sn0wwhite's Wichita Coop for the Twin Cities

[sn0wwhite]

Can I do it with just longer screws? Or should I get some kind of spacer as well so as not to bend the frame?

 

[chickiegrrl]

I wish I could help you. I have no idea what to do! I hope you get it figured out. At least the weather is decent to be out in the coop.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I've been posting on the ADRO1 thread too, and because it looks like I'll need to cut a bigger hole if I want to install it recessed. Since I'm not up for cutting a bigger hole just now when it gets dark at 6:30, I think I'll just install on the outside and then if I really want to I can move it inside next spring when it warms up again and stays light longer. Maybe by then I'll just be happy and used to it outside. It is well covered so it's not entirely necessary to be inside. It would just look prettier... but the chickens won't care.

 

[chickiegrrl]

I've had to give up on a few projects because of the cold weather, too. I was going to redo the roost/nestbox situation in my coop, but I figure that it's working for the girls right now. Maybe I'll work on it in the spring. Take pics so we can see your door!

 

[sn0wwhite]

I got the door in and it worked! But it was too dark for pictures. I'll take some in the morning.

 

[chickiegrrl]

What do the girls think about the new door? I was so worried that our girls would be afraid of the motor, but they don't seem to mind it at all.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I'm not even sure they noticed it. It closes at least 15 minutes after they go to bed so they are already up on their roost. Happily I get to sleep later than they do so everyone was out and about before I even got my coffee.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I'm definitely overdue for some photo updates, so I will upload them a bit later. We're back from vacation and the chickens are great! My chicken sitter sent me pictures and even some video while we were away. And no eggs yet... at this point they are 22 1/2 weeks old so I wonder if they'll just wait until spring?

The coop is working great. We had a lot of rain while we were away and there is NO evidence of any leaking anywhere now. Yay! Dad is having trouble with the electrical though... mostly because I suspect my house was built by people who don't know how to build houses. We've been here about 14 years and we constantly find things that were just done wrong, not to code and done poorly. A couple cases in point - the doors downstairs swing closed all the time because the walls aren't plumb and there are light switches in places that control nothing.

But I digress... Dad has experience and he's reading his electrical book and I'm sure when he's done even my house will be in better shape than before.

And I KNOW I don't need electrical in my coop - he's doing this so that he feels better about the chickens in the winter and I'm being a good daughter to let him. I also bring him along on vacations with us, so we're pretty tight.

And finally, I've invited about 30 people over today for a one coop tour! I've got to go make 5 lasagnas now... Pictures later!

 

[Sam3 Abq]

Looking forward to the photos

 

[Bogtown Chick]

snOw: Looking forward to your pictures, too. If you wanted to do a timed light to give them a little extra light during the day it might help kick start them. I think these shorter days don't help your cause...and you might find they'll hold out on you. I have some hens from last fall that had a June hatch date...and they really didn't start laying until Christmas all the way to February....so pretty late...I think the short days delaying them all the more.