started a pallet coop today

[chicken pickin]

What do you mean about drain holes? sorry if that sounds dumb. We are in the process of building our coop and did the same as you we put the windows in backwards so we could open them from the outside. The babies are still in the brooder so we can fix it if need be. We are newbies lol.

 

[tyjaco]

Well, in the frame of your window, there's little holes, so when it rains the water that collects in the grooves of the window will drain out and not pool up in the window frame.
I hope that makes sense! So when you put the window in backwards, like we did, the holes are now in position to drain to the inside, where they were meant to drain to the outside... Depending on the size of your window, there's usually about 4-5 holes across the bottom of the window.
Tomorrow, I'm going to drill little holes on the outside (it's just plastic - or some kind of poly-something), and then caulk the original holes on the inside. I'll let you know how it goes

Good luck with yours!

 

[DadOfFour]

Aren't you concerned that the straw in the walls will make really nice homes for rats/mice?

 

[tyjaco]

Not really "concerned"...no

If I find I have a problem, I'll pull it all out - no biggie.

But I have to say - I've never seen a rat or mouse anywhere near my coops.

I have 10 cats, so I think that's why. In fact, one cat likes to sleep in one of the nest boxes...

(I'm more concerned about mites and lice, but I'm using DE - hopefully that will keep tham out)...

 

[tyjaco]

This is the roost area for the "big girls". Only four right now, but I'm moving 8 pullets out tomorrow. (They have their own "section".)

This is looking into the "new girls' area. Just until they transition in with the rest of the flock...I made the temporary screen door out of PVC

This is looking into the new girls area.

This is the pop-door for the pullets, when it's open

This is the pop-door for the big girls

this is part of their run - looking towards our house.


I just moved the bigs girls in tonight. They seem to be happy - so far - We'll see if I keep getting eggs. The pullets are moving out tomrrow...

 

[auto5man]

Love the coop! Great use of pallets and a wonderful job....good looking coop there!!

 

[OkChickens]

Thanks ChickenLeg!

I am SO excited to move the girls in!

It's just straw on the inside. I had to put in a couple of supporting boards where some of the pallet boards were missing - to hold the straw in.

Do you think the hens will pull all the stuffing out? The floor will be covered with straw, too.

I'm going to use Rice Hulls in the nesting boxes.

To keep the hay in the walls maybe put 2' hardware cloth around the bottom to keep your birds from pulling it out.

Nate

 

[MonsterMom]

Wow! I really like that coop! Good work