Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[aart]

Excellent!

 

[ColoradoPip]

Once I got to putting the walls up I decided on the top 8" for ventilation on the long sides. I'll line it with hardware cloth and doors. Not sure if I'll put vents on the gable ends since it's easy to do later and I can't imagine needing them with ~104 sq ft of cross ventilation. Plus the soffits are open and the peak will allow air to exit out the ends.

With the time change I hope to put in an hour each night to get this wrapped up! Still lots to do, windows, nest boxes, roost bars, etc. and the chicks will be here soon!

 

[ColoradoPip]

Slow going, the walls are on. Next up windows, doors, wheel wells, and nest box.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I needed to put a door on in case I run out of time. The door I want to build would be the nicest part of the coop haha. For now this will work. It's rough looking and functional

You can also see the upper 8" of vents installed. Here I propped them open.

Any reason to use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire or even window screen on the vents? I was thinking to just use chicken wire since nothing I can imagine will be heading up the wall, or under the overhang, or jumping that high (5'6" minimum), to rip the chicken wire. Window screen is cheap, flexible, easy to attach, and super easy to work with so I'm considering that as well.

I've switched from nails to screws which makes on the fly adjustments, fixing mistakes, and changing it up later easy.

 

[Ted Brown]

I cannot imagine NOT using hardware cloth. There are many predators (rats, racoons, weasels, etc.) that can climb vertical walls such as you have and that will go through chicken wire like it does not exist. And screen? Does not even belong in any sentence that has chicken coop in it.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Thanks Ted. I do realize chicken wire is not predator, or even squirrel, resistant but was hoping it being on a mobile coop and up high enough that I could get away with it.

 

[aart]

I've switched from nails to screws which makes on the fly adjustments, fixing mistakes, and changing it up later easy.

No Kidding!! Only way to go, IMO.

I was thinking to just use chicken wire since nothing I can imagine will be heading up the wall, or under the overhang, or jumping that high (5'6" minimum), to rip the chicken wire. Window screen is cheap, flexible, easy to attach, and super easy to work with so I'm considering that as well.

Metal window screen would be better than chicken wire....if properly attached.
I wouldn't count on nothing being able to get up there.
HC now will save maybe having to change it out later.
Up to you tho.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks Ted. I do realize chicken wire is not predator, or even squirrel, resistant but was hoping it being on a mobile coop and up high enough that I could get away with it.

I think just as a precaution, better to go with hardware cloth. Unlikely something will get in, but why risk it?

 

[ColoradoPip]

Front doors put on. I am cutting the trim from pieces of leftover plywood. I am also not very good at cutting straight lines, even with a pencil or chalk line. I was also never very good at coloring inside of the lines. I don't think it looks as nice and finished perfectly, however, it 1000000000% looks like I made it

Anyway, here's a pic of the front doors. I did a double door in order to easily clear the trailer jack.

The nest box frame which I previously built, and was unhappy with, would not fit. It was just a bit too wide. So apart it came and I rebuilt a new and much better one, in every way. Except it didn't get done today because I also worked on the wheel wells. Those took a lot of time and are ready to be nailed together. More pics as I complete more.

Sooo much staining to do still, really glad I stained 6 sheets ahead of time during the cold weekends. Finish the nest boxes and wheel wells then. Install windows. Do lots of trim. Then roost bars. The flooring. I still need to work on the food and water too. Probably 20 other details I'm not thinking of. Suffice to say, lots to do!

 

[ColoradoPip]

Wheel wells and windows in. Need to finish them but they are in. Nest box frame built too. Both windows open. Yay!