This is the last of a series on pasture coops. Part 1 of the Hoophouse Section is here:
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-hoophouse-coop
Part 2 – Building the Coop
He started building the frame first. Below is the corner bracing detail:
He put plywood over it so no chicks would get trapped in moving.
Next he put the cattle panels on.
Stapling detail
He overlapped the panels and wired them together.
Wiring the panels together
Next he built the door frame (but not the door) and reinforced it.
Door frame re-inforcement
He put in cross bracing across the front to make it more rigid and support the roosts and water reservoir.
Front cross bracing
Above, kerf in the front cross brace to attach to panel
Then he put a frame in the back.
Framing the back
Above: kerf in bracing to attach to panel
Above: detail of kerf holding panel in the back
Roosts
The next thing was the roosts. They were of staggered heights and 1’ apart. They were 12’ and tended to bow in the middle, so we put a heavy wire support there, hung from the panels. We wrapped the wire ends with tape so no wings would get spiked.
Roost attachment, front side
Roost support, back wall
Above: wire center support for the roosts
Once the frame was sturdy we set about attaching the hardware cloth skin to the panels and frame. Where there was wood we used the heavy 1” staples. The rest was secured using strong enough wire that was still easily bent to get through small holes. We had selected 22 gauge galvanized steel.
We had read where someone had used hog rings and pliers to attach it, but the rings were usually too small for the job. Some of them went on well enough, so you might see a few here or there in the photos.
*Hog rings *
Once the hardware cloth was on, he covered the back with sheet metal, leaving a vent at the top. This vent proved to be far too small, it should have been double at least, down to the next rib.
He used hex screws with washers with a sealer where there was wood. I drilled holes along the edges and used wire to attach the sheet metal to the panels/hardware cloth.
Inner tube flashing for the top of the nestboxes
This is a 5 part series on our pastured chicken infrastructure. I started with the Salatin tractor: https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-salatin-pen
Next was the Mobile Coop: https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-pasture-coop
Then the Movable Pen for the coop: https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-mobile-pen
The Circus Tent:
Part 1 - An explanation of how we came to use the tent: https://steemit.com/livesustainably/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-circus-tent-part-1
Part 2 – How to build it:
https://steemit.com/livesustainably/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-circus-tent-part-2
The last part of the Hoophouse section, Finishing the Hoophouse, to follow. https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-the-hoophouse-coop-part-3
