The shed is here.... OMG NOW WHAT!

[joan1708]

I would also cover up a 1 inch space.

 

[canesisters]

If the rain holds off this evening, I'll be getting screws and washers up in the wire on the rafters. I'll have to run to the store for more strips to cover those big long gaps front and back, so maybe that'll be Thursday. And THEN maybe the gap filling will be finished.
"fill the gaps" , "make sure there's plenty of ventilation" , "don't leave any openings" , "cut more holes"

Until one of you loan me your trencher <hint, hint> so I can run 'real' electrical lines out there, I've got a couple of cords strung from the barn to the coop with a drop light at the end. Ya know what happens when you have heavy rain in the afternoon? The light does not come on at 4:00am when you step inside and push the button. That would not have been a problem except that at just about the same moment that I realized the light was not going to come on, I heard peeping from the very near vicinity of my feet. So there I was, trapped against the door by an unseen 1lb teenage chicken who was NOT supposed to be off her roost. It's funny how un-important morning schedules become when the other choice is to slowly wave your hands back and forth over the poopie floor searching for the chick who is probably staying just in front of your finger tips... I just stood there waiting for my eyes to adjust enough to find her.

 

[canesisters]

THEY ROOSTED! Well, sort of. I got home from choir practice about 9:00 last night and when I checked on them they were in their usual pile on the floor against the door. I moved them to the roosts - which was so cute! Very much like moving a sleepy kid from the sofa to the bed. They grumbled and peeped, jostled around a little, one of them had to keep wandering back to where the pile was so she got re-roosted a few times. But they eventually got still and quiet. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE THIS MORNING! My birds are geniuses!

I have been enjoying the novelty of being able to sit with them and have them moving around my feet and jumping up to my lap. So Cool!
But, haven't gotten much done on the coop itself. The weather is supposed to be really nice through the weekend so I'm hoping to get the screws/washers up in those rafter-wire sections. Also want to trim up around the door and add a spring so it will want to stay closed. Might also have a go at making one of those PVC feeders.

I discovered an old never used dog door in the barn. I had entirely forgotten that we'd ever bought the thing. The idea had been that we we would set up the tack room as a nice dry, warm place for the dogs to go while we were at work... But they wold much rather sit in the rain and look miserable so we never bothered cutting a hole in the door.

for me - that means that I've got a nice framed door (roughly 24" x 12") with a high-class tinted 'flap' and a lockable metal panel that slides down from the top. Couldn't have planned a better pop door if I'd tried.

 

[joan1708]

Congrats on your "find". I'll bet your chics roost themselves tonight. I've got to get busy and make a broody hem crate. I have a silkie that I almost have "broken away from broodiness" but every time another hem lays an egg, she starts sitting again.

 

[fishnet1971]

oh oh oh..... you gotta paint the inside pink and hang curtains for them. A nice radio with classic music, a few plants hanging on the outside would be nice. flowers around the perimiter, a sandy beach for them with little umbrellas, a wet bar of course is a must. Make the refridgerator beak high so they can get to it easily to grab you an iced tea in the heat. Also, make sure to install the air conditioner with a brace on the outside to hold it up.

Now seriously, congrats on the new coop! It looks like it is going to be awesome! you will have happy girls.

 

[canesisters]

window ac - pbbbh - the central air will be installed next week

With just a little bit more 'safety work' to do, I'm really looking forward to the creative fun stuff. I know it doesn't make any difference to the chickens - bright and pretty or simple and plain - but it's sort of like the little play house that I never had and I'm hoping that I'll be enjoying my 'happy place' for a long time to come.

 

[Hamstery]

You've done an amazing job! Congrats! It looks great and they seem happy! Yay!

 

[fishnet1971]

window ac - pbbbh - the central air will be installed next week

With just a little bit more 'safety work' to do, I'm really looking forward to the creative fun stuff. I know it doesn't make any difference to the chickens - bright and pretty or simple and plain - but it's sort of like the little play house that I never had and I'm hoping that I'll be enjoying my 'happy place' for a long time to come.

Exactly!!!! it's your play house you never had as a little girl! that's how i looked at it as well. I think they are happier anyway with clouds painted on the sky and pink curtains in my coop. Wouldnt you be?

 

[EweSheep]

Better put rubber mats down. Those girls will bound to find out and start making holes to dust themselves.

Other than that, great ideas and great coop! I may have to go that route of concrete blocks with that granite dust for mine. My wood foundation is starting to buckle under the shoddy craftsmanship of hubby's because he didn't put center braces under the floor.

Oh fun I will have!

 

[canesisters]

They're already doing that.

So far it's just little depressions that I can scuff sand/gavel right back over when they're done. I guess if they start doing any real excavating then I'll have to make adjustments. I like that the C&R dries out the poo pretty fast and so far there's really no smell in there.
I am a little concerned about the gravel and their little feet. They drop off the roosts like a sack of potatoes. THUMP!. You would think that they would at least use their wings to slow down the fall.... but nooooo. I told them that I did not want to have to report that one of them broke it's leg falling out of bed - they ARE birds after all, the one thing they should be good at is dropping out of the air with a tiny bit of grace.