East Wing West Wing

Yesterday we completed enclosing both wings protecting the large ventilation cutouts.
They became the East wing and West wing, the doors go on today. It was a bit wonky as originally they were just under roof and not meant to be closed in, so we didn't  set the posts on the correct spacings for the wire and the beams overhung the posts so wiring it was a challenge.
We decided to attach the wire horizontally instead of adding more vertical posts, just adding 2x4's to nail into.



Framing for wire



We thought lattice was a good idea for the small passage doors, but they were a nightmare to make and paint.



West Wing



East Wing

The Run

We have begun the secure run. Because we made bigger overhangs which will be enclosed we changed the run adding 12 more feet and eliminating another proposed more open run. A lot of time was spent measuring and spacing the post holes. We put 4x4 every 12' and anchored in concrete. The we built 36" on center 2x4 posts and lifted them into place. Overhead we used 2x4's and joist hangers to nail the roof panels to.

Half the run has wire and under galvanized panel roofing.





2/3 under metal roof, 1/3 clear plastic



It's actually very nice inside the run now. The dust bath is at the end with clear panel roofing.
Hope the Chickens like it!

Overhangs

Overhangs, mini roof, awnings, we need to protect the openings from the elements, mostly torrential rains during the summer. We made the first one over the large door in front. It turned out ok, more support than needed for the flimsy corrugated metal roof. I plan the same for the front and a four foot cover over the two long ventilation cutouts on east and west sides.

After the cutouts were made and covered with cloth, Ken said "what's to stop raccoons and cats climbing up to where the chickens are roosting right behind the wire and terrorizing them?"
He wanted to fence in the four foot overhang for a second level of protection from predators.
So we compromised and made the four foot bump out an 8 foot one and roofed the whole thing on both sides.

That gives us three protected runs now instead of one and Ken feels better about safer chickens.