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