Things you've learned while building your coop...

[True Grit]

Put the ventilation up a little higher.

 

[adubsroit]

Haven't read through this entire thread, 31 pages isn't a fast read, so if this has been posted I'm sorry. In any case, I have learned that there are time when you are working with your beloved on a coop, sometimes it's best to take 5 and come back willing to actually communicate, not give directions, lol.

 

[mgw]

Supersize it!

 

[dldolan]

Good things:

Made run from old pony lean-to, so good shade from the CA sun with henhouse, food, water, rest space under cover:


Easy egg access in the morning from outside:


Easy clean up as night poop goes right through the bottom wire--just scrape once a week with a BBQ-type cleaner! (Worried about ventilation out here, not insulation!

 

[BunnyMomma]

When we built our coop 10 years ago, we started with the roof from an old well house that was on our farm. The well house was in poor shape but the roof was excellent. It was 100+ old and was a hip roof. 16x8 ft

My DH hired a crane operator to lift the roof off and we moved it to a new area. Before he moved it, he took measurements and put 6 treated heavy posts in the ground and had the roof set on the timbers. We had no intention of making a chicken coop out of it at the time, but chicks happen

!

We closed in half of the area, skirted wire on the outside for predator protection,

added 2 doors under the "porch" area to collect eggs. That area is also where we store straw, shavings, etc. I keep my feed inside the coop. I have a galvanized feeder hanging under the nest boxes. I used 2 scraps of 2ft long 6x6 and put a vinyl coted refrigerator rack on top of them. I set the waterer on top of the rack and it stays clean! I have shavings on a dirt floor. I used 2 lengths of hickory limbs for perches one is attached to the wall, and a lower perch for the banties I just sat the limb on two short pine logs standing on their end. (It makes a neat and easy to move perch)

I have Multi colored Christmas lights inside the coop that I replace every year when I clean the coop out. I usually leave them on 24-7.
We have 2 homemade sliding windows from scrap storm windows. This year we added hardware cloth to the windows and DH made a new door with scraps of lumber and hardware cloth. We can close the door up with plexiglass for the winter.

We have mild winters here so I usually build straw houses inside the coop for the girls.

Once in a while I have to use a heat lamp if the temps get really low. I have winter hearty birds so it is usually not a problem. The birds stay outside most of the day and just go in to roost. We added a 40x20 run this summer and 2 cool scare crows to keep the hawks away.

We are going to extend the board over the nest boxes soon, because they like to roost on top of the nest box and poop falls into the nests. We need to find a way to keep the water from freezing this winter too.

I guess it's an ongoing project. I have a bunch of new chicks too!

 

[bburn]

I learned to wear gloves when working with hardware cloth!! Not a joke. Please wear gloves as it is really sharp and it flops around and rolls back up!

I also learned NOT to buy straight run chicks....spend a few extra cents and know that you are getting hens! (29 chicks that grew up to be 11 hens and 18 roosters)

 

[yomama]

Quote:
110% agreed!!! As stated by other posters, you WILL get more chickens! You won't be able to help yourself! (unless you live in an area where you can only have a certain amount) I started with 4, then got the bug. Ordered 8 more this spring. I just got my husband to help me build our 4 x 8 coop early this summer, and I am already working on plans for a new coop come next spring ( when I get more chickies, of course!!!!!

)

 

[Donner]

One of the first posts said safety glasses. I want to add ear plugs when using any form of power saw. Got this from a speaker building forum. What is the point of building great speakers if you can't hear how good they sound? So, don't get chickens only to lose your enjoyment of music. Protect your eyes and ears when using power tools.

 

[yomama]

Quote:
Absolutely! Also a mask, especially if you have allergies. I have allergies, and boy when I was using the saw, I was miserable afterwards because of the sawdust if I didn't wear the mask. I also didn't wear glasses once when cutting, because it was going to be a quick cut, and got wood chips in my eyes. OUCH! not fun.

 

[kla37]

I learned I should have made it BIGGER and built TWO instead of just one!