The Henitentiary

[AMHARFFEY]

I've had my little chikadees for 7 weeks today. I commissioned a local West Australian to make my coop in July and have been designing, landscaping and dreaming about it ever since. I raised the chicks in a brooder inside my house for the first 4 weeks and moved the brooder box out to the coop about 3 weeks ago, they're now 9-11 weeks old. The chikadees free range on our acre from morning coffee time until sunset. The blue drum is their dust bath for rainy days, the hanging baskets are full of herbs and the raised vege patch contains silverbeet, pet grass, lavender, parsley and a worm farm. My son in law made their swing yesterday and I bought the sign from a retired local at a farmer's market. One day, I hope to add a larger outdoor run for the days when I can't let them out at coffee am. My husband has promised to build me a 'village' of coops when he retires

 

[SueT]

I love it! I'll bet your chickens do too!

 

[LaFleche]

Very nice! I am sure you can't wait to see your husband retire to build your coop village

I am not familiar with your climate, so this may never become an issue, but it looks as if the panels of the coops are of metal which could cause some issues with water condensation in colder months.

 

[AMHARFFEY]

Very nice! I am sure you can't wait to see your husband retire to build your coop village

I am not familiar with your climate, so this may never become an issue, but it looks as if the panels of the coops are of metal which could cause some issues with water condensation in colder months.

We don't get extremely cold temperatures here, maybe one night of minus 0 degrees celcius two times per winter. No snow. I was more concerned about the summer temperatures but the coop is east facing and in the shade from 10am. We get temps up to 40 degrees celcius in the day in the summer but our nights are much cooler. I can easily fit a tarp or blanket over it if necessary. Thank you so much for your comment, I appreciate it a lot

 

[AMHARFFEY]

I love it! I'll bet your chickens do too!

They can't wait to get out of it in the morning so maybe not it is the henitentiary after all I hear them all hop down off the roost when they hear my voice

 

[AMHARFFEY]

Very nice! I am sure you can't wait to see your husband retire to build your coop village

I am not familiar with your climate, so this may never become an issue, but it looks as if the panels of the coops are of metal which could cause some issues with water condensation in colder months.

My husband isn't due to retire for another 10 years at least can't wait, though, for chicken coops, duck cottages a swimming hole and a copse of beautiful trees

 

[SueT]

Very nice! I am sure you can't wait to see your husband retire to build your coop village

I am not familiar with your climate, so this may never become an issue, but it looks as if the panels of the coops are of metal which could cause some issues with water condensation in colder months.

we have a metal sided and roofed coop and there's no issue with condensation, maybe because we have so much ventilation. We converted an old open shed, so only the front is wood.

 

[LaFleche]

My husband isn't due to retire for another 10 years at least can't wait, though, for chicken coops, duck cottages a swimming hole and a copse of beautiful trees

Although that might seem a long time right now, at least you do have everything set and ready to enjoy the waiting time.

 

[LaFleche]

we have a metal sided and roofed coop and there's no issue with condensation, maybe because we have so much ventilation. We converted an old open shed, so only the front is wood.

Yes, ventilation is crucial. Since I left the summer doors (wooden frame covered with hardware cloth) put during winter also, my chicken are more healthy than ever.

 

[LaFleche]

As I am quite a safety fanatic, I just cannot contain myself :

You might want to close the gaps above your nestboxes with hardware cloth to prevent predators sneaking in.