When life gives you lemons...

[Phil OConnell]

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you barn doors and hurricane shutters, make a coop.

It will probably be used for ducks for the near future, but eventually chickens.

 

[Rakaiachick]

Very stylish. Your chickens will love it

 

[David61]

Very nice.
Chicken coops should be made with what Evers on hand.
Makes for great folk art. Never exactly the same.
I get a Norman Rockwell 1940s ranch vibe. Very cool.

 

[Phil OConnell]

Thank you, I wasn't really going for style points but I'm really happy with the way it came out. It rained pretty hard when I was finishing it off and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't leak a drop. That one is 4'x7'. Next one may be 8'x8', we'll see. Still have a stack of doors, and plenty of shutters.

 

[Folly's place]

Love it!
Do attach that hardware cloth better though. Any raccoon could tear it off as it is.
Mary

 

[Phil OConnell]

The hardware cloth is stapled every 1-1/2" with 3/4" long staples. No way a racoon is getting in there. That porter-cable pneumatic stapler is a life saver.

 

[David61]

The hardware cloth is stapled every 1-1/2" with 3/4" long staples. No way a racoon is getting in there. That porter-cable pneumatic stapler is a life saver.

Not so much. Yea, a coon may not get it in one night but its can be done. I have seen a male coon grab a full galvanize garbage can with just one of his little hands and sling it across the yard like it was a paper bag.
Rip stapled hardware cloth off roof soffits to nest in attics.

A screw and washer on some corners will stop a spot the coon was able to find a loose staple. I took all the doubts away. I trimmed and covered my coop wire seams with dog eared fence boards. Cheap treated wood.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine is stapled in with fence staples, then a layer of 2"x 4" woven wire up 4', then 1"x 4" boards screwed in over it all. I also worry about very large dogs.
Mary

 

[Phil OConnell]

Thanks David and Mary. I'll add some wood trim over the hardware cloth. I do exact revenge on any racoons that mess with the chickens at the farm. These two got 6 hens one night. It was their last.

 

[Folly's place]

Raccoons are not our friends!
Mary