Recent content by Penpal

Build a short wall, like four inches tall, on the lower side of the French drain to force the water over.

That looks mighty putty. You might need more ventilation. Also, they might pick at the OSB board. If you are planning that 6 will roost on the middle rung and 6 will roost on the lower rung, be prepared to have 12 roosting on the upper rung. If they do that you could just move the food and...

Large wire dog crate, if you have one. You can pull out the bottom every day and hose it down. Or, leave it out so they are on the grass.

All mothers get "mean" to their offspring to teach them manners, and to encourage them to be independent.

I bring water out when I feed them, 2 or 3 x a day. I live in Michigan.

If it was lower it would withstand wind better. You want a panel side on the wind side. The wind will just roll right up and over if it is not a straight side. You would loose height, but gain width. There needs to be a frame at the base. Then, you build a frame for the door, or possibly two...

In Michigan battery cages have been on a phase out for five years, being total Dec 31, 2024.

How dry is the area? I have heavy clay and in the spring new ponds appear. If you have a septic field, that will be the highest place and probably a good place to put the coop, it is where we put ours. If your spring is wet and muddy, you need a place for melting snow and ice to go. Think...

Which direction do the strong winds come from? On that side make the wall curved so the wind will go around it. If you can't make a curve, then put a corner on that side so the wind hits the corner and goes off the right or left. Make these walls longer than the walls they are attached to so...

If you use clear fishing it might be invisible during certain parts of the day. Also include black fishing line for visibility.

One thing I would have liked is a pipe for water from the house to the coop. It depends on how many chickens and turkeys you have and how difficult it is to carry the water. Depending on how far from the house the coop will be, an electrical extension (wire buried underground in a conduit pipe)...

You could put fireplace logs in the run so they have a place that is dry to stand on

You don't need a rooster that is that aggressive at only eight weeks of age. He needs to go.

Feed them in the coop. A meal in the morning, a meal midday, then a meal well before dusk. Once they are in the coop shut the door. Do this for two or three days. You can then put the food right in front of the coop and see if they will enter it on their own.

Looks normal to me.