The Fullchat289 Chicken Operation – Let’s see your’s!
 

I like chickens and have been thinking somewhat casually about having a few for some time. Through one of my wife’s contacts, we took receipt of 4 Buff Orpington chicks about two weeks ago that were hatched around mid September. This puts them in about their 7th or 8th week. At some point prior to their arrival, I realized that if I were going to have chickens, I would need some place for them to live and thrive. A couple of things were considerations. First, this was going to be a recreational operation for the enjoyment of our family (we can already get farm fresh eggs from a friend for $1/doz), second, I was firm that I was not going to lay out $800-1000 for a pre-made coop that you can find at all the shed and outdoor playset places , and third, the chicken’s dwelling was going to be an awesome, stress-free environment.

After little google searching, I found a little inspiration in something called a “chicken tractor” at Home Page. So after determining the size I would need for my four Buffs, I went to work transposing their overall sketch to some graph paper, assembled a materials list, and after about 50hrs and $500 in materials, I want from this:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...eg_drawing.jpg

To This:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s/Complete.jpg

It might seem like a pile of money and time for four chickens to some of you veterans, but this little project was immensely satisfying, I learned a lot, and ended up saving some money and having a dwelling that should last for many years to come! It’s also awesome to see my little kiddies having a blast holding and enjoying them.

Here are a few in-process shots. This first one shows the rear of the coop, and the three nesting boxes that are covered by a separate, hinged roof that is lifted to collect the eggs (which likely won’t come for about another 6month from now). The coop also has a light fixture inside for the colder winter days/nights to come, and a roosting beam the length of the coop that is positioned atop the front/rear walls.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ns/Nesting.jpg

This shot shows the run which is bolted to the front of the coop structure and has an access door. I later fitted the run with handles so that the whole thing can be pivoted up from the front about the wheels and then rolled to position it wherever we want to in our lawn.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...micomplete.jpg

Meet the girls!!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...etthegirls.jpg

Now I realize there has been lots and lots of discussion recently about exhaust exit locations for some considering under car exhausts…I just thought I would include my final location on the coupe….errr.. coop. :D

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...kens/pipe1.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...kens/Pipe2.jpg

So there must be other Cobra enthusiasts out there with chicken operations…Let’s see ‘em!!!

- Allen.

Love it!! Great job with the exhaust outlets!:LOL:
Is a rooster eventually going to be introduced into his own private harem?

Thanks, Buzz. ;)

No plans for a rooster - these will be spinsters. I have to wonder if the cock-a-doodle-do from the neighbor rooster will make 'em curious..?? He's lives several hundred feet away, though.

- Allen.

Fullchat289,

Cobras, Chickens, Racing... sounds like someone else I know of. How's your Chilli?

Great work, as always!

289FIA

PS: Wheels and exhaust should be black :LOL:

Ha...you are absolutely correct and I just haven't be able to get the exhaust and wheels to the coaters just yet... ;)

On the subject of chili, this is a favorite of our family. Lots of ingredients, but it is wonderful!:

Ryder's Turkey Chili Recipe : Guy Fieri : Food Network

- Allen.

Hey Allan,
We used to have chickens when I lived in the country out near Salinas, CA. The foxes and the Bobcats put an end to them a couple times, got tired of the mayhem so didn't replenish the herd and moved into the city, Pacific Grove, CA.
A word to the wise. There are predators and it would be wise to make the lid to the egg nesting boxes secure with a locking mechanism. I did and still have claw marks from the Bobcats. it might also be a good idea to reinforce the chicken wire, but do not know what your situation is with respect to predators. good luck, i loved them while we had them. I'd let them out in the day and pen them up at night. My coop was stationary, but i like the idea of being able to move the coop about.
There's nothing like a fresh egg.
Glenn

Thanks, Glenn. Good thoughts there!

I too put them in the coop at night shortly after dark and let them back out before sunrise. Our chicken preditors are limited to possum/skunk/fox here in the NE... Your area sounds pretty wild!! :eek:

- Allen.

Here's my chicken coop. There were 20-30 chickens, but now only 4. It's home built and notice in the second picture the bottom right side of the coop opens up so that one can wash out the coop with water and stuff flowing out to the right behind the fence.

I've found that having chickens is an interesting activity with the clean up chores ongoing and time consuming unless one has a good setup for coop maintenance.

Awesome! How many eggs were you getting when your brood was at it's peak? Did you have a rooster too? I guess I could use a little more backstory.. ;) Thanks for your post and the pics of your innovative design! Post up a pic of your girls too if you can!

- Allen.