After we determined to maneuver and embrace extra nation dwelling, the very first thing that got here to my thoughts was we are able to have chickens! Fortunately I married a person that’s absolutely on board with most of my loopy concepts and he signed as much as construct me a coop.
I purchased what my buddy known as the hen bible. I began googling and watching reels about chickens. I jumped in with final enthusiasm and I right here I’m now, just a few months down the road, with the chicks formally transferred to their everlasting house (and now not in the home, which David is thrilled about), and I can let you know with all honesty: it’s simply as enjoyable as I assumed it could be!
David’s DIY Hen Coop
I like our little flock and will simply sit on the market and watch them poke round, chase one another, and discover with curiosity for hours. We now have the nesting bins blocked off with cardboard in the mean time and can open them up to be used as they get nearer to once they start laying eggs. (between 4-6 months of age).
I might depart it right here and simply present photos and brag on David, however in hopes off being a little bit useful for anybody curious about constructing their very own coop, listed here are just a few particulars on our course of.
There have been just a few hoops to leap by first, like deciding the place to place it, acquiring HOA approval, researching to resolve precisely what we wished, after which prepping the location. Nonetheless, after I positioned the order for chicks with a hatchery in February for a June supply, it actually pushed us ahead into full throttle mode.
In January, David began researching coops and drawing plans. Collectively we had a listing of preferences that we outlined as we researched. A few of these included:
- the power to face up contained in the run
- use black wire mesh so we might see into and thru the run extra simply
- to put in a predator apron across the outdoors
- construct a Dutch door so we might simply open the highest and throw scraps in
- the nesting bins to be accessible from the skin to collect eggs
- to have a peaked roof versus a lean-to model
- home windows for air flow
- to have a slim decrease door on the again of the coop to maintain shavings within the coop after we open and shut the bigger doorways
- to make it as safe as potential with latches and carabiners
How huge did we wish it?
Effectively, you are able to do a calculation primarily based on variety of chickens and sq. footage and we went past that as a result of David will get over formidable with constructing initiatives and acquired a little bit carried away. You received’t discover me complaining although; I like the scale! It’s good to have the additional house. For those who requested him, he would say if he might do it over, he would in all probability make the run greater and the coop smaller.
We used linoleum flooring within the coop for straightforward clear up. We selected hemp bedding for much less mud and since it’s longer lasting. The one wooden that’s strain handled is the wooden that touches the bottom. Apart from that it’s non strain handled to maintain it protected for the chickens to peck.
We put a primary mulch within the run and David constructed a ladder as an alternative of a ramp as a result of the ladder could be a steeper angle and supposedly it’s simpler to wash. He used plexiglass for the home windows and cheap wooden for the frames. Then over Father’s Day weekend all of us acquired on the market and painted!
The roof is fabricated from galvanized corrugated steel chosen for the aesthetic and since steel roofs final a very long time. It was simple, but it surely created gaps in every “wave” so he needed to fill it in with Nice Stuff. If he might do it once more he says would in all probability nonetheless do steel however not the wavy steel. He additionally talked about that Carolina Coops has nice movies and recommendation for those who’re trying to construct one your self.
In case you have any questions on it, I’m completely satisfied to reply them (AKA: ask David and get you the reply). And I’ll write one other submit with all my hen favorites, as I’ve researched that nicely and we’re beginning to transition them over to their huge woman watering system, feeder, and so on. I’m making an attempt to not get too connected to them as a result of wiser folks have informed me that issues can occur, however I’m not heeding that recommendation very nicely. I positive do love these little fluffballs!
