post your chicken coop pictures here!

[kblod66]

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I made this out of a 4x5 shipping crate , it has 6 nesting boxes. The large front doors open for cleaning. Vinyl flooring for easy cleaning. Slide out Plexiglas windows for cold months.

Nice! How many chickens do you have?

 

[A GIBSON]

we are about to start converting this play set into a secondary winterized coop...any suggestions? ???

 

[junebuggena]

we are about to start converting this play set into a secondary winterized coop...any suggestions? ???

By winterized, what exactly do you mean? Chickens don't really need winterized coops. They need well ventilated shelter from wind, rain, and snow. They do not need a sealed up box that traps in heat, moisture, and ammonia.

 

[TJordan]

we are about to start converting this play set into a secondary winterized coop...any suggestions? ???

Don't try to remove the existing features. Use them. Add some hardware cloth to the lower parts of the railing for good ventilation. You could put in drop down solid panels that can be lifted on pretty days and lowered on bad ones giving the birds a nice view of the winter wonderland.
I saw someone mention putting slip resistant coating or walk slats on the slide for entry to the top half of the coop.
You could make one level a nursery coop or intro coop if you wanted to add more birds too.
The biggest thing is to remember that chickens like to get out. Don't box them in. Let them get out to roam. Even if it's just an attached run like a dog kennel.
If the ground freezes where you are, try adding a second kiddy pool full of loose dirt, sand and wood ash. This will give them a nice dust bath in cold weather.

Hope some of these help.

 

[A GIBSON]

Well seeing as we are in Texas not much needs to be done for winter.basically just covering most of the openings with chicken wire and affix sheets or tarps so they can be pinned back during the day and cover some of the larger openings at night.

 

[A GIBSON]

Don't try to remove the existing features. Use them. Add some hardware cloth to the lower parts of the railing for good ventilation. You could put in drop down solid panels that can be lifted on pretty days and lowered on bad ones giving the birds a nice view of the winter wonderland.
I saw someone mention putting slip resistant coating or walk slats on the slide for entry to the top half of the coop.
You could make one level a nursery coop or intro coop if you wanted to add more birds too.
The biggest thing is to remember that chickens like to get out. Don't box them in. Let them get out to roam. Even if it's just an attached run like a dog kennel.
If the ground freezes where you are, try adding a second kiddy pool full of loose dirt, sand and wood ash. This will give them a nice dust bath in cold weather.

Hope some of these help.

we were thinking just that for the bottom section! We just had 3 babies hatch last night and we wanted to be able to give then a space they could see and interact with the rest of the flock and be protected from bullying.

 

[junebuggena]

Well seeing as we are in Texas not much needs to be done for winter.basically just covering most of the openings with chicken wire and affix sheets or tarps so they can be pinned back during the day and cover some of the larger openings at night.

Chicken wire will not keep predators out.

 

[just13nat]

@just13nat
 That is probably why more than one childrens' playset has been converted to a chicken coop   

They also love the trampoline.

 

[TJordan]

we were thinking just that for the bottom section! We just had 3 babies hatch last night and we wanted to be able to give then a space they could see and interact with the rest of the flock and be protected from bullying.

I love babies. Just make sure the wire you use is small enough. I would make the hardware cloth removable, that way when they get a little older you can take it off and let the babies slip through the rails but the bigger birds can't get in. This will give them a safe haven of sorts. That is, after momma hen has left them. Don't want chicks out and momma unable to get to them.

 

[TJordan]

Chicken wire will not keep predators out.

Hardware cloth!!!! Please. And NO HEAT LAMPS!!!!! I lost a coop and 16 biddies to a fire this spring.