The Coop Saga is Finished!

So we took a brief break from building to accommodate some chilly, rainy weather and some much needed down time.  Then the past two weekends we had beautiful weather which gave us a great opportunity to work outside and get things finished!

The first weekend we finished the inside walls and the outer door.  Not too tricky, but lots of cutting and assembling, so it was time consuming.  We also got some of the digging around the coop done since we planned to bury chicken wire in an effort to deter digging predators.

The second weekend we did EVERYTHING else to get the coop finished.  We put in windows, attached doors, put a lid on the nesting boxes and added the pen.  By the end of the day, we were about ready to drop, but the chickens could officially move out of the guest bedroom and into the coop!

Take a look at all of the work!

 Finishing up the inside walls.  We insulated them and put in a vapor barrier to help keep them warm and dry in all kinds of weather.  We get really chilly here in the winter and this way they will still have somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep.

 I know that just looks like a portal to the underworld, but it will actually form the doorway to the run so the chickens can get in and out safely.

 The coop as it stood by the end of the first weekend.  Still lacking a few things, like windows and doors and other security measures to keep out the predators.

 The nesting boxes have a garbage bag temporarily stapled to them to keep the water out in case of rain.  I hear that plastic is tres chic this year.

 The second weekend started off when we added a door to the side.  This is what we called a "people door" and it's for me to have access to the coop and to be able to clean it out.

 I wish I could take credit for these hinges, but John picked them out.  He's got pretty good taste I suppose.

 My dad helped me finish up the nesting boxes and get the lid settled.  Turns out the nesting boxes are Gilbert's favorite place too.

 This ramp is for the chickens.  Although their brains are slightly smaller than the average pea, they are capable of learning things like ramps.  Also, I put food at the top and put them into the bottom.  They picked it up pretty quickly.

 You can see where we laid the wire down under the coop, we'll bury the rest of it.  This should discourage the digging predators.

 Attaching the wire to the coop.  Chicken wire is actually the worst material for chicken coops because it can be easily manipulated by animals looking for a chicken dinner and it will rust after a while.  But it is cheap and effective in the short run.  It is terrible to work with and we all had battle wounds afterwards.

A close-up of the attachment technique.  The washers ensure that the screws actually hold the wire to the coop.

Fancy interior door.
 














Stay tuned for an official tour and a last look at the coop!