The Front Porch Swing

[rrrmamma]

Well my new coop is done! The Amish guys arrived about 7:30 this morning with the pieces of the building on a truck. They built the frame and put the floor down, then up went the pre-made walls, on went the roof.Then they installed the cupola and my rooster weathervane. IT IS AWESOME! They were done by 1:30. I have a beautiful 16 x 20 building that I think is too nice for a chicken coop. Someone could live in it. What a painless way to get a building done until I have to write the check on Monday when they bring my run- in shed. LOL. I will try to download pictures to my husbands computer later tonight. For some reason I can't upload to BYC. It can't find the pictures even when I can see them on my computer. I Hate Windows 8.
We have been out all day setting up electric fence for the 2 heifers I am getting on Saturday. I am beat. What ever possessed me to start farming at 67 when most people are retiring. We did the posts yesterday. Today we installed the insulators and cleared lots of wild rasberry and wild roses that were in the way and will probably go back out tonight to set up the charger box. Tomorrow we will string the wire. The wire roll weighs 50 #'s and I am not sure I can handle it but together we will do it. Not today though! We are fencing about 2 1/2 acres with a steep hill and woods on one side. Lots of climbing and dragging heavy stuff.
I'm ready for a hot shower and my jammies even before I cook supper.
Has anyone done deep litter over a linoleum floor? The floor in the building is really heavy wood and I would like to protect it from moisture and rot in case we decide to use it for a different purpose later. I am open for suggestions for the floor plan. I want to have a few separate breeding coops, A place for my FF, and Doug says he can install a sink with running water. It will make my life so much easier' I think hanging feeders and nipple waterers. I would like to suspend the roosts from the ceiling. Would I use chain to hang them? Sorry I am rambling but I am really excited.

 

[Blooie]

Well my new coop is done! The Amish guys arrived about 7:30 this morning with the pieces of the building on a truck. They built the frame and put the floor down, then up went the pre-made walls, on went the roof.Then they installed the cupola and my rooster weathervane. IT IS AWESOME! They were done by 1:30. I have a beautiful 16 x 20 building that I think is too nice for a chicken coop. Someone could live in it. What a painless way to get a building done until I have to write the check on Monday when they bring my run- in shed. LOL. I will try to download pictures to my husbands computer later tonight. For some reason I can't upload to BYC. It can't find the pictures even when I can see them on my computer. I Hate Windows 8.
We have been out all day setting up electric fence for the 2 heifers I am getting on Saturday. I am beat. What ever possessed me to start farming at 67 when most people are retiring. We did the posts yesterday. Today we installed the insulators and cleared lots of wild rasberry and wild roses that were in the way and will probably go back out tonight to set up the charger box. Tomorrow we will string the wire. The wire roll weighs 50 #'s and I am not sure I can handle it but together we will do it. Not today though! We are fencing about 2 1/2 acres with a steep hill and woods on one side. Lots of climbing and dragging heavy stuff.
I'm ready for a hot shower and my jammies even before I cook supper.
Has anyone done deep litter over a linoleum floor? The floor in the building is really heavy wood and I would like to protect it from moisture and rot in case we decide to use it for a different purpose later. I am open for suggestions for the floor plan. I want to have a few separate breeding coops, A place for my FF, and Doug says he can install a sink with running water. It will make my life so much easier' I think hanging feeders and nipple waterers. I would like to suspend the roosts from the ceiling. Would I use chain to hang them? Sorry I am rambling but I am really excited.

There's a product called "Black Jack" that a lot of deep litter users paint on their wood floors to protect them. It's a water-repellent, protectant and it's available at Lowes. In the one post I remember the guy said he rolled it on over the floors and a little bit up the wall - sealed the joint between the two. It forms a seamless coating and I think he said he'd had it on his coop floor for over 4 (?) years and last time he cleaned the coop out it looked like it had just been put down. I guess self stick tiles pull up after time, and linoleum can become brittle and start coming apart. Now, I'm no expert - that's just what I read on the Deep Litter Thread when I pulled it up to study it, and since I'm using a dirt floor I didn't scrutinize what he said, but if you type in Black Jack for DLM I'll bet it will pop up.

So great that you're so happy with the new digs! Just don't overdo anything - you want to be able to sit back and enjoy it all once you get things caught up a little. I know how exhausted we are!

 

[Beekissed]

Well my new coop is done! The Amish guys arrived about 7:30 this morning with the pieces of the building on a truck. They built the frame and put the floor down, then up went the pre-made walls, on went the roof.Then they installed the cupola and my rooster weathervane. IT IS AWESOME! They were done by 1:30. I have a beautiful 16 x 20 building that I think is too nice for a chicken coop. Someone could live in it. What a painless way to get a building done until I have to write the check on Monday when they bring my run- in shed. LOL. I will try to download pictures to my husbands computer later tonight. For some reason I can't upload to BYC. It can't find the pictures even when I can see them on my computer. I Hate Windows 8.
We have been out all day setting up electric fence for the 2 heifers I am getting on Saturday. I am beat. What ever possessed me to start farming at 67 when most people are retiring. We did the posts yesterday. Today we installed the insulators and cleared lots of wild rasberry and wild roses that were in the way and will probably go back out tonight to set up the charger box. Tomorrow we will string the wire. The wire roll weighs 50 #'s and I am not sure I can handle it but together we will do it. Not today though! We are fencing about 2 1/2 acres with a steep hill and woods on one side. Lots of climbing and dragging heavy stuff.
I'm ready for a hot shower and my jammies even before I cook supper.
Has anyone done deep litter over a linoleum floor? The floor in the building is really heavy wood and I would like to protect it from moisture and rot in case we decide to use it for a different purpose later. I am open for suggestions for the floor plan. I want to have a few separate breeding coops, A place for my FF, and Doug says he can install a sink with running water. It will make my life so much easier' I think hanging feeders and nipple waterers. I would like to suspend the roosts from the ceiling. Would I use chain to hang them? Sorry I am rambling but I am really excited.

I think roosts suspended by a chain might have a bit too much sway to them..a little too unstable. I've seen some really neat wooden ones suspended from the ceiling and they folded upward to get them out of the way. Too nice!

I'm so very glad you got a coop that quickly!!! Now you can pimp it out the way you want with all the bells and whistles....can't wait to see the pics!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: I missed it I think.... Leslie are you ill?

deb

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I missed it I think.... Leslie are you ill?

deb

Sort of. I have a "condition" called POTS. It means I'm in bed most of the time, because when I'm upright I don't function well and make myself ill. It's a long story, and I've found that trying to tell it tends to invite a lot of "helpful" comments that read to me like, "get over it." Even simple things like brushing my teeth are a really big deal.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think roosts suspended by a chain might have a bit too much sway to them..a little too unstable. I've seen some really neat wooden ones suspended from the ceiling and they folded upward to get them out of the way. Too nice!

I'm so very glad you got a coop that quickly!!! Now you can pimp it out the way you want with all the bells and whistles....can't wait to see the pics!

We used that super strong wire rope stuff to hang our roosts ... and also braced the roosts to the end walls. There is a LITTLE flex and give in the length of the entire roost ... we used 2 x 4s connected together with metal plates to span about 25' ... I think the suspension wires are every 6' maximum. Double rows of those down each side of one "room" in the coop.

I had originally suggested we also use side braces running between the lengths of roosts and strapping them to the side wall, but we determined that wasn't necessary.

I love having the roosts up off the floor, and we also think having all the roosts the same height prevents some of the pecking order issues that ladder roosts might inspire (in theory, I haven't worked with ladder roosts). The only "issue" is the babies don't always transition so well to sleeping on the floor in the "quiet room" to joining the flock on the roosts ... maybe the roosts are a little high for them ... about waist height on me ... 3.5'. So babies start sleeping in nesting boxes ...

 

[Blooie]

Sort of. I have a "condition" called POTS. It means I'm in bed most of the time, because when I'm upright I don't function well and make myself ill. It's a long story, and I've found that trying to tell it tends to invite a lot of "helpful" comments that read to me like, "get over it." Even simple things like brushing my teeth are a really big deal.

Then we are doubly blessed that you enjoy spending your time with us here on the Porch!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: You can do the susupension thing with chain or rope if you tether the ends so the whole roost dosent swing.... Moving around a little they handle quite well. especially if they start out as youngsters. My big coop partition was set up that way. I did the roosts hung from chainlink with Bailing Twine. Then formed a T shape by crossing another roost and anchoring it....

the whole structure moves in unison just a little maybe two inches at most.

Quick sketch I hope its clear enough.


I use FULL length 2 x 3 x 8s for perches

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: OH I would never say or be anything but supportive. I have to admit I had to read up on it.... Wow. I take it you have adaptive strategies for things you must do. Big Hugs to you....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: I made PVC roosts for my Littles.... Use a corner connector which has three openengs.... Two I used to make leggs and the remaining one for the cross piece.

Uh Oh here comes a sketch....

Just cut and fit no gluing needed. So you can use the parts elsewhere later if needed.

deb