Time to upgrade!

[waynem1983]

After picking up my third hen, I decided my little hut is just too small, especially as i plan on at least 2 more.

so I ordered up some wood from the brother in law, which arrived yesterday. Today I set about building something.

I have never built anything before ever and being lazy git that I am, I didnt bother drawing any plans, just started cutting and screwing. Made a couple errors, but seems to be coming along quite nicely.


Made a frame, painting as we go to save the chore from later.



Screwed on some feathered edge boards, got the girls in to help with the painting.




Stated on the sides:




Now buildin the nest boxes, decided to keep it symetrical, so 2 boxes either side




Then the light started to fade, so this is what im left with:



Still to do; board the sides, frame roof, finish second nest box, pop door, large door at back,creat a floor ( still not sure if i will bother with a floor or just dig the whole thing in), nest box lids, maybe ply line the inside, will see how sturdy it is when bolted together. Work out where the ventillation is going.

 

[jetdog]

Wow nice job you got alot done in a short period of time. I would have it up a couple of feet off the ground, it will make your life easier when cleaning it out and give them a nice shady spot. Love the color looks like a plum color.

 

[waynem1983]

4 walls finished and nest box alomst complete.



Stalled alittle as I have run out of wood and paint.

I have sheets of osb ordered to line the inside. Going to use corrugated asphalt on the roof which will add in extra ventillation.

I am going to try deep litter and not add any floor. It will be set onto flagstones. Anyone else doing this? If it does not work, will be easy to flip it over and add a floor later.

 

[waynem1983]

And its starting to look like a chicken coop:

 

[waynem1983]

Nearly finished. picked up the osb and bitumen sheets for the roof. Set to work lining the inside.













So, i still have to do the cut outs for the doors, windows and nest box, create back person door and cut and nail roofing together. I have one more sheet of osb which i will use double thickness for the floor, bit more paint and im good to go!

 

[waynem1983]

Ever feel like even thoughbyou built way bigger, youmstill wish you went bigger still?

Anyhow, almost finished. Just mocked up the roost ladder, but trying to figure out which way round is best to fix it in place.

Option 1.

Fitting on the sides, but this blocks of the pop door a little. I could shorten the ladder to 2 foot wide, but this would reduce the roost space alot.


Otion 2

This gives them a nice spot in front of the window and as I intend on hanging water and feeder from a wall means I can hang right next to the people door for easy access.

However I like to pick up the poop each morning and means access under the roosts will be awkward.

otion 3.

this is my personal choice at the moment, it gives easy access to over night poop for cleaning and keeps them in view of the window. However, it does mean mounting feeder and water on the iside of the pop door and, althought the roof lifts off, its heavy as hell, which means accessing it through the pop door.


I would really like some opinions, shouldmi forget the ladder and simply fix a few roosts straight to the osb? This woulsmopen alot of space, but less handt formcleaning.

 

[jetdog]

I would just put them straight across seems more floor space is better, try a way so they don't walk through poop on their way to the laying boxes. Or put a poop board under the roost that will solve all problems.

 

[6of6chicks]

I have a ladder similar to yours and I made it removable. That way I can take it out when I need to do a full clean of the coop, or just leave it in for quick poop scoops & filling feeder/waterer.



And yeah, I totally agree that I wish I had built bigger! I was only halfway through building the one I have and already thinking of the next BIG coop I was going to build, lol!