Show me inside and outside of your homemade coops

[BReeder!]

You can use windshield washer fluid instead of water

Or no liquid even. A bucket full of small mice could be dispatched after the are caught. Small ones shouldn't be able to easily escape a 5 gallon bucket. Just check it daily and dispatch whatever mice are in it.

 

[Jseaborn]

I started mine this afternoon, no plans just kind of building it as I go. The coop is 4x4 with 2 ft hanging over for next boxes. The run will be 12ft long by 6 ft wide not including the area underneath the coop I plan to put their food and water. I just put linoleum down to make cleanup easier. Hopefully I'll be finished tomorrow!

 

[BReeder!]

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I started mine this afternoon, no plans just kind of building it as I go. The coop is 4x4 with 2 ft hanging over for next boxes. The run will be 12ft long by 6 ft wide not including the area underneath the coop I plan to put their food and water. I just put linoleum down to make cleanup easier. Hopefully I'll be finished tomorrow!

How many chickens?

 

[Jseaborn]

Five hens.

 

[FlyWheel]

Childhood reading of Wrinkle in Time for the win!<Snip!>

LOL! That's where I first heard the word too! That's two for you, Madeleine! I remember going to the library and looking it up because at first I thought she had just made it up for the story (the explanation she gave was sound).

Five hens.

You're going to need a bigger boat.

It's recommended you have at least 4 square feet per hen inside the coop (bantams a little less).

 

[Jseaborn]

You're probably right, I built it this size to minimize waste and keep the cost down. This will be an upgrade from what they are in now at least.

 

[BReeder!]

Five hens.

I wouldn't push it much beyond that. The 4 ft^2 per chicken rule is a good rule of thumb, but do what works for you. I think you have 24 ft^2 if you count the nesting box area, not that I typically would but it is floor space that they have access to... I think you will be fine with 5 standards in there. 6+ would not be a great idea.

 

[NewBoots]

LOL! That's where I first heard the word too! That's two for you, Madeleine! I remember going to the library and looking it up because at first I thought she had just made it up for the story (the explanation she gave was sound).

Heinlein wrote a story "And He Built a Crooked House" and I think that is where I first really understood (sorta) a visualization of a tesseract. Seems a good design for a coop to me.

 

[webbysmeme]

My coop is inside the barn. In the photos you can see that I have winterized with plastic top to bottom and all around. They get out every morning to free range. I presently have two heat lamps hanging from the ceiling.
The girls seem happy in here. But I am building a new coop in the back of my shop. I'm sure I can keep them warmer in the new one.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Work in progress!