I'm so excited - we bought a new farm and my chickens get a brand new coop - in the horse barn no less and much larger than their current set-up. This has been the most amazing process to watch so I thought I'd share some pictures of the coop portion of the build - it's not quite done but we are so close - and moving day is fast approaching. This coop is actually one of twelve 12'x12' stalls (with 9' ceilings) in the barn (6 per side). It is on the south-facing side of the barn and there is a wing off this side which will eventually be fenced in and become their new 11'x36' run.
Here's the wing that I have been promised will eventually become the chicken run - the door into the coop is right behind the back tire of the tractor:
Here's the door from the run to the coop - it swings into the coop and can be latched open to the inner wall between the coop and a horse stall. There will also be an outer door that is solid for colder weather that can be latched open against the outside barn wall:
Here's the door from the coop into the barn - this swings into the coop and can be latched to the wall on the left (the wall between the coop and a horse stall). You can also see the big sawdust bin directly across the aisle from the coop (storing lumber for the moment):
Here's the roosting area, made from barn building scraps - this and the two visible walls and the nestboxes will be painted and there is a ladder up to the roosting area just off to the left:
Here's the nest boxes, also from barn building scraps - we are only bringing 7 of our hens (sold 5 to a friends) but obviously someone is planning for chicken math to happen:
Everything needs a coat or two of paint inside the coop but I have plenty of paint left over from painting in the house - just need a warm day. We also plan to build some PVC waterers and feeders eventually.
I'll keep posting pics as we get more done. And I have to give a huge Thank You to my husband and my father-in-law as they have built this beautiful barn and coop with only a little help on a few days from friends - it's taken 3 months so far. And a big Thank You to all the folks on BYC - there are so many terrific ideas on here and so much support. To see pics of the whole barn build, follow the link in my signature.
Here's the wing that I have been promised will eventually become the chicken run - the door into the coop is right behind the back tire of the tractor:
Here's the door from the run to the coop - it swings into the coop and can be latched open to the inner wall between the coop and a horse stall. There will also be an outer door that is solid for colder weather that can be latched open against the outside barn wall:
Here's the door from the coop into the barn - this swings into the coop and can be latched to the wall on the left (the wall between the coop and a horse stall). You can also see the big sawdust bin directly across the aisle from the coop (storing lumber for the moment):
Here's the roosting area, made from barn building scraps - this and the two visible walls and the nestboxes will be painted and there is a ladder up to the roosting area just off to the left:
Here's the nest boxes, also from barn building scraps - we are only bringing 7 of our hens (sold 5 to a friends) but obviously someone is planning for chicken math to happen:
Everything needs a coat or two of paint inside the coop but I have plenty of paint left over from painting in the house - just need a warm day. We also plan to build some PVC waterers and feeders eventually.
I'll keep posting pics as we get more done. And I have to give a huge Thank You to my husband and my father-in-law as they have built this beautiful barn and coop with only a little help on a few days from friends - it's taken 3 months so far. And a big Thank You to all the folks on BYC - there are so many terrific ideas on here and so much support. To see pics of the whole barn build, follow the link in my signature.
