Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[Ted Brown]

Put the fascia on now while you are in build mode!!! Leave it and the fascia wood will dull then turn grey then will rot. If it takes you more than an hour I will begin to debate your build skills!!!

Given your dimensions I think 16 ladies and a cocky male makes great sense!

BTW A bachelor coop is a whole other build catharsis! Refine what you have now to work well then expand as your circmstances dictate.

 

[aart]

I don't know your plans but think 25 ladies is too much for a single rooster (@aart?)

Maybe...depends on the male.

however there's a famous quote from a boxer that says...everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the face!

That's a good one!
...or we plan, the chickens laugh.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Put the fascia on now while you are in build mode!!!

I know, I know. The problem is the fascia I purchased was 6" but when they loaded it up they gave me 7 1/4". I know it doesn't sound like much, but that extra 1.25" means my vents can't open very much, and...that will not do!

So now I need to cut ~1.25" in a straight line down a 13ft piece of fascia. With a table saw this would be no issue, I do not have a table saw or access to one. So it's going to be a ginormous PITA (and likely entertaining for anyone within sight) balancing a 13ft flimsy board and trying to cut a straight line

BTW A bachelor coop is a whole other build catharsis! Refine what you have now to work well then expand as your circmstances dictate.

Did I mention I'm a glutton for punishment?

 

[Ted Brown]

So now I need to cut ~1.25" in a straight line down a 13ft piece of fascia. With a table saw this would be no issue, I do not have a table saw or access to one. So it's going to be a ginormous PITA (and likely entertaining for anyone within sight) balancing a 13ft flimsy board and trying to cut a straight line

Can you mount it in place with a few nails and rip it in situ? Seems that would be easier than trying to cut a floppy board.

 

[Ted Brown]

Did I mention I'm a glutton for punishment?

Ya know gluttony is much easier if your picking up a basket of eggs every morning.

 

[aart]

Can you mount it in place with a few nails and rip it in situ? Seems that would be easier than trying to cut a floppy board.

Or screw it to saw horses, wooden saw horses and dry wall screws with heads sunk...
...that's what I do, my daughter taught me that one.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but that extra 1.25" means my vents can't open very much

Are you sure?
I'll have to go back and look at your pics.

I'd just lose that flap under the eave.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Are you sure?
I'll have to go back and look at your pics.

Yes, I attached the 7.25" fascia and checked. I didn't notice how wide the board was until I got it up there. It looked huge so I tested the vents. They still open but as far as I'd like. If I measure, think I'll be lossing ~1" of opening space. It might or might not be a big deal but I went through all the effort of putting the vents in an do not want to block them with the fascia!

I'd just lose that flap under the eave.

The picture you have quoted is the nest box. The flap under the eave closes and opens downward so I can retrieve the eggs.

The vents open upward, here's a picture of vents opened. If I put the 7.25" fascia on, it hits the vents when they're open.

 

[ColoradoPip]

It's the weekend, so the work continues. Worked on the hardware cloth so I can get the floor and roost bars done.

Took the vent doors off. I had about 17 linear feet of pieces of hardware cloth which I cut into 16" pieces.

Then I put the hardware cloth up to the openings, cut the it where the rafters are so it would slide up and curl under the roof

I cut the lower part of the hardware cloth in front of each 2x4 stud, then slipped the hardware cloth inside

Then I could pull the hardware cloth down on the inside so it allowed the vent doors to still close.

And from the inside

Then I put the vent doors back on. Not sure how well the picture came out but I am happy with these results.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Spent today working on the floor. Still can't believe this was cheaper than linoleum or vinyl squares. It'll work!

Second time I've installed this type of floor. It's crazy easy to work with, installs fast and simple, requires only a box cutter, and mistakes are generally easily correctable. All things I like in materials

So it began about 9am. Tools of the trade, that speed square sure is worth it's weight in gold, especially for jobs like this.

The walls and wheel wells took a little time but things went really quickly. I had the floor laid in less than 3 hours.

Then it took another couple of hours to cut trim and put it around the base of the walls. I was able to cut a lot of straight lines and made lengths of 1 inch plywood for the trim. All this practice cutting mist be paying off!! Attached it all and...Floor complete!!

So I spent the rest of the daylight staining the wood which had not yet been stained, doors, and touching up areas the stain didn't cover well the first time.

For the outside, I need to stain 2 of the vent doors and paint all the trim. Then it'll look complete!

 

[Ted Brown]

I'll bet your birds will be almost as happy with the coop as you are! Good job.

When I look at the soffits I keep thinking it looks like he could put those 7.5" boards on without even cutting them. Have you measured? With the angle your vents are at it looks like they would fit. Remember once you get the flock inside your build initiative will drain from your body like beer from a tilted bottle.