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

[Booswalia]

Quote:
Why don't you cut a few holes in the ramp so the poop has a way of falling to the ground below the ramp.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
You might want to add a piece of floor molding or maybe sometype of roof flashing to create less of an acute angle to dig the poop out of. If you created a concave surface you could use an old table spood or whatever to clear the poop out. Or...you could hose it how with the garden hose just before moving the tractor. Just some thoughts.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[write2caroline]

Read all of the directions before embarking on the project.

Follow the cut list in the order printed when cutting - Then you won't have to go back to the store and get more wood!

Measure twice cut once!

If you have a question - ASK - don't modify the plan to make it work to your understanding or lack there of. (Go back and re read all of the directions! Usually the question is answered in the next set of directions)

Don't assume your spouse knows the answer! - That's how I made mistakes in the cuts!

Caroline
JAX FL

 

[chickenshagg]

Don't let your wife know how much you are spending on a coop and run! It is much easier that way.

 

[kassy68]

Quote:
Here its the other way around... LOL
the hubby is keeping the price of the commercial zero turn lawn mower to himself.. and I'm not asking, cuz I don't wanna know.

1.)AH EXHAUST FAN is a great thing to have.. Because we built it in the summer,, I realized before we put the gable vent in, that we needed that to be a 20 inch box fan to exhaust the hot air.. It works great and keeps the temps down. I went with a cheap box fan because it easy and cheap to replace.

2.) wear long sleeves and gloves when working with your wire.. it comes back and gets you just when your least expecting it.. My arms and legs were covered in scratches.. and blood (hard cloth)

 

[PDXModChick]

Quote:
I agree 100%... It's funny how stubborn my ladies can be... They can be like a brick behind the door...

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

Thanks for the list! I'm going to be building a coop here soon, but most of the family says it has to be small, an dI want it so I can actually walk in it. Thanks maybe that will convince them

 

[PDXModChick]

Things I have learned....

Retrofit is more difficult that build to suit... I had estimated my coop costs including run and man labor (pounding 10' poles into sod) would be much, much less than what actually happened... I used a lot of outdoor calk to reduce drafts... I used a lot of indoor caulk once I got the insulation and interior walls installed... I still have ventilation issues in this heat... and need to add additional ventilation in the eaves...

If starting out, one may be less stressed if they start out with less than 10 birds...

Be uber carefull with hardware cloth and have LARGE tin snips handy! small snips can take a long time to cut...

Bury the Hardware cloth before birds move in if you plan to install. One can get busy with all of the other things one has to do and may have given the rodents time to discover a tasty meal...

If possible offer alternating runs as it takes a matter of moments for the birds to destroy thiers and leave only baren earth...

Do not make a change in sleeping habits abrubtly... like lets say adding a roost ladder while removing the prior sleeping area... Tired birds are very cranky!

 

[San]

The most important thing I've learned...... It's never big enough

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Besides that I'm still happy with my coop

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

there is no such thing as "enough chickens"