The new A-Frame Coop, generation 2.0! **The NEW PICS are Here!! **

[perchie.girl]

O.Wendell Douglas :

Loving the A-frame design. We're likewise using an old playground framework, though ours is a little more of a....salvage operation. It's my first day on the forum, but when I can figure it out, I'll get up some pictures of ours, too. Thanks for sharing!

this is a great place to get Wonderful ideas.....

 

[catdaddy66]

I have put the youngsters in an intermediate coop that was redone and spruced up by my cousin. I have the before and after pics as well as a pic of the residents.

They really like it quite a lot!

I will update this thread tonight as I am completing more of the A-Frame today. Hopefully we will get the nestboxes in and the roof/walls on. Probably will put roosts up as well. The run will need to wait another day.

 

[catdaddy66]

What better time to do some coop building than a family get together for 4 birthdays in a week (my cousin, grandaughter, wife and SIL). Sounds dangerous, I know! Here are the men doing all the coop building and the ladies watching Lifetime TV. Got some stuff accomplished, though, and here it is...

My nephew Wyatt zip tying the hardware cloth to close the seam on the center flooring

He and his dad, my brother Eric, who is flexing his mugging muscles

Here is my favorite craftsman, my cousin Ken

Ken and his brother TJ arguing over who looks better holding a board

All in one pic... how'd that happen?

The end of today's work. We got 1/2 a roof with a skylight done, and tacked down the center flooring of hardware cloth to secure the seams from predators.

All in all, not a great deal done but a fun day with progress for the birds. The only downer was the torn bicep I suffered trying to out muscle a 4'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood over my head. That's why you don't see me in the pics; I'm not building anything today. I'll let you know more about the injury as I have time to get it checked at work. Luckily I am a physical therapist and work with several physicians!

 

[catdaddy66]

I am getting set to do more with the A-Frame. Finish the roof, add the nest boxes, hang the backside and end panels. My foreman has a grand idea of 24 nest boxes, but I really only need 6-8 so I have to find a diplomatic way to broach this to him, as he was quite excited about it. Will post all of the new progress in pics ASAP after completion!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
My coops are going to be designed for 18 birds and I am going with four nest boxes. One for every five.

 

[bantamboy]

awesome idea using the old swing set i love it

 

[catdaddy66]

I (I mean WE) did quite a bit on the coop yesterday, but I was too pooped to post last night! I have several pics of the progress, but I most of all love the ladder from coop to ground. It holds a 200 lb. adult! Anyway, on with the pics...
Here are Ken and Eric laying out the 2"x4"x16' roof and run rafters

My son Hank and nephew Wyatt out helping as needed

The AWESOME ladder!! They made this while I was on a supply run to Lowe's

The profile, as rafters are on and roof going on as well

Here are the 4"x4"x6' posts in the ground and tied together with a 2"x6"x12' header

A front view of posts, rafters and roof

This is Ken, roosting on the roof. He is getting a rooster's eye view

Here is a pic from a distance back, as I would look out from my front door

A final view to gauge size, the coop is 12' wide in front and about 20' from end to end on this pic

Quite a lot of work but we had many hands to help. I wanted the sides up but we did end with a nest box that has 6 nests, rather large but cozy. I didn't get a pic of those but will very soon. My birds are 7 weeks and gi-normous!! Let me know what you think!

 

[Noymira]

Looks great!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Wow I wasnt expecting where you are taking this.... Me Likey....

MOre please....

 

[catdaddy66]

Thanks noymira and perchie.girl ! I kinda likey a lot too! It definitely has morphed into something I didn't have in mind. It should house about 20 birds as well so I have enough space in run and coop, though the coop may be a bit cozy but the outside run is over sized at 240 sq ft, with most of it covered!