Out of work and the end of the world is here so I decided to build a new chicken coop . I have had two flocks of chickens that ended badly due to predators. This time I would like the chickens to actually live so I have decided to build a chicken fortress! I have very large owls, hawks, racoons, weasels (whatever they are called), coyote, and foxes that will want to eat my chickens.
Anyone notices anything I am screwing up or has good ideas....please post!
Coop area is 12x8. I sunk 6 PT 4x4's and dug a foot deep trench around the perimeter with my tractor. Installed 12 inches of hardware cloth around the perimeter to discourage the little bastards from building a chicken smuggling tunnel.
Here is the coop with the roof installed. The roof consists of 1.5 inches of foam insulation covered with 2x3 inch wire fencing screwed down along the edges. The roof panels are green polycarbonate held down with special screws that have little rubber seals. The siding is some old fencing that I am recycling. In fact all the materials except for some 2x3's are recycled from past projects.
Custom coop door that can be opened and closed from outside the coop. The orange push rod (fiberglass snow markers) closes the door and there is a latch to lock it. The entire right side is hinged for access.
Nest box details. Nests are 12x12x12. One side is nest boxes, the other for feed access maybe. I used scraps of the polycarbonate roofing to keep water out of the nest boxes (see how it works).
Inside view. Walls have R7.5 insulation the floor will be pine shavings. I have a ton of 2 part epoxy I think I will mix up a batch to coat the floor. Not sure if the chickens will attack the foam. Its only held in with plywood blocks I can armor it if needed. In winter I will run a 100W bulb and heated water dish hopefully with the insulation they will be ok.
Chickens arrived at the Agway last fri....waiting for me to finish. Next steps 1) coat of paint, 2) dig 100ft trench for electricity, 3) install chicken wire to outside run.
Anyone notices anything I am screwing up or has good ideas....please post!
Coop area is 12x8. I sunk 6 PT 4x4's and dug a foot deep trench around the perimeter with my tractor. Installed 12 inches of hardware cloth around the perimeter to discourage the little bastards from building a chicken smuggling tunnel.
Here is the coop with the roof installed. The roof consists of 1.5 inches of foam insulation covered with 2x3 inch wire fencing screwed down along the edges. The roof panels are green polycarbonate held down with special screws that have little rubber seals. The siding is some old fencing that I am recycling. In fact all the materials except for some 2x3's are recycled from past projects.
Custom coop door that can be opened and closed from outside the coop. The orange push rod (fiberglass snow markers) closes the door and there is a latch to lock it. The entire right side is hinged for access.
Nest box details. Nests are 12x12x12. One side is nest boxes, the other for feed access maybe. I used scraps of the polycarbonate roofing to keep water out of the nest boxes (see how it works).
Inside view. Walls have R7.5 insulation the floor will be pine shavings. I have a ton of 2 part epoxy I think I will mix up a batch to coat the floor. Not sure if the chickens will attack the foam. Its only held in with plywood blocks I can armor it if needed. In winter I will run a 100W bulb and heated water dish hopefully with the insulation they will be ok.
Chickens arrived at the Agway last fri....waiting for me to finish. Next steps 1) coat of paint, 2) dig 100ft trench for electricity, 3) install chicken wire to outside run.