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Project Information

Built this two summers ago when we decided to do the backyard chicken thing and ordered ten baby chicks. They came in a small box, at the post office, the day after they hatched. Kinda trippy. But I digress.

Built mostly from plans bought online, but I'd change stuff if I were to do it again. Overall dimensions 8×6, 2×4 frame construction, insulated (in Virginia? Seriously? yeah, that over-engineering thing again…). The front panel (under the nesting box lids) folds out and the nesting box array is free-floating on the floor and thus removable, so in theory you can get it good and opened up for the occasional deep cleanout (optionally involving a hose, as the floor material (Duradek) is waterproof).

First pic is the relatively finished product. Two years later I still haven't managed to get the whole thing painted yet (see comment in previous project post regarding "good enough"...), and we recently moved to a bigger property so this summer I added some wheels underneath so it could be moved around and such. That was a project by itself, finding and attaching wheels big enough for the size/weight. Would you believe this thing weighs over a ton? I wasn't planning on moving anytime soon when I built it, or I would have thought that one through a bit more…

Second pic shows the free-floating nesting box array.

Third pic shows it on wheels, after it was moved to the new place.

Fourth pic shows it after I used the tractor to put it in place and set up the fencing so the girls could finally get out. Happy hens, happy farmer.

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Comments

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Boy does that bring back memories. Some good, some bad. but a lot of them. nice job.

Welcome to LJ's.
 

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We are also back to raising chickens…at least for eggs. I built a 4'X8' coop and covered the run as well. Our first 6 birds turned out to be 4 roosters….any need a rooster I like the coop you built
 

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great coop

looks very luxurious

you might even get a golden egg lol

jamie
 

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Reminds me of the one we had in our yard when NJ still had some dirt roads. I remember Mom saying "go out to the coop & get some eggs". Our coop eventually became my clubhouse, nice job and I bet those wheels took some thinking & work.
 

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You could say that. The only reason I know the thing weighs more than a ton is the first set of wheels I tried had a combined rating of 2000 lbs, and they squished. :p I finally found some that worked from McMaster-Carr. Great site for all kinds of random stuff, btw.
 

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Pretty nice digs for those chickens !
 

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Nice coop. I just finished (yesterday) converting an old shed into a coop and building a run, and now off to pick up four point of lay chickens this morning.
 
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