Well, in a big push to finish enough to get the seven week-old girls in the coop dang near killed me. It was super hot and humid all week and while it seems like there is little change, a lot of painting and trim work was done. My 4-year-old daughter helped me apply some white stain to all the woodwork (some will be painted over with white paint) and yesterday was a big door building and trim work day. I also finished the frame for the run door, but it had a twist from the wood so I have it clamped and weighted to bend the twist out of the lumber. By the cover of dark we finished the last of the hardware cloth to seal the coop at the roof and screwed a piece of wood over the pop-out door as I did not get that far yet. We filled the "big girl" waterer and feeder and added what was left of the shavings into the coop.
This week shall bring the pop-out door, the small screen door under the coop, and the main screen door with all luck. This weekend I hope to install the hardware cloth to the entire run and let the girls out of the coop!
I have pale yellow vinyl siding that will finish the coop once the fencing is up. The fencing will be placed over the 2x6 base on the outside to secure the base of the coop. I plan to end the fence just under the siding so there are no sharp edges.
Well, after a long winded post... here are some photos! Enjoy!
This door is very heavy! Under the bead board is a layer of OSB and the entire thing is glued and stapled togather with 1" U staples (air gun nailer, not "staples") It feels so solid when you shut it!
PS... I built this dang door twice, the first one I messed up and cut the beadboard sideways! I was so mad to have to re-do the entire door!
These are really cool, lockable hasps! They can be left unlocked and still turn to "secure" them shut, but key lockable if wanted. I plan to use this on the run door as well. (PS, these are under $6.00 each)
Taking some advise here, I have fenced the girls out of the nest boxes until they are closer to laying age.
Inside the coop, looking towards the run. This is the main vent which will be trimmed out in pine and have two doors, hinged in the middle, that can be closed in the winter. They will be built to match the other wooden doors. I am also planning a second vent panel above the back door to cross vent.
And lastly, my eve vents. I have a very small ridge vent that I hope can stay open year round. The gap is about 1" and the ridge vent only has openings on each end about 2" round. These vents will each have a wood door flap that can be closed off (four of them) I have an idea using a "box lid strap" to make them adjustable, but we shall see if that pans out.
So for now, that is where I am at! The girls are happy to be out of thier dog crate brooder! *I think...
This week shall bring the pop-out door, the small screen door under the coop, and the main screen door with all luck. This weekend I hope to install the hardware cloth to the entire run and let the girls out of the coop!
I have pale yellow vinyl siding that will finish the coop once the fencing is up. The fencing will be placed over the 2x6 base on the outside to secure the base of the coop. I plan to end the fence just under the siding so there are no sharp edges.
Well, after a long winded post... here are some photos! Enjoy!
This door is very heavy! Under the bead board is a layer of OSB and the entire thing is glued and stapled togather with 1" U staples (air gun nailer, not "staples") It feels so solid when you shut it!
PS... I built this dang door twice, the first one I messed up and cut the beadboard sideways! I was so mad to have to re-do the entire door!
These are really cool, lockable hasps! They can be left unlocked and still turn to "secure" them shut, but key lockable if wanted. I plan to use this on the run door as well. (PS, these are under $6.00 each)
Taking some advise here, I have fenced the girls out of the nest boxes until they are closer to laying age.
Inside the coop, looking towards the run. This is the main vent which will be trimmed out in pine and have two doors, hinged in the middle, that can be closed in the winter. They will be built to match the other wooden doors. I am also planning a second vent panel above the back door to cross vent.
And lastly, my eve vents. I have a very small ridge vent that I hope can stay open year round. The gap is about 1" and the ridge vent only has openings on each end about 2" round. These vents will each have a wood door flap that can be closed off (four of them) I have an idea using a "box lid strap" to make them adjustable, but we shall see if that pans out.
So for now, that is where I am at! The girls are happy to be out of thier dog crate brooder! *I think...
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