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

[60ACRES]

Was hammering the week before Thanksgiving day '08, by next month the thumbnail should be close to normal.

 

[Zahboo]

Have a roof slope that is good for your climate. Don't have a flat roof if you live in the tundra! Also, if you live in hurricane country, have ventilation openings with covers where they can still be open, but those mean mean winds dont whip your interior!

 

[ducks4you]

Can't believe I MISSED this thread!!

I have been L I V I N G on this site since January--
ANYWAY, I read all 10 pages, so far,
have been copying and pasting all of the tidbits--at the beginning, when you posted the checklist, I KNEW that I would probably forget to put boards up to keep the bedding in. I can't figure out how to do that in my horse's stalls (they're open) without creating more cleaning work, BUT, I can see how it will work great in the new coop.

SO MANY good suggestions--gotta organize them.

DEFINITELY make this a sticky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought of something to add:
Solar Lighting
The kind that you stick into your lawn OR the ones that hang.
It's not always perfect--in fact, after a rainy/sunless day the lights don't last the 4-5 hours after sunset that they usually do, BUT, if your power goes out, you won't trip over things checking on your birds!!!! I can find my way to my outdoor, country gates with them, even when it's pitch black.

You can buy them for as little as $4.00/unit, sometimes less per unit if you buy a set. The batteries are supposed to last 1 year--I've had 2 that lasted only 6 months, but the rest are still going. The replacement batteries are a little over $5.00/package of 4. I bought my first set ( of 6 plastic solar lights ) at Menard's. Lowe's carries them, and Home Depot and Target is advertising them, as well.

Here's a few links to check out:
Regular, plain-
http://web.mac.com/resourcesforlife...libu_Solar_Accent_Lighting_Model_LZ422W6.html

Found this site, too:
http://www.yardbright.com/catalog.sstg?menu_catid=85&catid=85&gclid=CIzM-oDfvJoCFQHyDAodBmQKdw

Hope this helps somebody!

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Just finished putting together the temporary coop (it's just a cyclone fence dog kennel). I've learned that its a good idea to do this way in advance (time goes by fast any apparently 2 week old chicks can fly) in the morning before the sun is beating on you! I know this is kind of a DUH but I had to get this put up NOW. I don't tan, I burn. So now, I am sitting typing and already turning into a strawberry. Hope my chicks don't try to eat me. They love strawberries. LOL. Now I have to find the dang aloe...

It's 91 degrees right now, ahhhhh

 

[gwennym]

My biggest 2 mistakes: making the coop too small (WHO KNEW I'd like chickens this much ...

) and not creating a separate area for brooding, sickness or "jail."

NEXT coop will be much improved....

Gwen

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
Thanks for the solar lighting tip! As for the board issue. DH and I were concerned with this as well. His solution was to screw to small 2x4 blocks into the floor (vertically) away from the door jam (so it does not block the door). Then, he put a long 2x10 between the door frame/wall and the blocks. The blocks keep it in place, but when we want to clean the floor, we can jsut remove the bored for easy access!

 

[ducks4you]

Good tip! Thx

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Always buy a prebuilt coop

Hammers and I dont mix and never will. I am the tim (the tool man) taylor of coop building.

 

[Judy]

Include a setup to brood baby chicks, including power for a heat source.

 

[Zahboo]

After finishing the Cochin Shack, I've learned something new

If your a hatchaholic, and have a lot of chicks, then have something set up to hold the light secure. I use a lamp with a 75 watt bulb, and the chickens try to knock it over, so I made a holder with some scrap wood so it doesn't fall and break... or worse