Siding material, ventilation, and other coop questions.

[black_cat]

Probably for the best, better than trying to rush a build-especially for a novice builder.
It was a good learning experience.
Don't be too sad that it's over, be glad it happened.

Definitely! I wouldn't want to have a chicken coop falling apart because I rushed it. It was a super great experience! I got a lot of good problem solving experience out of it, and I really enjoyed getting to know and taking care of the hens. I'm thinking that I probably want to do something to the area for bio security-I don't know if the hens are carrying any diseases or anything. Would a few months be enough for stuff to die off on it's own, or would I need to do something?

 

[aart]

Would a few months be enough for stuff to die off on it's own,

Yes.

 

[black_cat]

Yes.

Perfect: The timeline in my head looks like this:
-This weekend: Official planning, material planning begin
-End of Sept/Beginning of Oct-Rental chickens are returned, along with their coop.
-Directly after or slightly before: (possible)Leveling of ground begins and materials are bought.
-After leveling is finished, I'd like to do all the cuts in one day because I may have to rent a big circle saw thingy for cuts. So therefore I'll have cutting day, and then I can put everything together after.
-After cuts: begin build!
-Whenever MPC pre-orders start: Order chicks to come in end of March/Beginning of April
-Continue and finish build. I'm expecting it to finish somewhere from beginning of December to beginning of February.
-Over time: order supplies for chicks.
-End of March/beginning of April: Chicks ship! (5)
-When chicks ship: put together brooder (i'm going to make a seperate brooder thread)
-When chicks arrive: Bring them home!
-6-8 weeks later: Move chickies out to coop!
-September-October: Chicks will start laying!

 

[aart]

-After leveling is finished, I'd like to do all the cuts in one day because I may have to rent a big circle saw thingy for cuts. So therefore I'll have cutting day, and then I can put everything together after.
-After cuts: begin build!

Best to cut pieces as you need them....
....and buy extra lumber in case for when you miscut.
Who is helping you build this?
Hopefully someone an adult with experience using power tools... and building.

ETA: If you buy all your lumber at once, do you have a plan and place to store it where it is protected from the rain..... and snow?

 

[chickity-chick]

Thank you for helping out! We have hot summers and cold winters so I want something that will keep heat in in winter but not overheat in summer. I will check out all of those options, but so far T1-11 looks pretty great!

I have hot summers and cold winters too! Are you going to insulate your coop? I have a small flock of 7 so I'm not sure what to do! I get in the 20s in winter and 100s in summer! What direction are you headed in with this?

Edit: Or what do any one on this thread think about this too! Would love advice! Might make a thread later)

 

[black_cat]

Best to cut pieces as you need them....
....and buy extra lumber in case for when you miscut.
Who is helping you build this?
Hopefully someone an adult with experience using power tools... and building.

ETA: If you buy all your lumber at once, do you have a plan and place to store it where it is protected from the rain..... and snow?

My parents both have experience using power tools, as does my grandfather who will be helping at times, and my good friend's dad (who lives down the street) (he built their chicken coop) I was thinking do all the cuts first because then we only have to rent the big saw for one day. There is loads of space in the garage and under the deck for lumber.

 

[aart]

Buy or borrow a circular saw....buy a new blade.

 

[black_cat]

I have hot summers and cold winters too! Are you going to insulate your coop? I have a small flock of 7 so I'm not sure what to do! I get in the 20s in winter and 100s in summer! What direction are you headed in with this?

Edit: Or what do any one on this thread think about this too! Would love advice! Might make a thread later)

I am not sure yet. The plan that I think I'm going with has a piece of 'insulating foam' at the top of the henhouse, which seems like a good idea for just in case. My friends (down the street) have insulation, and they've also had problems where a bird was pushed into the coldest part of the coop, away to the other birds, and froze to death But my other friends don't have any insulation or heating in their coop and they live quite near me also. This might be because their coop is too small for the number of birds that they have. I'm going to have some form of insulation just to be safe, I think.

 

[black_cat]

Buy or borrow a circular saw....buy a new blade.

Friends down the street have one...I don't want to buy it because it's unlikely we'll use it ever again and they're SO expensive. New blade can be done, though.

 

[aart]

I'm going to have some form of insulation just to be safe, I think.

Insulation won't make things 'safe'.
It's overall design of space and ventilation.