Chicken Coop - Phase 1

Our chicks are getting bigger, and were starting to explore out of their box we built earlier....time to get them a new home outside! We've completed the first part of our coop project -- this is the 8x8 chicken coop that will house the meat production birds. For now, since they are small, they'll all fit in here. The next project will be a 4x8 layer house, or the run (which will be shared between both houses). I'm betting the run will be next.

Here's a perspective on how big this thing is. I wanted to make it short enough that it couldn't be seen over the fence, I think I got that goal. Some of the pics are a bit fuzzy, but you will get the idea...

Here's the first pic, a view from the back porch. The layer house will face this coop and will stand at the end of the boxcar on the left side of the pic. the run will be between the two, covering the area you see the barrels at now.

Excuse my mess on that one, we're still trying to dis-assemble the old fence (to use materials for the coops!) Maybe we'll have enough as-is and we won't have to tear any more of it apart!

Here's a closeup view. 2'x1' window on the south side (your right), 2'x2' window on the front. Our pop door is 1'x1'.
Here's a front-view...you can see the third window on the north side, it's also 1'x2'. There's another one on the back, same size. The water jug you see is suspended from the ceiling so they don't kick up as much bedding into it.
Here's the chicks -- all happy. I leave both heat lamps on at night until it warms up in the morning, they aren't cold in the picture, just a bit startled...