Starting New, Larger Pen (Almost finished! Progress Pics ADDED)

[speckledhen]

We finished most of the pen today. Still have two gates to build and the bottom to predator proof, including the sides of the coop itself that are only partially inside the pen. I took a 100' tape measure out and did a true reading. Boy, were we way off! It's lots bigger than we thought, LOL. I did a diagram of the pen, which basically is shaped like a trapezoid. The little hexagonal coop and pen we call the Firetower is actually connected to this pen for a few feet, which saved a bit of fencing.

 

[Ellie]

That is an awesome set up. I am glad you are giving your birds more space even if you and Tom are probably tired as all get out!!

What I love the most, is that you gave the poor frog another place to live... that my friend, is priceless and shows your character which is in my humble opinion, beyond reproach.

 

[speckledhen]

Ellie, I love the frogs and the pretty lizards/salamanders we have here. I always want to watch out for the little critters when I am able. The frogs get in the drip area under the outside spigot, sometimes two or three at a time.

 

[speckledhen]

Here are some pictures, though they dont really show how big this area is. You can tell that by the dimensions in my diagram. We are going to put on at least one gate today, I hope. I want them out of those mucky pens (rain, rain, rain). I think the new one would accomodate 200 birds, at 10 sf per bird. There are less than 50 in that coop and this pen is outlining some of their freerange area anyway, so they should be happy.
The first pic is the shortest side and the gate will go between that corner of the coop and the little Firetower pen. I have a 6' chainlink gate we are using in our garden, but dont need one there till spring, so we're going to scavenge that:

This is where is uses part of the Firetower pen's fencing to save materials.

Some of the inmates at the Chicken Asylum:

 

[Buster]

Those are some great plans Cyn! I have some plans for DW's layer flock next year and will have to get building in the spring as soon as the snow melts. I'm jealous that you have weather that you can work outside in this time of year.

 

[speckledhen]

At the moment, it's warm and the rain has temporarily stopped. I think we may have both gates and the bottom areas enclosed enough to get a ramp built and them in their new pen. The other one is all sucky, mucky mud and gross.

 

[speckledhen]

Ok, we're officially dead. Got the undersides of the coop enclosed, closed the gaps at the bottom, installed one gate and oh, my aching back! Still need to attach the other gate and build a ramp for them to start using the back cleanout door as the entrance. We can then scavenge hardware cloth, fencing, chickenwire, etc, from the original pens to predator proof. Here's the gate we put in. Still need the fencing at the bottom to the left of the gate, but we've gotten the underside of the coop enclosed. Just noticed my little banty Cochin, Shadow, in that picture, LOL. Dutch was fascinated with the process. He kept having to inspect the tools and the fencing-such a good, smart boy. He was practically in our laps when we sat on the ground.

So, should we paint the chainlink gate burgandy red to go with the Firetower gate, ya think?

 

[FrChuckW]

You could also place some small A frame shelters in there to give them additional coverage from hawks and owls. You can make them slatted and then plant some climbing flowers like clematis or rambling roses or other vine type plants to grow over them.

This will help hold the soil on the hill side as well as add some interest in the view of the pen.

 

[hcammack]

WOW looks great can't wait to see them all in there running around

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Boy they're really going to love that. I can't wait to see them all running amok in there.