Solving the #1 Problem all COOPS Have! Building the BEST CHICKEN COOP EVER!

[@authorcharlieboring]

Al, Watching you build your chicken coop takes me back to when I built my first chicken coop. I was 10 years old and living in a small Texas town. We were always hungry and I learned from my grandmother that I could raise a garden and raise chickens and produce lots of fried chicken and vegetables to supplement what my father and mother could buy to eat. I got my materials from tearing down and old chicken coop at a neighbor's house and from wooden boxes behind the grocery store. My grandmother gave me a setting Banham hen and ten eggs. Before these hatched I found soda bottles and sold them for enough money to buy 12 chicks from the feed store. This little momma raised 22 chicks and I fell in love with raising chickens.

[@LumnahAcres]

Great memories

[@cathiwim]

What a wise grandmother!!

[@oleman490]

hey there what part of Texas;;;lol;;;now that sounds familiar

[@authorcharlieboring]

@@oleman490 Anson.

[@faithrada]

When I was a kid down on Cape Cod my folks refurbished a little old carriage barn. What is now the kitchen was a horse hair plaster chicken coop. We put a re-claimed oak floor in but kept the little sliding door where the chicken would go out plus the wood strapping that held the chicken wire. Nice to keep a little history. 🐔 🥚 ❤

[@happyhuntress9244]

Al, you need to provide good ventilation in your chicken house/brooder for healthy air flow and to cut down on the ammonia and the extreme moisture from chicken poo... maybe vents near the ceiling and a large viewing area vent in the door covered by hardware cloth. I would also advise to put some cheap linoleum on the floor which will clean up better than the cement and you could just replace it every couple of years.

[@stephenriley9084]

Rolls Royce barn is shaping up well. I would line the bottom 1' of the walls with plywood to protect the tin from the caustic bedding. Another suggestion: cut two 1,1/2" holes in the man door and cover with hardware cloth. Put a slider over the holes. This will help air circulation in the coop. It looks very good. Regards, Stephen.

[@patriciafuchs5970]

I love how well you plan things out for the feathered friends. That sliding door is. Sheer genius! This is the Taj Mahal of chicken coops!!

[@rutheglinton1117]

You asked for ideas for the nesting boxes, I would build it on the left wall and cut through so the eggs could roll through (stay clean) and be collected from the outside of the wall. Hope this is useful to you :)

[@vbtbmrt4394]

Yep that's what I thought also. Roosting on pig pen wall and back wall just short of door to keep 💩 from building up. Easy to get Kubota in to scrape it back.

[@tonygrimes13]

That would reduce the hay storage area.

[@susand8979]

Same idea we would recommend. You don't want to have to go in and out of the coop to collect eggs every day. Love the design and work you have done! 😊

[@shirleyannconfer9651]

What about putting the nesting boxes inside the outer wall with a way to collect the eggs from the outside of the barn? The coop you have now includes a way to collect eggs from the outside, and the hens don’t seem to mind.

[@tedbryer2512]

I swear You Two where meant for each other! The way you work together is amazing! I guess I am an old softy as I scan the outdoors for Figaro when Gina pans the camera around. Who else does this? Hope everyone is healthy and happy! Big Hugs from Perth Ontario Canada!

[@faithrada]

I still have my morning coffee out of my beloved Figaro mug. Mr. Figaro certainly left his mark on Lumnah Acres. I like to think he still patrols from on high. 🐈‍⬛️ ⛅️ ❤

[@MikeBeam-mi8jo]

It was good to see Pluto, still miss Mister Figaro 😔@@faithrada

[@shirleyannconfer9651]

I keep hoping to see Figaro, too. I miss him.

[@nightengale10]

Good morning Lumnah Acre family and friends. The best part of watching this barn build is how well thought out everything is. I am so impressed by how much time you have both taken to think out the things you want for the barn and ways to make things easier. Congrats on a great chicken coop and an even better barn

[@karenbeeman5500]

Al, you are going to need an exhaust fan to pull all those feathers, dust & ammonia out of that coop for the health of the chickens. One other suggestion is to make a door that opens to the inside & is covered with hardware cloth, that keeps them safe at night & you can leave the main door open for ventilation in the summer. [I am talking about the door in the sliding wall] That is a neat idea

[@varkofard7144]

Al, I can not overstate how much I admire your long term planning, infrastructure and system creation. No farm runs itself, but yours will be a strong case of working smarter and not harder!

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi.... AL and GINA THANKS 😊 you for showing your video homestead bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋👍👍👍

[@LloydJennett]

That door in sliding door is TOO COOL ! (Just like Gina says) WELL THOUGHT OUT AND DONE 😊.

[@richardoates7784]

You may have to remove the inside door handle to slide the wall toward the pig pen

[@StoneKathryn]

@@richardoates7784 I didn't think of that! You're right! Have a great weekend!

[@sherpa972]

Good thinking on the moveable wall. What are the ventilation plans? Mesh windows in doors and interior walls? Exhaust fans? Installing cameras in all the stalls to have a remote view?

[@freddien7]

That chicken coop looks great ,but wont they need some ventilation, it seems to be like a closed closet.🤓😁

[@beverlyparrott3890]

Gosh Al ,Gina and Miss Olivia that coop looks great. Have ya considered to get a company that has the pre built nester and when they lay eggs the eggs roll down and you go on outside and you have no broken eggs and clean. So in your case it would be inside of barn. The company would probably sponsor you. BEST NEST BOX They have different sizes like a large 48" Reversible Rollout Chicken Nest Box up to 50 hens the eggs roll down and are clean and you don't even have to go in coop . Accessories are poultry pads and original auto nest box opener. There other company's like HEN GEAR. WORTH A TRY.❤

[@marciad1633]

Yay! A Pluto and Tanner cameo. Take care everyone.

[@sandyscats4]

YAY!! Look who took both hands off the ladder, was higher up and leaned back to clap!❤❤😊

[@davefuelling7955]

You should put a small window or a panel you can open in the top of the coop door so you can look in without opening the big door.

[@clintanc6488]

I like the idea with a sliding door . But are a bit curious how it's gonna be rodent safe? Al was a bit afraid they would get in on the small gap in the tin in the walls. I'm working as a carpenter so I know it can be a bit tricky to make it sealed right

[@passinthru9757]

From the scenes of chickens fighting over mice on other homesteads, believe chicken coop will be "safe" from mice. Feed and hay maybe not so much.

[@TXNLaurenMcN]

@@passinthru9757 ~ Like Grandpa Doss farms? His chickens fight over who gets the mouse!

[@brucealvarez9263]

​@@passinthru9757 Mice aren't the problem for the chickens, small weasels are. And they can get in a very small hole.

[@robinminnesota5491]

Greetings from MN. Our winter is back. So ready to be outdoors more. Joke why did the chickens cross the road?? To get to the new chicken coop… Stay Safe All.

[@samvalentine3206]

Howdy Rob - thanks for the smile 1st thing!

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning Rob!🌄😊 It was chilly yesterday, only 5 degrees at sunrise, with a high of 15, But the sun was out and that is always good to see, 🌄😊

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Rob. I hear you. We are ready for spring too. We haven’t had very much sun this winter

[@annettegregg8654]

Good morning Rob

[@evalinawarne1337]

Good morning Rob, good chicken joke. L.O.L. it's snowing SE MICHIGAN ✨

[@kenkennethf1175]

Al, Go out in the woods and cut some 2inch saplings and install them diangly in the corners, the chickens will love the round roosting polls.

[@passinthru9757]

If the roosting poles have a flat surface, then the hens can cover their feet. Couple in Alaska build roosting that way to prevent frost bitten feet.

[@laurel7704]

Gina, “where’s your butcher shop?” lol (I literally laughed out loud)

[@TheKamakuraGardener]

Good Day from Kamakura, Japan! 🇯🇵 Hello Lumnah Acres Family & Friends! Have a great weekend everyone! 👍🏾🤩🐶

[@samvalentine3206]

Thanks, Robert - Good day to you as well!

[@ericwilliams1964]

Good morning Japan

[@evalinawarne1337]

Good day my friend 🇯🇵🐶 HARU 🐶😍❤🛐☕☕☕🌟

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning/evening Robert!🌄😊 have a great weekend as well!

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Japan

[@rhondallyons9842]

That is such a grand idea for cleaning you chicken coop bedding!!!! ❤❤

[@jamesbottiger4975]

Maybe use spray on car wax on the metal walls to help keep clean.

[@homesteadedman4784]

That's an awesome idea James!

[@hollyslaughter5505]

I’m looking forward to seeing how you seal under the sliding wall in the chicken coop to keep critters out.

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Holly.

[@ShalomShalom-d5c]

"Red sky in morning, a shepherd's warning" (bad weather). I ❤ building projects. Its been fun watching your builds the past 5 yrs. Coffee is great!!

[@TXNLaurenMcN]

@proudgrandma138 ~ I always heard it as "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors' delight." That's what happens when you take a little girl from Texas and raise her the rest of the way in Florida, lol. The same way a Buttermilk Sky became a Mackeral Sky.

[@terryplesko7474]

Matthew 16:2-3 Red sky

[@NanetteR]

@TXNLaurenMcN you're absolutely right. My father was Navy and that was their saying. 😊

[@williamcunha9136]

Hello Al & Gene, Chicken Coop turned out great. Did have a question; How are you going to ventilate the coop? Thank You

[@michaelfrancis7072]

Good morning from the UK. I like your building strategy, but I can't understand why you didn't cover the inside door with a clear perspex panel, or wire mesh, so you can keep an eye on the chickens from inside the barn.

[@LumnahAcres]

We’ll just open the door to look in on them. Have a screen area would only let more cold in

[@michaelfrancis7072]

Ok, thanks for the explanation, it makes sense.@@LumnahAcres

[@louroberts5567]

Al, GREAT idea of the moveable door wall! Gina!! Look at you at the top of the ladder! You're a CHAMP! This barn is coming along beautifully! Nice job, Lumnahs!

[@W7LDT]

The day you walk all the animals into the barn you will look like Noah loading the ark.

[@catgynt9148]

Whispering to the rabbits, “ only two, only two...”

[@neildriedger637]

😂😂

[@lauriesmith7793]

Al will need more animals for his ark!!

[@kristinesautter3529]

Like the idea of a sliding door to the coop. You could have used bypass door hardware and then you could have had doors on both the coop and pig pen. Also I'd use the barn door locking hardware over the tee nut. They are made to lock the door to the building. They sell those at tractor supply. As to the roost posts, where you put them is up to you. I would suggest that you add hinges to the wall side where you could lift them out of the way when you clean. A hook and eye to each side would secure them to the wall. Barn is coming along nicely. Thanks for bringing us along on your journey.

[@funnyfarmdad9997]

Al, the whole time I was watching the video I was saying ”Al move the pallet jack!” then I saw how the door works. That’s genius!!

[@skiphartman5445]

Plan on adding some security cameras so you can view happenings inside/outside your buildings. They are connected to your internet. Saves running to the barn and workshop so you can just roll over in bed and go back to sleep! LOVE WHAT U ARE DOING THERE!

[@tammyharper2514]

I love the wood door to the chicken coop but I'm afraid that is sealing it up way too tight. Moisture is going to be a problem. I thought you would put a screen door on. They are definitely going to need more airation. It's amazing how much moisture is in a chicken house. Love you work. I enjoy watching you guys!

[@StoneKathryn]

In the winter the moisture should stay down because of the dry air in the winter. Our barn is unheated and Our chickens are fine in the barn. Minnesota is pretty much the same type of winter as New Hampshire I think. Have a great weekend!

[@ellenfleury9015]

Gina you’re doing great on that ladder. I’m proud of you.

[@markscheurich2196]

Love the build Al! I wonder if you would’ve switched the floor plan and put the chicken coop and pig pen with the storage room in the middle, if you could’ve ran a track the whole way across the gap so each wall could’ve shared the track and have been opened one side at a time for your poo clean outs on either one of them? Slick set up either way!

[@BullDozerman1000]

You are doing a number one job on the hold Ban bill 👏 🎉 the chicken coop I like the way it is coming out. OK 👍 I will see you on the next videos 📹 may God Bless you and your family

[@mariesheppard3750]

Al what about vents for hot air in the chicken coop, it seems like it s to enclosed ? Great build in the new barn, love the sliding door, Will last for years

[@roberthuckeby2825]

I must say that when you hung that wall on the upper rail, I said 'Well, I'll be darned" What a great idea. Great work Al and Gina!!!

[@ricardodeangelo3851]

I absolutely love what you've done with the front wall of the chicken coop.

[@drassx615]

I keep expecting the video title we had moose in our barn. You are all blessed saints working out there in the cold and the wind.

[@samvalentine3206]

Good morning, Lumnah Family and friends... Hope everyone has a great weekend!

[@ericwilliams1964]

Hoodie Sam

[@samvalentine3206]

@@ericwilliams1964 - Wah gwaan, Lloyd?

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning Sam!🌄😊 thanks, and have a great weekend too!

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Sam

[@annettegregg8654]

Hi Sam

[@deanbrunner261]

I piece of sheet linoleum on the floor would save the concrete. Lowe's and Home Depot have remnants /partial damaged that are reasonable. That chicken coop definitely needs some vents

[@joebarnas6329]

Maybe a 2x8 or 2x10 around the interior walls of the chicken brroder/coop so that shovels and/or machines don't dent the tin. Also keeps bedding from getting into the seams

[@MelissaMalzahn]

The chickens coop door is a great idea. It was always a pain trying to clean out the coop w a little door.

[@ancimargarita2763]

how will you solve the gap under the sliding door? many little beasts can crawl under that space!!!! I just love the way all is looking, and it will be so easy to clean! you are doing an amazing job! as always...

[@Og-Judy]

Love the chickens. Still remember when you built New Yolk City from an old pop up camper. CWC . Crazy White Chicken🐔🌈 All those license plates from everywhere. "Pepe le pew"🦨 in the nest box. Missing Moose too. He was a character too.🐓🌈 the Second flock. Rooster Randy and the Chick-saw. I even remember the piggies in New HAMshire. So many memories of the old place...😃❤️

[@JacqueC-c4o]

Really enjoying seeing the scenery and animals. Also, I believe that is the highest I’ve seen Gina on ladder. 😊

[@sharpshorts]

Lumnahs -- Your ideas about the barn build set up are great ! Also heartening to see Gina facing her fear of heights and being able to feel a little better about climbing the ladder ! 😲

[@ednahartnett7407]

Al and Gina...just wanna say that your videos are so much fun to watch and all your expertise in all all that you both do. thank you and blessings to the family.

[@davidvanzuiden3906]

Al: just a suggestion. Grew up on the farm. We found, for all our animals, a good bed of corn cobs made spring clean up so much easier. The cobs absorbed the liquid and also make a loose bottom layer for the easy scooping.

[@StoneKathryn]

That sounds like a great idea. Hopefully he knows a farmer with those. Have a great weekend!

[@mackfisher4487]

Suggestion: Use silicon caulk between the floor and you're tin walls, to keep the muck out of the wall cavities.

[@stephenbembridge9118]

and you got good fertilizer for garden

[@skull4663]

Good morning Lumnah Acres ❤. I'm excited to see what you come up with to keep your coop clean. Everyone remember to smash the like button for the hardest working channel on U Tube love y'all 💯❤❤❤❤❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👏😁🤭

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning Skull!🌄😊

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning

[@evalinawarne1337]

Good morning ☕☕☕☕ 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 I agree 👍

[@plurmingo1]

You could do the roosting bar that’s on a lift like the ladder you had at the old homestead, where you just lift out of the way for you d birds and cleaning.

[@steveddavis]

Beautiful sunrise, at least you got it before the clouds moved in.

[@michaelchamberlain4618]

Roasting poles put them on a hen so you can fold them up when you're cleaning it with a tractor put a point on the ceiling to raise it up or on the wall or fold it up pulley system

[@karrolstover6773]

My grandmother used to say red in the morning farmers take warning, red at night farmers delight. Just a memory about her and red sky I felt like sharing, and chicken coop is looking great.

[@glennyork6800]

Kudos Al on an amazing award winning chicken coup doors.

[@russellwatters5891]

The build is going great, the barn looks fantastic! Looking forward to the fianality of animals in stalls..lol 😂😅 Love ya'll ❤️

[@cherylhecht6038]

Chicken coops have to have good ventilation. You have it totally enclosed. If you are going to have deep bedding, you need ventilation by having a vent or fan with fresh air exchange. Can you add that to the outer wall ? I would put chicken wire or hardware cloth over the outside vent.

[@Everettthebeagle]

Consider silicone sealing the bottom of the non-moving walls. No poo infiltration under and behind the tin.

[@crystallindsey3835]

Love the moving wall. I would have put chicken wire on the top have of the door. To see the chicken and more air circulating. ❤

[@craigwilcoxen1536]

With all the various critters you are going to be keeping in your barn, may I suggest you look into a manure spreader that you can pull behind your tractor or four wheeler.

[@smartineau5]

You are doing a great job on your barn You take some clear silicone and seal the floor tin so moisture doesn’t get underneath it and under the walls and cause mildew and bacteria growth and you can’t clean it and stop the smell. Urine overtime will really that bottom floor would wear a little silicone will stop that from happening.

[@TXNLaurenMcN]

I really enjoy watching you and Gina build! It's really coming together, Al. The animals will be inside before you know it.

[@richardmouat9070]

Al I need you to teach me how to make doors. That door for the coop looks better than the doors I bought from home depot for my house. The barn is looking great. Stay safe everyone

[@ede-jomadden8182]

Your sliding wall seems like a brilliant solution! Congrats!

[@ericroadking7564]

Wall and door came out great really nice idea!! Old Al always thinking lol Great job guys!! Stay blessed all!!

[@patriciamathis7042]

This is the most secure chicken coop I have ever seen. You could also make a replacement screen door for summer.❤❤

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning Al, Gina, Olivia, and Lumnah friends!🌄😊 Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.🥰

[@samvalentine3206]

Howdy Forrest - so far so good. Ditto for you, my friend!

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Forrest

[@annettegregg8654]

Good morning Forrest

[@forrestgump9576]

@@annettegregg8654 Hi Annette!😊

[@CCRider5312]

Good morning Gump, I pray you have a blessed weekend my friend! 😁👍🏼

[@70acres]

I see a Modern Homesteader Barn Building Guide in your future! God bless all y'all!

[@scottcusick6274]

Good morning from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It’s really amazing how much work you’ve completed on your barn. 🇺🇸

[@MsLittlemommy]

Beautiful sun raise. Thanks for showing the babies

[@petersimmel860]

I look at it as a huge jigsaw puzzle. That’s really starting to come together. It looks fantastic. Great job.

[@Coker-Time]

I believe the nesting boxes should be on the left side looking at the coop door. You could have an opening to collect eggs without going inside the coop. Also some type of auto feeder added to that wall would be good too. Need a window into the coop to see how the chickens are doing without opening the door. Or you mount a camera inside and have a monitor located at the house. This could be done for all your holding pens.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

That is how a indoor chicken coop should be made. Wow!!!!

[@bripeck]

Love that moveable wall! Should be a real time and labor saver!

[@LilYeshua]

Maybe a concrete curb around the inside perimeter so that the walls won't be damaged?

[@marioromero5068]

Good job Alfred, when it comes to your food production there’s nothing like cleanliness. Amazing!

[@StoneKathryn]

Just so you know, Al is short for Alcide. Have a great weekend!

[@dorisharrison9885]

Listen all you little chickens you will soon have your own coop and nesting rooms how sweet is that lol😅😊🇱🇷💜

[@rode792]

Love that coop door/wall. One suggestion, put a 2x8 or 2x10 across the inside to stop the bedding from going under the gap under the wall.

[@straubdavid9]

Good Saturday mornin New Yolk🥚City .... we got about 4" of snow🌨here in central Pa this morning. It looks like that front moved east and did not affect NH? Hope you have a nice weekend AL, Gina & Olivia .... good to see Pluto🐩 and Tanner🐕 playing in the snow☃ Take care🚜✏🔨📐🪚🚪✌🏻

[@Zeke-yv3nw]

Chicken coop looked great. I would put nest boxes on left side and have them where you can collect eggs without going in the coop.

[@robingreene8167]

Boy those chickens are going to think they are uptown.😁 Looking good. Have a great day.

[@billybrown1979]

you may have to put vents in the chicken coop for the smell and the toxic. try to put a tile floor make it easy to clean. check out IRON CRAFT for a auger for the front of a tractor. check out HERO to put out fires around the farm. check out barn of COG HILL FARM they had build. good job be bless and safe.

[@karenblanck7726]

This barn is just amazing and so clever! Did you consider putting a small glass or even screen window in the coop door so you can peek in? You could even add a wood slider shade if you wanted to completely close it off from outside light….think prison doors where the guard can slide open a small opening from the outside of the door. I would want to be able to peek in without opening door personally if there was some kind of commotion or just wanted to see how things were going inside the coop. I love how you’ve made it rodent/critter proof and that the whole wall can be moved for easy cleaning.

[@derekbarratt]

I must admit that I was thinking the same. They have no way of looking in. But I don't think that they can in the one being used at the moment. Also, it's going to be permanently dark in there, is that right ? and it's going to get mighty hot in the summer. The door in a door is a good idea, but I don't think the whole thing is finished yet.

[@judyyancey510]

I would put the nesting boxes on one of the inside walls away from the cold outside wall so the eggs don't freeze. Great job with the chicken coop. Have a great day

[@brucealvarez9263]

It is an unheated space, the eggs will still freeze if not collected in a timely manner for the temperature on any give day, just not quite as fast ;)

[@Linda-qi7oj]

You are amazing! The thought and innovation that the two of you have put into this barn and your entire homestead is remarkable. It’s been a pleasure to watch your inspiring videos. Thanks for inviting us along.

[@kaycox19]

Wow! Your chickens are going to love their new Cadillac!

[@scottb1167]

If you put the nesting boxes on the left hand wall could you not mount them through the tin so as you could have egg collection hatches in the area that you are going to use for storage ? Save going into the coop all the time

[@tonygrimes13]

That would seriously reduce the hay storage area.

[@scottb1167]

@@tonygrimes13 Depends how you did it and how much hay you want to store. If the boxes were inside and just access doors on the outside wall were flush, you just need a walkway to access the eggs. So a loss of a hay bail in width along the wall, no great shakes.

[@tonygrimes13]

@@scottb1167 Think about possibility of ha shifting & dropping on you!!!!!!

[@geoffreyjones2000]

Maryland here, we got snow again

[@rayv7010]

Hola Amigos! Nesting boxes on the left (facing the exteriir wall), and pls consider some kind of resilient flooring on which you can plce bedding. You can actually sweep out the coop at clean out.😊

[@STEVIEMUSIC2011]

BIG 'THUMB'S UP 'ON THE MUSIC!! LOVE THE SUNRISE....BIG SKY UP THERE!!

[@douglasbooker8330]

Good morning everyone! AL & Gina & Ms. Olivia. Tedious barn build and the areas for the animals should love it. God Bless

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Doug. We’re having fun

[@joansheppard6576]

Absolutely gorgeous sunrise behind the trees.

[@phillipgregory6517]

Jamaica 🇯🇲 here goood morning to you and your family very well thought out I like it be warm and safe

[@edwardwatson6289]

To take pressure off the bottom off the door, you may need to add some boards at least to the height of the bottom of the door. Fixed in grooves at each end with at least 1/2 inch space behind the sliding door. Speaking from experience of a similar chicken house. Keep up the good work.

[@cindyboard7816]

Good morning everyone!!🙏

[@forrestgump9576]

Good morning Cindy!🌄😊

[@LumnahAcres]

Gooooood Morning Cindy

[@beccalynn7934]

I would put the nesting boxes on the North wall. get the kind of nesting boxes that Keeping it Dutch got. then you don't have to go inside coop to get the eggs.