Hi all! So it's my birthday, and valentines and my 7 year anniversary being coupled up with the DH (only 2 1/2 yrs into marriage, though :) ) SOOOOOOO he's going to help me spring for a new awesome pad for the girls in the spring! And I'm going to get more chickens! ( of course!!) So the gals are getting an upgrade, come April.
So I'm really excited and I can't wait, but since we finally got our NH snow yesterday, it'll be awhile. I figured I'd ask for advice, and take suggestions. I want to build a coop that can handle two small flocks in it of about 12 chickens each. I have some egg layers, and I want to try breeding a few silkies. running water, and more electricity than an outlet are not in play here ($$) Other than that, the sky is the limit.
What do you have that you love, or hate? Did you come up with anything that really makes life good for you or the ladies? I'd also love to see pictures.
Building a dream coop...thoughts and suggestions?
If I was to redo my coop the yard would be tall enough for me to stand and rake [4ft now] also the coop itself would have smooth walls no 2x4s hard to clean poop off and one side would totally open for easier cleaning. Also I would put coop at slight tilt so can give a good cleaning and water would drain out. The older I get the more these things matter, can't bend and crawl like I use to.Heidi
Those are great suggestions! DOes anyone else have a coop that actually has any of those things and can give some feedback as to how they are working out?
Here is a post of the coop that my DH built me this spring. We are very happy with it, I can get into the coop to clean and change water, feed, collect eggs without worrying about hitting my head or bending in strange positions. This coop is draft free, with all the cold weather we've been having my silkies are very happy with there home.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/646468/
Cathy
Nice creative husband you have Cathy. Keep him and treat him good. I just finished my Chicken tractor tonight.
Cathy, It's gorgeous! I remember seeing that now. Do you remember what it's dimensions are? I'd love to use you as my chicken coop muse!
I don't know the dimensions, but I will ask DH when he gets home. Seeing how the silkies acted when we hatched them made him think about Dr. Seuss. He's going to add a bent pipe coming out the side when he finds the materials he needs. He made that coop out of wood he collected from a friend who was taking down an old barn. We have 13 silkies in there now and there is room for more, we are going to let one of our silkies mama's hatch a few more for us, a few of my hens are going broody now, but I think it's still to cold. He is very creative, he had no plans, just thought about what he wanted it to look like and built it.
Cathy
It's great. I wsh all the snow would go away now so I can get building, myself!