... then, after your house is full of dander, dust and feathers, you START building the coop. The idea is that when you finally get the coop built, you need to do a complete interior remodel of your home. Oh, and then? you get MORE chickens so the coop you finally got built isn't big enough. That way you have a whole new bunch of chickens growing up INSIDE your newly remodeled home again! Rinse and repeat!
wink.png


Welcome to BYC and that's a really nice looking build! Being that you're in PA, I imagine you're gonna get some cold winter temps. You may be concerned about your girls, but as long as there aren't drafts directly on them while roosting they'll handle the cold just fine. Having said that, you might want to look at adding some additional high ventilation that will remain open 24/7/365. Up under the run overhang would be the ideal place. Then add some low vent holes to let fresh air in, which will drive the moist fouled air up to that upper vent... I'd be thinking under the nest boxes might work good. I recommend this because in those winter storms, you'll be wanting to keep the coop all closed up and the girls aren't really going to want to go outside during bad weather. They create a LOT of moisture from breathing and pooping and without good ventilation, you're going to have frost bite and freezing combs/wattles/toes to worry about. If I was a chicken, I'd want to live there! Good job!

thank you for the info on the vents, when you say low vent holes under the nesting box, how large of holes should I make and how many
thank you Jack
 

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