post your chicken coop pictures here!

[aim0474]

looks good, when is the swing coming

Well, the run needs a roof first. And the ladies are still in a brooder.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

thank you very much

It's a 4x4 right? how many birds are you planning on keeping? And bantam or large fowl

 

[junkman56]

the coop is 6' x 5' and the same in height. I have 8 red stars being shipped as we speak

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Wow so they should be here tomarrow?

 

[Sylvester017]

the coop is 6' x 5' and the same in height. I have 8 red stars being shipped as we speak

6x5 is a bit small for 8 large fowl - unless of course they are free-ranged and the coop will be used for egg-laying and nightly roosting only. I had a 4x6x4 coop for two Silkies and found quickly that it was too small for constant confinement and started to free-range them. They were so happy to be running through grass and dust-bathing in dirt and scratching for bugs. When they free-ranged then the coop was plenty big enough just for laying eggs and roosting for the night so we added two more fowl to the flock. Because they free-range all day long even when we're away we made sure to have lots of covers/shelters around the yard like 5 doghouses, a pop-up canopy for shade, a couple low plywood lean-to's, container plants, compost bin, lawn furniture, etc etc. We eventually tore down the old 60-yr-old chainlink fence and replaced with block wall fencing to reinforce from stray dogs in the neighborhood. Everyone's predator area is different but that's what worked for us in the suburbs.

 

[junkman56]

6x5 is a bit small for 8 large fowl - unless of course they are free-ranged and the coop will be used for egg-laying and nightly roosting only. I had a 4x6x4 coop for two Silkies and found quickly that it was too small for constant confinement and started to free-range them. They were so happy to be running through grass and dust-bathing in dirt and scratching for bugs. When they free-ranged then the coop was plenty big enough just for laying eggs and roosting for the night so we added two more fowl to the flock. Because they free-range all day long even when we're away we made sure to have lots of covers/shelters around the yard like 5 doghouses, a pop-up canopy for shade, a couple low plywood lean-to's, container plants, compost bin, lawn furniture, etc etc. We eventually tore down the old 60-yr-old chainlink fence and replaced with block wall fencing to reinforce from stray dogs in the neighborhood. Everyone's predator area is different but that's what worked for us in the suburbs.

I think the 6'x5' will be plenty big enough, they also have a 16' long x 6' wide x 7' tall run that they will be in during the day. now now

 

[Intheswamp]

I wanted to update photos of my run. It has a sliding pocket door on it. I designed it to be a tight fit and there is only about 1/2" clearance at the door. When closed, there is 3" overlap on each side between the 2 "walls" of hardware cloth. Mice may get in, but I think that is a risk with regularly opening doors. I just didnt want to give up space for a swinging door as that grass is going to become an herb garden and walkway next spring.

All I have left is a hinged roof (so I can stand up in there!) and it will be ready for the ladies.



Clearance between door and walls.

If you're going to go to the trouble of building a hinged roof why not simply build a permanent roof extension so you can simply walk inside the run? That way you won't have to be worried with lifting and propping up a hinged roof?

Best wishes,
Ed

ETA: I agree with Bruce below about the sliding door possibly hanging up. Also, if you are planning on using deep litter it could cause a problem if not designed ahead of time for it. Have you figured on this?

 

[bruceha2000]

I wanted to update photos of my run. It has a sliding pocket door on it. I designed it to be a tight fit and there is only about 1/2" clearance at the door. When closed, there is 3" overlap on each side between the 2 "walls" of hardware cloth. Mice may get in, but I think that is a risk with regularly opening doors. I just didnt want to give up space for a swinging door as that grass is going to become an herb garden and walkway next spring.

All I have left is a hinged roof (so I can stand up in there!) and it will be ready for the ladies.



Clearance between door and walls.

I think you will find the sliding door to be a pain in the winter if snow/ice get in the channel and freeze it shut. Maybe not, time will tell. Given you need a walkway to get to the door, I'm not sure how a swinging door would be giving up space.

 

[Intheswamp]

I think the 6'x5' will be plenty big enough, they also have a 16' long x 6' wide x 7' tall run that they will be in during the day. now now

Two rules of thumb/toes/ears/whatever....

4 square feet per LF chicken in the coop.
10 square feet per LF chicken in the run.

You are a little shy on space in the coop according to "the rule". Some people report good results with a more dense population than recommended. Other people report having to provide more space than the 4 square feet to make things work out. Chickens are similar to people in that none are the same....but, a generality and an average can be attained for certain traits and requirements. That is what the 4 square feet "rule" does...it takes a figure that has been found to work in *most* instances. See how your chickens do, they may be fine. Have an alternate "Plan B" in case it doesn't work out, though. Your space works out to being good for 7.5 LF chickens...it's better to err on the side of giving them more room than the rule states but you are right there at it....see what happens.

The run works out with plenty of room for eight chickens...for a confined run. Are you going to be using deep litter inside the run? The grass will be gone in a few weeks and the bare ground will get rather messy.

It looks like you have a lot of ground outside the run...will the chickens be allowed to free range a good bit? Free ranging will do wonders for their health, in keeping the run and coop cleaner, in producing some really nice eggs, and will help keep the peace inside the confines of the coop and run when they have to be confined to it.

A couple of other things... You might want to round off the edges of your roost poles/boards. The sharp edges *may* contribute to feet problems. Also, the recommended (don't you just love all the recommendations! ) ventilation is to have one square foot of permanent ventilation per LF chicken. This means that there is a square foot of vent per bird that will never be closed...it allows moisture and ammonia out of the coop and is really important to the chickens' respiratory health.

Btw, what type of predators do you have in your area? Got any dogs? Neighbor dogs?

Nice job on the coop!
Ed

Edited: Removed mention of sliding door hanging on deep litter....wrong coop.

 

[aim0474]

I can't build it taller, has to be under the fence line.

I will see how the snow does. Luckily that pocket of the yard is south facing and any snow mm is usually gone in a day or two.

The walls are built up.to accommodate deep litter.