Chickens, and things related

[ihookem]

I agree, anything is better than in the store. This is why we started growing our own chickens. I went to the store a few years ago and got some on sale for .88 a lbs. We cooked it ate a few bites and tossed it out. Some of those chickens are awfull. If I buy at the store again it will be Purdue chickens. They are ok.

 

[bmac]

Well, its been a while since updating this thread with my coop progress. Not because I haven't been working on it, its just that the work has been in small increments and I didn't stop to take pictures.

My last photo showed the floor structure complete. Since then, I framed and added the exterior sheathing to the front and back walls. I had to wait for some help to raise the walls as they were too heavy for my wife and me to do. Today, I was able to have a couple of friends come over to lend a hand (and strong backs). As my help didn't arrive until after 5 PM, my goal for the day was simply to get the front and back wall raised.

Here's what that looked like:

 

[bmac]

As you can see, the siding has not been cut out for the windows and doors yet.

Well, once we had the walls up and braced, my buds suggested we start framing the side walls. I didn't want to take advantage of them.....but I did anyway.

 

[bmac]

So, we framed one end wall and one of the guys suggested I go fire up the grill. Actually, I had already had my wife do that so he then suggested I go start cooking. Well, I didn't want to take advantage of their generosity by leaving them to continue doing the hard labor while I go do something easy like flip burgers......but I did anyway.

While I'm grillin', they hang the exterior sheathing on the end wall and clean up the work site.

Here's the interior as it appears now.

 

[bmac]

Here's a picture of the fron wall framing. The door is obvious as are the 2 windows.

The framed areas below the windows might take a little explanation. My design has what I call "roost boxes". Not my invention - saw them on another coop plan somewhere - just don't know the proper term. Essentially, they are framed boxes with plywood walls and an open top (top is covered w/ chicken wire) that are about 2 ft high. The roosts will mounted above the chicken wire and the boxes will contain wood shavings. The cut-outs you see in the front wall below the windows will be access doors to clean out the poopy shavings.

My understanding is that most of the poop in the coop is found under the roosts. If so, the shavings covering the rest of the floor in the coop will not get as soiled as that in the roost boxes. So, when you empty the roost boxes, you refill them with the "somewhat dirty" shavings from the coop floor and then put fresh shavings on the floor.

Clear as mud, isn't it?

 

[bmac]

And, finally, the rear wall. Again, there is framing for a door and 2 windows. To the left of the man door will be a cut-out for the chicken door, but its not framed out yet.

The final wall will contain the nest boxes. As I am still working on them, I couldn't take any more advantage of my friends today by having them frame up the last wall. But, there's always next weekend.

 

[Tororider]

Nice progress, and even nicer friends! Congrats. I haven't made any progress on my coop as I have been out at the farm planting trees and making paths through the woods, but I am going to have to get on this quickly since I will hopefully need the brooder in a bit.

Can't remember if I mentioned I ordered an incubator. I am going to try and hatch some of my neighbors eggs and then keep the chickens out at my brother in laws. So that means between now and then he and I need to renovate the run at his place. I was able to get some free chain link fence panels a month or so ago, so I think we may use that to create a small breeding pen for some chickens. I will keep you updated as things get done.

Keep up the good work bmac.

 

[Tororider]

Yeah, apparently chickens do a lot of pooping at night while they sleep. Many designs incorporate a "droppings board", simply a board underneath the roosts that can be easily removed for cleaning. It is supposed to make the coop much cleaner.

 

[bmac]

Tororider,

Good luck with the incubator. I looked into getting one to address my turkey issue, but in the end, decided that poults would work out better (still haven't ordered yet as I need to get the chickens out of the house first).

Thanks for the words of encouragement on the coop. This is taking much longer than I anticipated, but at least after today, I can see signs of progress. The chickens are starting to get really crowded in the brooder. I've got to finish this coop ASAP.

 

[EddieWalker]

bmac,

Nice job on framing your coop. You're the first one that I've seen who used jack and cripple studs!!!!

Eddie