Washingtonians

[NovaAman]

Looks like you'd need a drill, 2.5 inch wood screws,(i drive the long way into the wood) 4-1x2x4, 8-1x2x2, and that will just be to create the box frame. You can get it cut to size at LOWES for free, if you have a LOWES. I am not sure how long the diagnal pieces would need to be with out actually sitting down and measuring it out. But if you had a pair of lopers, you could easily cut them to size with that and attach to make your side braces. Then cover with your choice of hardware cloth or chicken wire. I built a whole brooder like that. Took me less than an hour to do. Drill and a staple gun were the only tools I needed. If you don't have a drill nails will work in a pinch.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Even if you place small ones in a cage in the run once the big girls can get at them it is going to be trouble normally. Chickens are a lot like people. There are good ones and bad ones.
It is rare from what I have seen trying to intregate different sizes they get along. But you could try it and hopefully you have success.
Just make sure you are around on the first few days you let them loose.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Hello fellow Washingtonians! I'm new to BYC and was so excited to find a washington thread, I'm in Yakima and we have easter eggers, BLRW and blue swedish ducks. We had a few other breeds but last year a dog wiped us almost clean out.

I'm hoping to attend lots of washington poultry events even if its just to go for fun, but eventually I'd love to show!

I think the next event that I know is Stevenson show. It is the 3rd weekend in April. IF by chance ya make it there stop by my booth and say HI.

 

[Greg Richardson]

For those building coops you need to do what works best for you.
I see a common trend people going to the coop pages here and elseware looking for ideas which is good I did the same.

Yet, here are some things to consider...................

I build my coops to stand up not to walk in for a few reasons.
These reasons go together...................


In the worse of wind, snow, my chickens still come out of the coop and go stand underneath their coop.

This way the coop can be smaller if need be cause only time they spend in there is to eat, lay eggs, sleep.

I make my coop long instead of like 4x8. My first one I built 4x8 and learned from that one.

I measure my arms with a bit of leaning over and there is the width of my coop.

What this does is allow me to reach the back corners of the coop without getting in it or leaning way in ruining the back.

Clean out is a breeze this way instead of my first coop when I made it 4 feet wide.

I also build big overhangs so you can stand in front of the coops doors with no water coming on you.

It is important especially in this state that you make the care of your chickens as pleasant as possible due to the rain factor.

I can not believe the amount of coops I see with no over hangs. Why do that to yourself?
I have a front and two sides with over hangs.
Back only hangs over about 6 inches so water only hits the siding in a side ways wind driven rain.

One of the biggest reasons years down the road people quit chickens or taking care of them as well is burn out.

If you are getting soaked while taking care of them there will be times you won't do as good a job cause you are miserable standing there.

When designing your coop eliminate the cleaning problems and you have made a better quality of life for yourself.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: One thing I see is that from the pic it looks like 2" wire I would do 1" for chicks. Also keep in mind that it would have to be transported unless they came and built in place.
Maybe since renart built it he would send you plans to do it.
I don't intend to sound mean but this is a pretty easy build and keep in mind
I HATE WORKING WITH STICKS ! ! !

 

[Chicken Rustler]

For those building coops you need to do what works best for you.
I see a common trend people going to the coop pages here and elseware looking for ideas which is good I did the same.

Yet, here are some things to consider...................

I build my coops to stand up not to walk in for a few reasons.
These reasons go together...................


In the worse of wind, snow, my chickens still come out of the coop and go stand underneath their coop.

This way the coop can be smaller if need be cause only time they spend in there is to eat, lay eggs, sleep.

I make my coop long instead of like 4x8. My first one I built 4x8 and learned from that one.

I measure my arms with a bit of leaning over and there is the width of my coop.

What this does is allow me to reach the back corners of the coop without getting in it or leaning way in ruining the back.

Clean out is a breeze this way instead of my first coop when I made it 4 feet wide.

I also build big overhangs so you can stand in front of the coops doors with no water coming on you.

It is important especially in this state that you make the care of your chickens as pleasant as possible due to the rain factor.

I can not believe the amount of coops I see with no over hangs. Why do that to yourself?
I have a front and two sides with over hangs.
Back only hangs over about 6 inches so water only hits the siding in a side ways wind driven rain.

One of the biggest reasons years down the road people quit chickens or taking care of them as well is burn out.

If you are getting soaked while taking care of them there will be times you won't do as good a job cause you are miserable standing there.

When designing your coop eliminate the cleaning problems and you have made a better quality of life for yourself.

All good stuff Greg. And yes it is what works for each of us.
And here is MY outlook and the way I do mine.
Each pen has an enclosed pen, a covered open air area and an area that is just wire/net enclosure. All of my coops are walk in (may have to duck a bit), all of the covered areas are walk in and my runs well they tend to be lift to walk-in.

 

[Chickielady]

You can do that??

I can try, maybe tomorrow when I have a minute to myself !
Trying to set up another hatching bator for this massive hatch I have coming up starting tomorrow, it is over 5 doz eggs !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

ha ha ha!! LOL! scardy cat!!

It is not funny when ya turn on the heater & pinkies fall out & foofs of stuffing & grass..............DH drove the car all over 2 days ago & swears there is no meeces in there.............but even still !

 

[Chickielady]

What?? you could!! actually your property would be perfect for goats!!! All the browse and rock climbing,,,,,,ummmm I mean mudslide climbing!!LOL!

But there is no perimeter fence as yet !
But yes I would love goats !!!

 

[Chickielady]

For those building coops you need to do what works best for you.
I see a common trend people going to the coop pages here and elseware looking for ideas which is good I did the same.

Yet, here are some things to consider...................

I build my coops to stand up not to walk in for a few reasons.
These reasons go together...................


In the worse of wind, snow, my chickens still come out of the coop and go stand underneath their coop.

This way the coop can be smaller if need be cause only time they spend in there is to eat, lay eggs, sleep.

I make my coop long instead of like 4x8. My first one I built 4x8 and learned from that one.

I measure my arms with a bit of leaning over and there is the width of my coop.

What this does is allow me to reach the back corners of the coop without getting in it or leaning way in ruining the back.

Clean out is a breeze this way instead of my first coop when I made it 4 feet wide.

I also build big overhangs so you can stand in front of the coops doors with no water coming on you.

It is important especially in this state that you make the care of your chickens as pleasant as possible due to the rain factor.

I can not believe the amount of coops I see with no over hangs. Why do that to yourself?
I have a front and two sides with over hangs.
Back only hangs over about 6 inches so water only hits the siding in a side ways wind driven rain.

One of the biggest reasons years down the road people quit chickens or taking care of them as well is burn out.

If you are getting soaked while taking care of them there will be times you won't do as good a job cause you are miserable standing there.

When designing your coop eliminate the cleaning problems and you have made a better quality of life for yourself.

All great points, and I will add 4 more:
POOP TRAYS !!!! Chickens do almost 99% of their indoor poop under the roosts while they sleep.
Adding a shelf under the roost in which to hold a shallow bit of sand helps cleaning tasks immensely !

Then I have their water buckets inside the coops to prevent freezing or wild bird/rodent contamination.

Then I have feed buckets in the coop also to keep rodents & wildbirds out, and lastly.the ever popular dust bath tub.
here in WA we have so much wet weather the birds have no dry dirt to dust themselves in, and can suffer greatly in wet months, from the dreaded Northern mites and feather lice.
Those with raised coops can put the dust bath underneath where birds hang out & the dust bath stays dry.