WOO HOOO Chook Coop Completed (almost)

[NaeNae]

I am SO rapt and excited.

I have blisters on blisters from hand screwing every screw, cuts and scratches from re doing the wire on one of the run cages, I was disappointed it wasn't wider BUT I think it will be workable.

My chicken coop and Chicken run are complete ... well all except for the birds AND I decided today I'd get an extra run.

I DO still have to work out a way to secure the run to the coop but make it so they can be separated for moving around but I know how I will be doing that.

I DO want to reinforce the two runs I have joined together with a few larger screws

I DO want to get some laser light or similar to make a bit of a sheltered part of the run but these are all things I can work on over the coming weeks

All in all I am happy with the results. MIL and SIL came up yesterday to have a sticky beak which I thought was funny. If they approve they never say so you only hear about it if they don't.

Next stop - chooks

Here is the link to my album https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...hp?albumid=310

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY

Nae x

[loulabelle]

Yay!! Very excited for you!

[NaeNae]

Link is now in my first post

[NaeNae]

TODAY IS CHOOK DAY Look out Emerald we're coming up

[toomanyshoes]

That looks great, good luck picking up your chooks

[Tinks]

I love that chook house!

How many chooks do you think would fit in it?

[NaeNae]

Tinks - It really depends on the breed of chook. My girls are all still quite young so they all fit but I WILL need to get something bigger or separate for the Light Sussex and possibly the Welsummer as well as they are quite large birds when they are fully grown. I think for the L.S I will just buy a cheapo dog kennel and "fix it up" rather than buy another coop but we'll see.

For anyone interested, I got my girls there are some photo's here https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...hp?albumid=310

I got 3 pure breds, a Welsummer, a Light Sussex and a Silver Campine, and 2 commercial chooks which are both X's an Isa BrownX and a Commercial BlackX.

I was only going to get 4 but I HAD to get a black one too she will be gorgeous, she has flame type feathering and on her back she has hints of the blue/green/pink pearling type colouring in the black which is really hard to explain.

I AM glad I have decided to further extend the run I was really surprised just how big some of the breeds can get. I am totally smitten with the Sussex varieties and IF I am a good girl and do a good job with these girls I MIGHT build a massive run (where the veggie patch was going to go) and get a few more Sussex's as well as a few other breeds. I will keep the current chook house and run as my quarantine place.

Anyway I cannot get ahead of myself. I wish they were friendlier I am ITCHING to pick them up and cuddle and pat them. I know they need to get use to their new environment and get use to me so I sit in their run doorway and just let them come past without touching them.

Nae x

[Kazbah]

Nae - I found a dog kennel in kerbside collection and we use that as an "informal" house - it's actually where we keep the straw, but they keep breaking in and nesting there. They are beautiful birds!!!! Well done!!!!!

[NaeNae]

Kaz, I am SO addicted. I saw some of the breeders "own" birds and now can say there are other rare varieties that I want it was SO lovely seeing her birds just pottering around in the garden the dogs just wondering by paying them no mind (mine will never be like that).

I really want a Coronation and a Buff Sussex, a Wyandotte and a Barnevelder I'd also love a Pheonix addicted much

[Astrid]

Wow - great stuff. Awesome looking coop.

From what I have read the commercial black has some Australorp in there. Certainly sounds like with the colouring through the black, is it like the sheen on a Christmas beetle?

If you have not done so alreay, just hang the feeder and waterer just above bum level. It is so they don't poo in them, or scratch too much dirt etc into them.

[Jewel]

Wow. Looks fantastic!

[NaeNae]

Wow - great stuff. Awesome looking coop.

From what I have read the commercial black has some Australorp in there. Certainly sounds like with the colouring through the black, is it like the sheen on a Christmas beetle?

If you have not done so alreay, just hang the feeder and waterer just above bum level. It is so they don't poo in them, or scratch too much dirt etc into them.

YES thats the exact colouring!!

Awesome tip with the hanging the feeder I am actually looking onto something that I can put on the side of the cage like this here Chicken / Poultry Coop - Drinker / Waterer & Feeder Set (eBay item 260746494462 end time 13-Mar-11 13:13:15 AEDST) : Home
I think it will also save a bit of space too pretty exxy though

[HotI]

As you only have a few chooks, and will have to collect eggs each day, that feeder is probably overkill. We store our chook food in a plastic rubbishbin with metal clips that hold the lid on (keeps mice or anything else out). I fill an old dog food tin with feed and take this to the hanging chook feeder each day.

We had a water dish that had a house connecter and float and it would fill up when the water got low. Also had a hole for draining, which was handy for cleaning. Had to move it when we built our new chook house and it got broken, but that is what i want to get again.

Another thing chooks love is if you string up a lettuce or cabbage so it is floating in the air at pecking height.

[Floweryfields]

That coup looks really great and nice chooks too. I've just delivered my two 'babies' from a hatch at the end of last season to a friend today.

[Floweryfields]

Kaz, I am SO addicted. I saw some of the breeders "own" birds and now can say there are other rare varieties that I want it was SO lovely seeing her birds just pottering around in the garden the dogs just wondering by paying them no mind (mine will never be like that).

I really want a Coronation and a Buff Sussex, a Wyandotte and a Barnevelder I'd also love a Pheonix addicted much

WARNING it gets addictive!! I hatched my own Light, buff and coro sussex last year under one of my broody crosses. I had fertile eggs posted to me from Victoria! Out of 4 eggs that hatched (very rough post), I got 2 light, 1 coro and 1 buff - one light was a roo all the rest were girls. Hatching your own can be an addictive and very fun experience!