My Little Hoop Coop

[fuzzi]

Saturday, Part 2:

I measured, cut, and attached two sections of 2x4 to the top of the door frame. Then I attached the left upright to the top of the door frame.

After I adjusted it slightly to plumb I added a screw at the bottom to secure it. Then I added the right upright in the same manner.

I had a little leftover stain from doing the siding, so I applied it to the door frame.

Looks nice!


I cut off the uneven areas of the siding, and snipped off the ends of the zip-ties.

The back is done.

Next is the hardware cloth. I'm enlisting my DS for that, he's been forewarned.

 

[Baymule]

It’s not only structural and sound, but it’s pretty too! You are doing great!

 

[fuzzi]

It’s not only structural and sound, but it’s pretty too! You are doing great!

Thank you. I have a couple jugs on hand. I try to stain the steps once a year, and also slap a coat on the shed around the same time.

 

[fuzzi]

Sunday afternoon...

Between yesterday's outdoor toils and overnight time changes I made it to church but didn't have much energy or ambition to start the hardware cloth part of the build. But I made myself go outside to putter.

I cleaned the current waterers, removed the rubber tub waterers, scraped the A-frame roost, cleaned out the nest boxes, added straw, straightened a section of fencing by the coop, and raised the shade cloth so the chickens get a little more afternoon sun. Not hard work, just puttering.

When I went over to the second coop I noticed that I had missed adding a couple zip-ties on the back panel. I tried trimming it a little, but messed up.

I located a small piece of wood and attached it to the back panel. The 1 1/4" screws are just a tad too long, but I will go back later and add an extra washer, which should fix the issue.

I still wanted to do more, so I decided to add the roost. I found out with the first hoop coop that it's easier to do that before adding the hardware cloth.

I needed a 6' 2x4. I found it, attached to that previously mentioned sheet of plywood.

After I removed the 2x4.

The second 2x4 is going to be more difficult to remove, it appears that the screws are stripped. Oh well.

I attached the roost with hanging straps.

Once it was fairly level I added a second strap on both ends, for stability.

I'll devise something else as "steps" to the roost.

 

[fuzzi]

It was a lovely Saturday, calm before the expected storms, and my DS was available to assist with the build, so outside I went!

On sale at TSC this morning, woo!

Two rolls of 48" x 50' hardware cloth were removed from the shed.

Note: I highly recommend that you snip the HWC packaging wire on either side of where it is attached, in the middle of the roll, so it doesn't unfurl itself before you're ready to deal with it!

Using a block to keep the HWC from rolling back, I measured out 20', that's 16' for the hoop and 18"-24" apron on either side. I cut it, one square at a time then unrolled another 20' on top of the first. I did double check with the tape measure!

Before cutting off the second 20' section I like to run a zip-tie through the end of the remaining part of the roll, to hold the last 10' together.

Repeat for the second roll of HWC.

Now came the assistance from DS, sorry...no photos!

He grabbed one end of the top 20' HWC section, I grabbed the other end, and we placed it over the top of the hoop, then slid it to the back. After checking that there was a 24" apron on each side we slid the HWC about 3" past the wooden back.

I secured it in place with a couple zip-ties, then we repeated the process of adding the HWC over the hoop. I made sure to overlap each section of HWC a couple inches over the previous section, then securing it with a couple zip-ties.

It came up short at the door end, but as it came up short on the first hoop coop I anticipated it. I still have two 10' sections of HWC that I will use for the remaining portion.

At this point it was clouding up, so I quickly secured the HWC at the back end, starting near the top, tightening the HWC with each zip-tie so it lays flat.

Now just comes the tedious fastening of the HWC to the cattle panels, using zip-ties, and then attaching it to the wood frame with deck screws and fender washers.

And cutting the ends off all those zip-ties!