starting to actually look like something...lol

[pappy1264]

Been busy the past few weekends between sons prom, son graduation (and the weather not cooperating at all), but finally got some more work done on our coop. Hoping to have it pretty much done this weekend (chickens will be laying inside if not before we do! lol) We started out doing a pallet coop, then ended up getting lots of windows, so changed things around. The inside will be covered in birch plywood after all the walls are finished. The big openings on each side is for a window. The two on the side are for the nest boxes, a vent above it and then a fixed window above that (all other windows open). It will be tyveked and sided when done and painted to match my house. Lot more work but getting there! And of course, the run will be done, too.

 

[auburnchickens]

Looks strong! Nice job reusing materials too. How many chickens? What breed(s)?

 

[pappy1264]

Thank you! I have two barred rock hens, two partridge wyandotte hens, one blue cochin hen, one rhode island red hen, one Easter Egg Roo, one bantan white cochin roo, one bantam old english game hen and one Salmon Favorelle hen (all were supposed to be hens, but you know how that goes...lol) So 10 total. Coop is 8'x6'x6' and run is 8'x15'. It will be inside a heavy duty dog kennel as well (we took the walls down to build and it will be extended a bit longer. They will also be able to use the extra 15 feet in the rest of the dog kennel to access that part, as well, supervised.) I am thinking initially to block off from going under the coop until they get used to going in at night. What do you think? Or I will put a small door on the side so I can access under coop, in case I need to give them a little 'nudge' to come out from under and go to bed! lol

 

[JanetS]

Very nice!! Love the size. My chickens go under their coop when it rains.

 

[pappy1264]

Thank you. Yes, I purposely made it that way so they could but thinking at first, so they don't just hide and stay under there I may put some lattice up that I can take off after a few days? I want them to get used to going inside (or if I have to put them inside, don't want to have to crawl underneath to get them! lol I guess I may put a door I can open on the side to have access to under the coop w/o going into the run.)

 

[auburnchickens]

I haven't opened up the under part of my coop yet, but it's an option for the future. I have an old wooden playhouse with a solid roof as part of the run to help provide shade and rain shelter. Lots of breeds there! Should have a good variety of eggs. My chicks needed some prodding into the coop the first few nights, but now they are used to it and all inside right before it gets dark. Now if I could teach them all to use the roost inside!

 

[DuginMT]

Nice looking coop! Mine is very similar to yours, just not as tall. I wouldn't worry about closing off the space under the coop. It only takes a few nights for the chickens to get the idea to go in the coop. If they hide from you under the coop I found a rake handle works very well to chase them out from under there so you can catch them and help them in the coop. Never had to crawl under the coop once. Have fun finishing your project!

 

[pappy1264]

Thank you! Hope to get most if not all done today (or this weekend anyway). Chris (my EE who was formerly known as Crystal) is crowing every day now (if he sees me, he crows...no matter what time it is! lol) They need to get outside!!!!

 

[pappy1264]

Ok, so not done, but more is done... (hubby's brother broke down, had to rescue him, then fix his truck, so Saturday was a bust...gggrrr...) But the windows are in, it is tyveked and we are getting there. Will finish the roof then start working on run (or I may do the 'shingles' on the house and paint it, since no power tools involved...using wood fencing cut down to fit, to make it look like a long cabin and painting to match house.)

 

[pappy1264]

nobody likes my progress??