Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

I can't see anything terrible there.
It's not exactly cheap though.
This one from the same site looks remarkably like the coop at the allotments.
Despite the state it's in it has lasted ten years without much maintainance.

https://www.mychickencoop.com.au/chicken-coops/gigantic-walk-in-chicken-coop

Yes, I looked @ that one too but even reducing the number of birds I have @ present I need a bigger coop than just for one or 2 hens. The most trouble I ever had with my girls was a small tribe of just 5 when I started out. They seem happier in a bigger tribe.

None of the bigger pre fabs are cheap ~ & ventilation is often really, really bad. That's just the way it is. When the time comes I may be somewhere where I can get a chippie @ a reasonable cost to build me something but it is always fun to look & consider ideas & options because when the time comes I'll be in a better position to make a good decision.

 

[Ribh]

Personally I am suspicious about these pull out trays - they look like a genius idea but I always worry that reality will be messier!

Our first little coop had/has a pull out tray. If the material in the tray is no taller than the slot its great, but that is rarely the case. So if you pull out the tray you just scrape everything off as you go.

Yup. Our prefab has a tray like that. They seem like a nice idea but they need to be much deeper.

Pull out trays are the pits. My small coop had one & they are so shallow once the girls have pooped & scraped everything into a heap you need to clean them before you can remove them. And they rust. They can be removed entirely though & that is always an option.

 

[Ribh]

I'm a little confused by the coop @Ribh. The holes lead not into nest boxes but the roosts? I base that thought on the pull out trays on that side. Plus there are open nest boxes on the opposite side. I don't think I've ever seen a coop with a separate bedroom. I would have guessed the nest boxes would go behind the holes.

You're right, Bruce. I hadn't noticed but it looks to me that everything is a standard size & I could move those entry hole cut~outs to the nest boxes without major dramas. My biggest issue is accessibility. It will be just me so I have to be able to manage everything on my own & I'm neither a tall woman nor as agile as I once was.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's embarrassing to admit but I did that ~ & then went to studiosity for extra help & still blew it. I think it's the in text stuff I didn't do right but as is the way with these things I get another go next time.

I was wondering whether the in-text citations were the tricky bit because the formatting is fiddly but not hard. I once included knowledge out of my own brain and was asked to add a citation. I had go find a book it was in.

On the other hand, every argument I ever constructed from and around cited readings has never been questioned.

 

[MaryJanet]

You're right, Bruce. I hadn't noticed but it looks to me that everything is a standard size & I could move those entry hole cut~outs to the nest boxes without major dramas. My biggest issue is accessibility. It will be just me so I have to be able to manage everything on my own & I'm neither a tall woman nor as agile as I once was.

For a flat pack, it seems to provide excellent accessibility i like it! it does seem expensive, but I wouldn't let that stop me if I thought it was the best option.

Fir doesn't last very long, so you might like to put a proper exterior paint on it - I know the ad says it's already painted but I doubt they'd have put the best exterior paint on.

The cut outs to the roost are a very odd design choice. In the way of cleaning and not helpful if a roosting squabble breaks out. Maybe it was designed by someone who'd never kept chooks before.

One of my chums has one similar to this on a sloping block and of course all the joins failed sooner than you'd think, so placing it on flat ground would be a good plan.

 

[Ribh]

For a flat pack, it seems to provide excellent accessibility i like it! it does seem expensive, but I wouldn't let that stop me if I thought it was the best option.

Fir doesn't last very long, so you might like to put a proper exterior paint on it - I know the ad says it's already painted but I doubt they'd have put the best exterior paint on.

The cut outs to the roost are a very odd design choice. In the way of cleaning and not helpful if a roosting squabble breaks out. Maybe it was designed by someone who'd never kept chooks before.

One of my chums has one similar to this on a sloping block and of course all the joins failed sooner than you'd think, so placing it on flat ground would be a good plan.

Thanks, MJ. That's helpful. I was planning on painting it because my first coop is fir & you are quite right ~ it doesn't last. I would also consider a tarp over the top for extra insulation & protection. There are things about this climate you learn from experience & then look for ways to combat. Heat & humidity are problematic in all sorts of ways.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thanks, MJ. That's helpful. I was planning on painting it because my first coop is fir & you are quite right ~ it doesn't last. I would also consider a tarp over the top for extra insulation & protection. There are things about this climate you learn from experience & then look for ways to combat. Heat & humidity are problematic in all sorts of ways.

I guess the last thought will be once it's put together, are you confident it'll withstand predators? So a little extra predator protection might be needed, but that depends on where you end up living and what predators live there.

 

[bruceha2000]

I hadn't noticed but it looks to me that everything is a standard size & I could move those entry hole cut~outs to the nest boxes without major dramas.

Sounds like a plan, or just don't install them at all. I've got 3 open nests in the coop, a 4' long closed community box with 2 holes in the side wall with outside access and a cardboard box with hay under a ladder in the "feed room". Different birds like different nests, some never go in the closed community box, others ONLY go in it.

Maybe it was designed by someone who'd never kept chooks before.

That is my guess. Figured the birds would want their "bedroom" closed up some.

 

[Ribh]

I guess the last thought will be once it's put together, are you confident it'll withstand predators? So a little extra predator protection might be needed, but that depends on where you end up living and what predators live there.

I can get a wire floor for it as predators is something I have kept in mind.

 

[Ribh]

The one feather tail wonder.
All my moulters are looking absolutely dreadful. ​

And guess who saw the camera was out & started photo bombing!
Plus that door was sorta open & she thought she could squeeze through the gap!