Chicken coop plans

[KyCoop]

Loving your coop. Have we talked about predator proofing your beautiful windows. Sorry if we had and I missed it.

 

[Witchychickens]

Loving your coop. Have we talked about predator proofing your beautiful windows. Sorry if we had and I missed it.

The window in the coop will get hardware cloth on the inside with poultry staples and then finished with composite trim over. The window will open from the exterior. I got 2 locks and carabiners for them.

 

[Witchychickens]

Metal roof is on, two front panels of hardware cloth are on the run, fenced in my garden area temporarily, window got hardware cloth (needs trim cover), window got lock and hardware outside (temporarily until we side the exterior), and my pride and joy, my roosts… I measured and cut them, painted and installed them all by myself!

I decided on keeping them on the same level so they’re far enough below the ventilation in the eaves on either side. I will be installing a poop board underneath and using the space below for storage (cleaning bin and bedding).

Has anyone done nesting boxes one on top of the other? I’m considering doing 2 boxes one on top of each other to save space. They would be solid material to avoid droppings getting into the box below… thoughts?

 

[Witchychickens]

We have a lot to accomplish this weekend and it looks like rain on 1 of my husbands days off (Sunday). My girls are huge and need more space.

We have to add hardware cloth to the eaves (3 total)

Run and coop need doors. Coop door is the priority because we want to get them out there ASAP.

Need to install poop shelf, nesting boxes, and pop door (these are less priority as I can let them out through the coop door, no one is laying yet, and the poop shelf is nice to have but not required.

I think I may use sand in the coop when the shavings I bought are gone and plan to scoop daily like a litter box.

So, lots to achieve and not a lot of time to achieve it…

 

[KyCoop]

An alternative to sand is pine pellets made into sawdust. Still scoopable, smell better and compostable. I'm a scooper too

 

[Witchychickens]

I cant believe it but the coop is liveable with just the exterior, nesting boxes, and a pop door to do. Thankfully they can use the human door with a ramp until we cut in the pop door.

We both really worked hard on this and I’m so appreciative to my husband for all his hard work on this project and I am so thankful for his craftsmanship, he’s basically worked 7 day weeks with this project taking over weekends since February.

We took the silkie out to test the ramp to the run, she did really well. I still have to set up the coop a bit tomorrow morning and then we will take them out and let them explore. I will post pics then. We are both so exhausted.

 

[Witchychickens]

An alternative to sand is pine pellets made into sawdust. Still scoopable, smell better and compostable. I'm a scooper too

I love this tip! I may switch to those when the pine flakes are gone.

 

[Witchychickens]

Well, the girls are moved in. It was absolutely beautiful today and we let them in the run and then locked them up at dusk… we will leave them inside the coop for the next few days to make sure they get its where they live. Also, it’s going to rain for a few days.

A few notes. Our silkie can jump out of the coop onto the floor of the run and can also use both ramps, fine. She chooses to jump most times. She is a tough little cookie.

Our leghorn can fly up to the rafters in the coop (the eaves are open but with hardware cloth), talk about trying to roost at the highest spot. Should I try to deter her from this?

When I went to the coop to peak at them they were huddled against the door and I felt awful!

I cant wait to check on them tomorrow morning. I’m so nervous.

 

[avjudge]

Has anyone done nesting boxes one on top of the other? I’m considering doing 2 boxes one on top of each other to save space. They would be solid material to avoid droppings getting into the box below… thoughts?

That’s exactly what we have.

I actually took this picture because there were three chickens in that box – the previous picture in the series was cuter because you could see two inside and Gray on the floor looking in, but this one shows the boxes better. However, I do on other occasions find eggs in the upper box.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Our leghorn can fly up to the rafters in the coop (the eaves are open but with hardware cloth), talk about trying to roost at the highest spot. Should I try to deter her from this?

I would block off the rafters myself. Chicken wire, taut bird netting, anything that she can just bounce off of should work fine.