Building a Chicken Coop - Part 1: Framing - #9

[@lindakurtz2653]

Chickens are the gateway animal! I think most of us end up getting more chickens...much easier if your coop is already big enough!

[@surveysays8335]

Part of the wobbly problem is because of how it's built. If you would have creating some kind of framing members that transversed from base to top without being cut into smaller sections it would be more sound. The cladding with offer some sheer strength, a lot if you glued it and nailed it with some consistent nailing pattern. This will make the smaller pieced of wood act more like solid longer members.

[@sandratweedale2579]

So glad I found your vlogs, it’s all just so informative. I’m way past that type of lifestyle but it’s fascinating to watch you turn your dream into reality. Thank so so much for this opportunity to at least watch it come to life. I just admire you both so much. A new Canadian admirer. Great work

[@georgettenelson7504]

I live in the USA IN Nevada, I really enjoy your program. I don't know much about chickens, I would love too! You may know this, but watching people build chicken coops, they put wheels on the outside of the chicken coop. That way you can move the coop to clean or move to a different area to let the old area rejuvinate!

[@tejolisboa]

Explanation and sketchup were a great help to understand. To be honest, understand is fundamental to enjoy what we see.

[@fernandaalbuquerque6872]

Kylie is a rock. She’s becoming my idol. Wish I could handle the chop saw like she does.

[@luminyam6145]

How I love your videos, you are just a lovely couple.

[@naomilamb7406]

Happy Easter. Nova Scotia, Canada

[@blackmonday738]

Ahhh yes hoop coupe. Coowl can't wait to see them.

[@lorimontcalm9086]

You guys crack me up!! Kylie making cuts during Guy's explanations!! There is ALWAYS a joke in there!! Wood and screws and they practically write themselves, particularly Kylie keeping track of the size of your wood!! Again another lovely video, a joy to watch and learn and marvel at your pre-planning and execution adjustments as you go. Hugs from 🇨🇦

[@kathleenlairscey5934]

Really enjoy your accent. Honestly I’ve never seen Londoners homesteading. I’m only familiar with the Beatles, music from the early 60s. So I’m on the other side of 60, but have spent my life learning to homestead. I lose a lot of chickens to predators and dogs, as they are free ranger Easter eggers . Canning a lot this year, but extreme hot weather killed our garden. Admiration for y’all.

[@celinaabrey6883]

We inherited a coop when we bought our quinta; the previous owner had the genius idea of growing grape vines up and over to create a natural shade cover that thins in winter and thickens in spring when it really starts to get hot. Maybe an idea so you can eventually retire your shade cover! Not sure yet if we'll get any grapes out of it or if the birds will reap all the benefit. Love that you're doing this, chickens are the best!!

[@trevorwindle8980]

This is the best coop I have seen on these portugal Channels lots of thought has gone into it to it , great work , me a poultry breeder show and backyarders for 50 years yours have least possibility of death from bad design & attack ps the timber sides and tin roof will make it rigid👍❤️❤️❤️🙏

[@footplate0]

Great job on the coop. Can I suggest that you do not use staples to hold the wire mesh but use screws and washers. I know it will take more time to install but you have the option to remove the wire when ever you need without the pain of getting the staples out (don't ask how I know). Using the screw and washer method allows you to very easy change/adapt your design to how ever you want. Nice bit on the screws and the counting, its the same here in Cyprus although you can just ask for a box. The local ironmongers (no big box store where I live) are happy that I order stuff by the box as I have orders like 200 bolts & nuts and 400 washers, so its 2 boxes of bolts & nuts and 4 boxes of washers. Thanks for posting

[@terrimccullough724]

I always look forward to my Saturday morning coffee and MDG videos.

[@margaretstanton7567]

I can see that Kylie loves using that saw!! Like a pro--well, she does everything like a pro! And love how you handle the background noise!

[@LCamp-cr7fs]

The chicken castelo is coming along nicely.

[@cindybickford9939]

It nice to see that you guys dont stress over mistakes

[@johnsage1020]

I love how you guys aren't afraid to make mistakes. Nice job can't wait to see what's next

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Mistakes are one of the best learning tools 😀

[@EastLondonKiwi]

Hi both the build looks great so far, I am sure your chickens will love it. Re roosting posts. don't make the mistake of using round rod for roosting posting, chickens have flat pads on their feet and doo better on square roosts as they provide a more comfortable grip. round off the edges but use battens as roosts. I hope that helps D

[@eleanorcain6511]

Next time you may want to try a pull out tray of about 3’’ 4” deep with about 1-2” of sand in bottom, making it much easier to get the poop out with out leaving dried poop behind. On the upper part of rostering cage.

[@irili100]

Hi friends, watching a lot of videos about raising chickens, most people have come to the conclusion that a chicken coop on wheels, which moves every day or two to a different place, greatly improves the soil in the farm area. When the chickens are in the same place all the time, the soil burns from excess manure and it also involves a lot of work of dispersing organic matter that will absorb it and then collecting and transferring to a compost pit. Moving the coop from place to place saves you a lot of work that can be avoided. Please think about it. Have a great day and good luck with the project.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Even better, just free range them 😀 We do plan to have a chicken tractor when we get meat birds, but that’s an entirely different project

[@irili100]

O.K. good.

[@cathkurtschell4950]

Justin Rhodes has a great plan for these.

[@francoisbosman7253]

It all depends on the slope of the land some places its just not practical !

[@MAKEDOGROW]

@@francoisbosman7253 yep, and also whether the land has dips etc... our field is not graded so critters (esp. mongoose) would definitely crawl into the tractor. We’ll need to do quite some work before even thinking about a movable style coop

[@manuelacavaco4147]

Excellent project! 🐔🐓🐓🐓Congratulations!

[@carlosvictor8679]

bem vindos a portugal...that's how they do it over ,weird but works,lol...by the way i met your chickens at joe's last friday,they do look cute,lol

[@sydneyevans2637]

Nice avian condominium !!!

[@tarnr5713]

Not sure if you've ever had chooks before but be warned - "chicken math" is a thing and it is NOT like normal math. For example, chicken math goes like .... 4 chooks + 3 chooks = 10 chooks ..... especially if your chooks tend towards being being pets with benefits rather than just livestock. Therefore the fact that your coop is bigger than planned is - well - correct as far as chicken math is concerned :) You'll love it, chickens are awesome - eggs, manure, and SO MUCH entertainment!!

[@victorsummers2283]

Love to see the truck bed workbench. Most of my work is done on the tailgate of my pickup.

[@Quinta-Entre-Aguas]

I like the plan for the chicken coop.. Very thoughtful and well explained.

[@jamesmackay4507]

Kylie JCB at her best again.

[@nena4215]

What a wonderful job, bigger will be more comfortable for the chickens, happier chickens, better eggs! I am so down for a chicken adventure!

[@bruceagneberg5824]

There’s nothing better than fresh eggs! Amazing coop!!

[@richardteychenne3950]

You are turning into professional builders, detailed architect designs, building code approval, careful layout and footings, project management then build and .... sod it doesn't fit. No problemOh! We can bodge it and it will be better. Loved the show and the design 😀😉🤣 😍😍

[@markt.3685]

Very good to see how this was made. Glad it is working out well, and I like the size and shape. Looking forward to seeing how it finishes up, and how the chickens take to it. Cheers!😎👍

[@gaynor3976]

Very impressed how the chicken hotel is coming together so far. Youve thought it out well and even modified where you feel the need to. Can't wait to eventually see your chickens housed in it living the dream. Have a good week ahead. Happy Easter to you both xxxx

[@offgridwanabe]

Good plan eggs from Happy chickens always taste better

[@MIck1-10]

I do like sketch up.

[@Strange-Viking]

Yet another vid to add on the watched list of me binge watching to get up to speed with your new channel, still thrilled to see you guys healthy and creating, again, an awesome vid filled with great content!

[@cd9359]

Hey, just reading the comments below and I thought I would add something as well. Chickens bring in rats, you should look at wiring the floor of the cage to stop them from getting in. You can then lay dirt over the top. irili100 has a great point though regarding chicken tractors, they really help with the health of the soil and reduce rat infestation and promotes the health of your chickens!

[@ritawentworth]

Looking good! The yard looks so much better than last year! Awesome 👍

[@lewih7135]

Great job!! Y'all are so funny! 😁😁

[@evanwhitney5826]

Adding linoleum or some kind of vinyl or hard plastic floor to the coop section will make poop clean out much easier!

[@midlifecrisistheportugalye6682]

Minimal digging and a withering "I know it is, this is how math works", this is the content I'm here for

[@andreacrashe9894]

well done Kylie and Guy.... 🙂

[@BJHolloway1]

Great video - I think that some of your neighbors (on KZbin) could learn from you two. One thing I think you mentioned was the the nest boxes would have doors in the vertical plane? I guess that could work but the egg farm near us uses a hinged roof which seems to be very successful for collecting the eggs etc. Keep up the good work.

[@layna8924]

OH, THERE YOU ARE...'MAKE.DO.GROW.'...HAD A TOOTH EXTRACTION, THEN, I GOT ENTIRITIS FROM I DON'T KNOW WHERE...SO, GETTING OVER ALOT...FOUND YOU THOUGH...BLESSINGS...;)

[@garyhowes472]

Great ,we're just starting the same project here in figuerio dos vinhos. Have enjoyed watching your progress 👍

[@machellep1]

Have built several coops in my time, this is basically the easiest and same as I’ve done before . Not snake prove, but basically good otherwise. My girls where always very happy . It’s not rocket science, don’t over think it..lol..for the floor, half was wire mesh so the poop could fall threw and make it easier to clean. And helped with venting. Would just line with straw. I think I’d just make a day of drinking wine , eating olives and cheese and going from store to store buying screws 63 at a time, or whatever random number I decided on. It would make for a fun day out! Yes some of us are easily entertained.

[@KB-ou5vj]

haha a CAD..... cardboard aided design on a cider pack, who needs a sketch up, takes far too long. ;-) I wish you both a happy Easter

[@sircrocodile3749]

Thoes gonna be some really happy chickens :D

[@hiramatangi1736]

Nice work team! 🙌

[@nomes4493]

Love the coop hope you make a hotel sign for the chickens Hotel frango!!! 🐔🐔🐔

[@-_James_-]

Don't know if I'm too late or not, but have you considered burying the side meshing into the ground by half a metre or so to prevent predators from tunnelling under? Not sure if that's something that people would normally do, but I'd probably go overboard and do it just for peace of mind.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Yep, we’ll be adding a separate apron later. Stay tuned

[@PortugalaGals]

I have to admit that I really like the idea of counting out the nails and screws. How many times have I needed only 3 of something and have had to buy a whole bunch, which then sit around forlornly forever waiting for a non-existent project to begin? :p

[@PawelGonera]

They are used to the system where you weight the screws not count them. You can buy just one, no big deal. We have the same, you can buy a box or just put how many you need on the scale

[@PortugalaGals]

@@PawelGonera here in South Africa, you generally can only buy in packs. I'd like to be able to buy singles.

[@gracegomes2632]

Loving the chicken coop!

[@ianbahn7193]

Almost makes me wish i was a chicken!

[@kimberly_erin]

It’s very interesting that they count them out at high numbers, if I worked there I would have brought my scale in, weighed the higher number of screws and at least had a starting off point. I’d never trust myself to keep count.

[@zedocafe1981]

Hello from Portugal, buying nails and screws in Portugal differs from shop to shop, and sometimes there are all of the follow options in the same store: by weight, by box or by unit. :) sorry for any mispell

[@mgp1953]

Lucky chickens🐓

[@carolbulmer8253]

Well done team!

[@juliaeb1494]

Hi friends, could you post more often ? We are waiting for up-dates about inside the house...also...I was waiting for the moment you decide to have some chickens...and don't forget the ruster.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

If you want more updates, follow us on FB/Insta. Making a video is an insane amount of work, on top of all the work we’re doing, so it’s not really possible for us to produce more at the moment

[@juliaeb1494]

@@MAKEDOGROW Thank you for reply. :)

[@janhodgson1740]

How posh.. best hen house in Portugal 🇵🇹

[@monimate1673]

Go the drop saw!!

[@gauvaindf]

yeah coop on wheels and metal or plastic sheet (for the poop) with a protective product for rust on it and we put newspaper on it, it avoids spending too much time cleaning But if its a plastic sheet no need for newspaper. For the screws it's normal, they probably sell them to you for the same price as if you had bought them a box, but they bought boxes of 10,000 or even 100,000 and it's much cheaper like that for them, so they make more margin

[@montedaestrada3563]

Looking good. Oh the fun of first finding and then attempting to buy fixing and screws etc, from your local drogaria when you are used to selecting your own products from a B&Q. Also making mistakes or changing your designs is always expensive due to the price of materials. Thank the gods for Sketchup.

[@JoeTheLion60]

Looking very good - much better to be "hoteled up" than "cooped up" - love that you have your chickens welfare 100% at heart...I'd love to live there if I was a chicken. Love from 🥝 land

[@ronaldlucas5360]

Enjoyed

[@goodtogo3]

you are amazing

[@erichall4458]

You to are amazing

[@orangeyoouglaad7841]

I LITERALLY SCREAMED ‘THEYRE GETTING CHICKENS!!!’

[@rudymazar8666]

Great job for a small coop . I would not have more than 3-4 chickens in that size unless you'll let then run free during the day. We have a 40m 2 chicken run and have only 8 chickens and two ducks...

[@chronicfish]

That's not a chicken hotel, that's a whole estate! 💚

[@Gummmibaer]

20:40 hahaha that "reaction" made it even better

[@sheilajoseph9953]

I think the chickens will be happy living there. You can have fresh eggs for breakfast 😁

[@christinetrewin9717]

Well that showed me how to build it professionally! We built a run for our girls this weekend to extend the tractor space, not like this ! 😁 I also discovered my husband cannot put a screw in straight! Might be his glasses though. I managed to rip my hands up stapling and cutting the chicken wire, but it turned out fine in the end. The girls love it. By the way our girls only just old enough to lay never use the roosting perches, they prefer to huddle together in one of the nesting boxes. Daft I know but maybe as they get older they will use them 🙄

[@tomatobrush3283]

Make sure you mesh protect the floor as well

[@ankiking]

Would have been good to have that saw when you made the raised beds ;) But building muscle is always good 👍🏼

[@F-J.]

A chicken coupe on wheels might he a good thing

[@izby2652]

Hi, it's generally recommended to put down something on the floor of the chicken coop to help make cleaning easier and preserve the wood. Most people use cheap linoleum flooring. I painted some black stuff on my wood floor (kicking myself that I can't remember), but I highly recommend doing something. Cleaning the coop every season is made so much easier. We also use diatomaceous earth and sweet PDZ coop refresher. We also raise our chickens fully organically, and these are safe.

[@brettn4337]

Question for you. Considering the roosting area isn't a really huge area, do you really need the "ventilation doors" ? I would have thought the triangular vents below the roofing would suffice. Anyway those chooks are going to be living in the lap of luxury.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

It can get very hot here in the summer! The inner doors also serve a second purpose ... when left propped open they’ll create more shade under the coop - that side of the house is north facing so underneath wouldn’t get much shade in the mornings in summertime

[@brettn4337]

@@MAKEDOGROW fair enough. I hope you get a nicer summer than we got downunder. I can count the number of days over 30'c on one hand

[@grahamwalker3819]

I know this is in the past, but we’ve just started watching. I heard protection from predators but I’m at 9 minutes 30 and I’m just thinking ‘what about predators digging under?’ Maybe you’ve covered it. Time will tell. Anyway, good luck, great job all round 👍🏻

[@kohtime]

I really love the quality of the stuff u guys build! U don’t tend to do things by half’s do u! Just a thought… I’m not sure if needed in Portugal at all but in winter in the uk we need a heat lamp… I know u can get down to freezing there so wondered if u had thought about that ?

[@jpennturner]

I have kept chickens in the north of England for forty years and never used or needed a heat lamp.

[@trevorwindle8980]

Mm me Tasmania aust wet & cold the bird man of Alcatraz kept canaries in the bowels of the jail and thought the cold damp culled weaker birds and genetically only the strongest went on I spoil mine and had heat lamp for the worst winter nights last year

[@kohtime]

@@jpennturner ah, here in Manchester I have always needed it! Maybe due to exposure as we are in the open

[@howard922]

In Portugal I went to the shop to buy some wire, I needed about 40 metres, they don’t sell it by the metre, it was priced by kilo! The man was quite happy to roll out the wire down the road and measure out 40 metres, he then rolled it back up and put it on the scales to calculate the cost, I didn’t feel it was right to point out the obvious, é a vida normal em portugal!

[@gvdmaas]

Nice project. ❤ love it.

[@AlbanAllotment]

You make laying the breeze block foundations look so easy! We recently did something similar for our greenhouse foundations and it took me a couple of days to get all of them perfectly level 😅 love the progress though, and very jealous! We’ve talked about getting chickens a lot but since we’re trying to make a decision about whether to leave the UK to move to Italy it’s probably not the right time for us. Looking forward to more chookchook videos! Thanks for sharing.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

It really wasn’t easy ... we couldn’t believe it took us all day!

[@vanhoofwim86]

I'm curious what the room rate will be at your new hotel, I assume that some math has also been applied to that? :-) Are you also going to protect the coop against digging in, since there are no dogs walking around on your property, it is easy for the predator to dig an entrance.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣😂 yes, we’ll be installing a predator apron as the last step of the build ... we definitely have foxes nearby

[@ChristineKelly1000]

Speaking of which, have you considered getting a protector dog?

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@TexasHomesteaders]

Very nice. It's very similar to ours.

[@sallyrowland6063]

Hard yakka ~ thats the Aussie spirit Kylie!! Are you putting in sarking (silver foil insulation) under roofing so the girls don’t get too hot while nesting? Also, don’t forget to put a perimeter of about half metre of mesh dug into the ground and joined to bottom of mesh walls, to stop predators digging under frame. Looking forward to the finished project! 👋 🇦🇺

[@MAKEDOGROW]

The roofing material we use, called Onduline, which has some heat resistant properties. We have the same on the roof of our ‘kitchen shed’, works a treat. And yes, a predator apron will be the last step of the build since there are foxes and mongoose where we live

[@richardellison536]

Hey guys don’t forget to put chicken wire under the base of the chicken coup. It is cheap insurance against predators that can burrow under the edges of the structure. Also wheels at sides can make it easy to move to give the birds a clean area and vegetation to munch one once they have cleared the initial caged area.

[@mariadange06]

Chicken Chateau Coup 🐣

[@louisecooper4803]

“Hard yakka”, so Australian.😀

[@kitsurubami]

surprised y'all didn't go with the permaculture chicken tractor

[@karennewberry4694]

Well done. Don't know if the latest avian flu is making it's way to Portugal, but if there is any risk maybe get a larger flock than you planned. Or at the very least, have a rooster so you can breed your own birds..

[@CLFL14256]

what if the rooster gets the flu?

[@andypsunshineisle5655]

Certainly turning into a luxury abode with every convenience. The quality of the rough sawn looks very good compared to the stuff my local stores stock. Will the floor need to be proofed against predators digging in ?

[@Justafonso]

"Very rarely is anything sytaight", said the XXI century to the world 😂😂😂

[@F-J.]

It would be good to fence the vegetable patch anyway, from other scavengers. 😁

[@nw5835]

Screws & Nails, until the coming of the DIY stores here in UK the ironmonger shops always sold screws, nails, tacks etc, by the pound weight, they were put into thin hession bags of different sizes to carry out, seems odd the count them all, nice job BTW, if I had to be on a team, it would be your wife's.

[@robbo4393]

if you can get creosote in Portugal then treat the wood Red mite dont like it, they get every where and can have a detrimental effect on the flock Dust bathing and diatemacious earth will also help good luck with it all

[@DANFUN32]

Don't know if anybody suggested this idea but at the bottom in the middle halfway up have thought of putting one piece of wood along so they got somewhere to perch on in the bottom

[@rudymazar8666]

Good idea to increase height for roosting ..they need that .