The "Chicken Shack" is Complete!!

[jomoncon]

We've finally completed our converted shed into coop with attached run for our little 8 RIRs. The little 7 week olds are enjoying all the additional space.

And I've finally finished my BYC page & it shows a lot more of our project. I'm going to get a sign with the name DH came up with The Chicken Shack!!

 

[Ferdinand]

Looks great. The only thing i would comment on with caution is extending the light at the wrong end of the day. If the lights suddenly go out and its dark i have found it has an adverse effect on my hens. Far better to start the day earlier.

 

[JROOSTER]

WoW looks great. I live in New Orleans also and I know how it is trying to have some chickens in your backyard with no space!

 

[theoldchick]

How cute! Nice colors!

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Can you expand on that? or PM me.

I've had my light going on in the coop at 6AM and off at 8PM for two years now. My chickens seem fine with the exception that this winter they've just stopped laying!

 

[Ferdinand]

I have found it causes shock to the hens when all of a sudden its pitch black. They go from light to dark instantly. Its far better to extend the day light from darkness into light and allow the night to fall as normal. Birds go to roost as the light is failing and by switching off a light you stop them carrying out their natural routine. The alternative to that is to have two sets of lights and switch one off allowing the birds to get into a routine of roosting (dusk) and then the last set to simulate night fall.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

Wow, I've been wanting a "treat door". I am going to do this in the spring. Now, I have to open their coop, throw some scratch or bird seed in, quickly shut the door, run back to the run, close the pop door, put their treats in the pen, open pop door, wait for them to go out into the pen, close the pop door, clean coop, fill food/water, then open pop door again. It's exhausting...lol. A treat door would make this all go away.

 

[jomoncon]

I had read on BYC that it's best to have the additional light in the morning, and not into the evening. But, with it getting dark at 5 pm, I'd need to have the lights turn on at at 3am. Plus, I wouldn't be able to do any evening chores. I have a small night light in the coop that comes on when it's dark, so the coop is not in total darkness at any time. I've been in the coop when the lights go out, and the chickies just wander into the coop, maybe drink a little water and scratch around in the shavings a little, and then roost & settle in for the night.