seeking constructive critiques of my new chicken coop build

[jakes bayou]

so you mean roosts in the run? sure, I could to that! great idea. thanks.

 

[mrchicks]

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear on that.

 

[Beekissed]

ok, folks, ive gotten a lot of good points. so today I converted my 5 by 8 plexiglass window to a hardare cloth (half inch) window. i also am adding 4 more vent windows. im adding a piece of weather strip to the nest box. ive taken out the limbs (sniff) and will put in 2 by4 roosts. I am sticking with the linoleum because I cant get a small container of the blackjack. I will post a new vid when I get it all done. thanks again.

Half inch!

I like the limbs!

I have limbs/saplings in the coop, though somewhat larger than yours. I like round, natural roosts as opposed to flat, so it's all a matter of preference on the roosting and as long as they are not too skinny they seem to do fine.








I love it that you are asking for critiques and are actually considering them...so unusual. Usually when someone asks for opinions they don't really want them, they merely want validation for their choices and then it all goes downhill from there. Kudos to you, Jakes Bayou!

 

[jakes bayou]

hey, when I decide to get into something, like egg farming for instance, I want to do it right. I research the thing and ask for advice from those that have come before me. I guess the secret of success is that I know that I don't know everything.

when its all said and done I have learned a lot in this one thread. thanks to you all.

 

[bruceha2000]

I like the limbs!

I have limbs/saplings in the coop, though somewhat larger than yours. I like round, natural roosts as opposed to flat, so it's all a matter of preference on the roosting and as long as they are not too skinny they seem to do fine.

Preference is the key word and while I thought I'd be able to determine if mine preferred the 2x4 on the flat (in front) or the 3" round fence rail (in the back), being parallel and both at 4' high, I can't say if they prefer one or the other. I figured they would like the round pole better since their feet would naturally curl but they use both and I think it is related to hierarchy and location. There are birds against the wall on both of them so it seems the "desirable" position is against something - wall or bird with wall being preferable, more than shape of the roost. If they really preferred one shape over the other, they could all line up on one of them. AND until I put additional 2x4s from the end of the roosts (they were 8' long in a 12' distance) to hold the broody box, there were always some bunched up on the open end support - a 2x6 on edge. So there would be a bird on the 2x6 against the wall, one on the junction of the 3" pole and the 2x6, one on the 3" pole next to that bird, then one on the 2x6 and the next on the 2x6 and 2x4 junction. Birds, who knows what they are thinking??

I think putting the OPs existing branch roost out in the run is a fabulous idea.

Bruce

 

[jakes bayou]

well, the limbs are gone. I replaced them with 2 by 4s, with one side rounded a bit.

all I have left to do is the vinyl floor and I hope to do that tomorrow. I have incorporated many of the suggestions from here on this thread. again, thanks to all who chimed in. I will make another (shorter, I promise) video tomorrow showing those changes and updates.

 

[jakes bayou]

here it is folks. you suggested and I listened. a short video showing the changes I made based on your feedback and great ideas. thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

I had to chuckle over your captioning about the "idiot"!

Love the changes and they look pretty solid and well done! I think you have the right idea about adapting as you go along...I don't think I ever get done tweaking the coop. Each new year and season will show you the flaws in your system and it's wise to keep up with them. I know it seems like chickens are a simple thing and for the most part they are...ridiculously simple... while also being increasingly complex the longer you keep flocks. I never stop learning!

Happy chickening!!! Keep us posted about how you like it when you get birds on the land.

 

[JackE]

Looking better, I think you will end up making those vents bigger eventually. On your outside nestbox lid. I don't know if you did it already or not. But I would run a bead of caulk, or silicon, or something across the top of that hinge so water don't run down in there behind it. Usually, the siding would overlap the top of the hinge.
I like that you have made the roosts removable. It's good to be able to pull them out of there and hose them off every now and again. You'll want the roost boards to fit snug. Chickens can get kinda rammy, and they'll knock loose boards right out of the notch, if they are too loose.

 

[aart]

Looks pretty good!! I love the extra long roof overhangs.

Maybe I missed it, but what is your location? You can put it in your profile. Climate can make a big difference in recommendations on ventilation.

I wouldn't recommend trying to 'hose out' the coop despite the vinyl, flooding it with water might not drain out where you want it to and would probably seep under the vinyl at the corners. I used vinyl and pine shavings, it will be slippery at first, but it's nice for minor spills and any runny poops scrape off pretty easily.

I used a mix of sand and PDZ (approx. 3 or 4:1) on my roost boards. Helps absorb any ammonia odors and easy to sift out night poops every few days for the composters.

Hope you update this thread with your run build!