New chicken mama’s coop

[wolfpack65]

I know there are already a bunch of threads on new coops…I guess I’m just trying to post what my coop/run is at this time.

I didn’t have any help back in mid March to actually build one, so I found a person/company on Marketplace to build one for me.

I really didn’t know what questions to ask or what specifics to ask for, so I am in the process of making modifications to what I have.

I removed the nest boxes and all the “posts/roosts” from the hen house. That was the biggest thing to get done. Need to change out the door “latches” bc the barrel latches suck.

I added linoleum to the hen house, running it up the wall sides. I’ve covered some of the “open” areas with scraps of linoleum and anything else to prevent drafts.

Whew.

I need to orient the tin roof 90° and buy 2-3 more pieces. Need perlins so that the roof won’t collapse with the snow or anything else during winter. Plus it needs to be elevated from front to back.

Gah.

Anyways…here are a few pictures

 

[wolfpack65]

Here is the inside, before/after, less the bedding

 

[DobieLover]

You're certainly on the right track to correct the mistakes the builder made. Makes me wonder how someone who is supposed to understand the basics of construction would build something that way.

When you rotate the roof and add the purlins, you might want to consider elevating the high wall to achieve the correct pitch. I would have a bare minimum of 3/12.

Your predator apron has been effectively reduced to about 1' by the placement of the coop on the blocks over the apron. It should be extended to about 2'.

I would also sandwich the hardware cloth between full length layers of ripped deck boards as it was installed on the inside instead of the outside and it doesn't look like it was secured with poultry staples or screws/fender washers.

While you're making improvements, I would put some branches and stumps in the run. And next week when all the grass is gone add about 3-4" of wood chips for run litter.

If you beef up your security the way you plan and extend your predator apron, you will be able to leave the door to the run open year round and the birds can go out to the run as soon as they come off the roost in the morning.

The run being that small, you are going to want to either free range them or install a large pen for them to be released into. I use electrified poultry netting to enclose 1/3 acre of land for my flock and it works extremely well to give them lots of space.

Good luck with your work. You have a good start!

 

[ChaosMom]

…While you're making improvements, I would put some branches and stumps in the run. And next week when all the grass is gone add about 3-4" of wood chips for run litter…

^^^

And no one really believes it until they see it themselves.

 

[wolfpack65]

Yea, I just don't understand how this guy builds so many and delivers all over the place, how/why the hardware cloth wasn't put on the outside, why the auto door wasn't put in place of the large coop door, why there are no purlins, why, why, why. Grrrr.

So, I've got to start working on things - first being changing out the little barrel latches that don't close well enough with something more heavy duty and lockable. Then on to securing the hardware cloth on the inside.

The predator apron extends into the coop/run about 3" and then the pavers on top of that and about a foot beyond the pavers. I was planning on adding more hardware cloth to the apron and tacking down with metal staples.

The plan was to also let them eventually free range, but until then, I may make a hoop run that would extend out another 10' or so, that should give them more room.

I will add some branches & a log or so for them to hop on as well.

Thanks!