Whispering Pines: home for wayward pullets (pic heavy)

[icthus]

Almost done. Need to finish painting, put on trim, cut chicken door and build fence. It's 12'x10'.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Looks good so far

Keep us posted.

 

[Wildsky]

I think the cross pieces on your roost are the wrong way (?)
should be flat side to stand on not the thin sides of the wood.

Looks cute !!

 

[icthus]

I considered putting the 2x4's flat but it just doesn't seem right to me. I know it would work that way but to me it just seems more natural for them to be able to grip the board. I used screws instead of nails so it wont be too hard to change if I need to.

 

[speckledhen]

Very good job! I agree about the roosts, especially if you have heavy breeds. Bantams would be fine with that. Chickens do not grip with their back toe the way wild birds do, is why mine are broad side up. For instance, my rooster, Suede, has a foot that from back toe tip to longest toe tip is 5" wide. He has to have the broad side for him and so do his ladies.
Yep, always use screws! Makes it much easier to change things if need be. Again, it looks great!

 

[pvc coop]

It might be easier to take the whole roost out and turn it upside down, instead of rotating each cross piece. Nice Coop.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Yep, 4" up is the way to go from all that I have seen and read. (I research a LOT)

I have to give props to PVC Coop, way to go thinking out of the box on that one, I missed that myself!

PS, that is a very nice looking coop too. Nice job!

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Very nice coop! Is that a linoleum floor, or whitewashed plywood? I like the large windows. And the slanted top above the nest box is really smart!

The chickens will love their new home in the trees.

Please post another photograph when you're done with the coop.

Carla

 

[emandmikey]

I think it looks great! Are you planning to have a fenced-in run around it? This is the style I want to have too... something like a shed, but made for the chicas.

 

[spook]

Now about the roosts, I have seen them both ways, but I have trees for my roosts, round with the bark still on them (small maple trees) and the reason people went this way with 2x4's is so their middle toes could not be exposed to the cold and freeze.
When you are designing a roost, just look at your flock to make sure they do not have that middle toe (usually the longest) out from under their belly feathers, also, their toes cannot meet each other under the roost as this will create foot problems.
Perhaps silkies and those type birds with more then 3 front toes need flat places to roost, I don't know.
Just how our family raised biddies, good luck, the only approval we need is from our chickens!