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Building a Chicken Coop to help educate students at Redwood Montessori

Abstract

Redwood Coast Montessori, A school in Manila Ca and the Community Center of Manila have made agreements with the ENGR215 Fall 2014 class of Humboldt State University. The desire was to incorporate the students' class projects into the area of the Manila Community Center so that they may benefit the school and surrounding community. The Chicken Coop project's objective was to house and protect poulty that may be owned by the school. With children in mind, the coop should be easy to use and with a harsh coastal environment the school is located on, the structure must be durable.

Background

Problem Statement and Criteria

Specifications and a set criteria were the foundations of how this project was worked on and constructed. These aspects have been conjured up by the team Los Pollos Hermanos with keeping in mind the best intrests of the client Redwood Coast Montessori. Based on the school's needs the Chicken Coop and Run design must meet the criteria, and stay within the constraints listed below.

Criteria Weight Constraint
Safety 10 Structures must not cause injury to user
Chicken Survivability 9 Stuctures must protect poultry from enviornment and preditors
Duriability 8 Structures shall be built to last with the beach enviornment
Movability 8 Structure must have the ability to be relocated
Sustainablility 7 Structures shall be built with sustainable materials
Cost 7 The project shall not surpass $400 in budget
Ease of Use 6 The structures shall be easy to clean and use
Education 5 The project shall give children an education experience

Description of final project

Coop

The layout of the chicken coop is a simple 4’x6’x4’ box, framed out by 2”x2”. The walls and floor are constructed with ¾” sheets of outdoor grade lumber. The coop is being lifted off the ground with four concrete stands located at each corner of the coop. Giving the coop good ventilation, there are two 6”x12” closable openings positioned at the top corners of the side walls. Chickens will be able to enter the coop with a 1’x2’ door located on the front side. Once the chickens walk into the coop there are three 6”x9” x1’ box like nests placed on both sides. For easy retrieval of the possible eggs being laid in these nests, located on the exterior sides there are swinging doors connected to each individual nest. The doors will be able to pivot of a hinge placed at the top. A single bar that is locked in position and lying across these three doors act as a simple securing system eliminating multiple locks for the coop. Going back inside the coop towards the back there are two roosting bars at different heights giving multiple layers where chickens can roost. The roosting bars are also given a foot space in each direction giving the chickens optimum personal space. Both bars are places on U-shaped frames for the ability of removing them as you lift them up. To make the coop easier to clean, the back wall is turned into a door that is supported by two hinges on the side. Securing the back door so that it cannot be open by anyone is another lock.

Roof

The roof is a simple gable style design, measuring at a foot tall, it’s made out of the same material as the coop. To make the coop stand up against weather, roofing tile is laid along the top of the rood. This also helps with the insulation.

Run

The chicken run is laid out at 5’x10’x4’. As the main support, there is a framework made out of 2”x2”. The run itself is made out of chicken wire with one inch opening to give the chickens’ proper protection from predators. To add more protection, the wire runs a foot underneath the ground and buried to ward of predators digging. To get into the run, a 18”x5’ door is positioned on the side of the run. To connect the run to the coop, a 6” overlap of chicken wire is given and laid over the coop. A simple piece of lumber is then laid over the overlapping wire and the coop and screwed into place sealing off the inside of the run.


Costs

Design Costs

The design cost is the amount of time in hours that the Pollos Hermanos spent on this design project. The design hours were spilt into four categories: design report, group meetings, client meeting, and building. The total hours spent on the design project were 300 hours. The figure below represents the distribution of time and percentages.


Materials Cost

The cost of the materials used for the construction of The Good Ship Alice COOPer are outlined in table below. Due to a majority of materials being donated the total amount spent on this design project was $307. The projected retail cost of this design project is $621and is shown in table Below.


Maintenance Costs

The projected maintenance is based off of research done for this project in the literature review. The chicken coop must be cleaned inside and out once a month which consists on cleaning out each nest by replacing the hay and removing all traces of droppings on the inside and outside of the coop. The inside of the chicken coop will need to be retreated with the bees wax and olive oil mixture recommended once every five years to protect it against the costal dune environment. The cost of these are shown in table below.

Testing Results

No results yet

Instructions for Implementation and Use

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Building A Chicken Coop


Step 1: Assemble the floor frame
• Assemble two 6’ long 2”x2” beams, and two 4’ long 2”x2” beams as shown.
• Screw beams together as shown.

Step 2: Floor cross beams
• Attach two 4 foot cross beams as shown in figure.

Step 3: Assemble the upper portion of the frame
• Assemble two 6’ long 2”x2” beams, and two 4’ long 2”x2” beams as shown.
• Screw beams together as shown.
• Set the upper portion of the frame aside. The upper portion of the frame will be attached to the wall frame in step 5.

Steps 4 through Step 5 will require several people for each step. These steps will most easily be accomplished with nine people.

Step 4: Assemble the wall frame
• Attach the 4’ long 2”x2” members to the floor frame as shown in the figure. Once the frame piece has been attached it should be held in place until the upper portion of the frame has been completely attached to all the wall framing.

Step 5: Attach the upper portion of the frame to the wall frame
• This step will be most easily accomplished if by the five tallest people.
• Have four people pick up the upper portion of the frame.
• Set the upper portion of the frame on top of the wall’s frame members. Do not let go of the upper portion of the frame until it has been completely secured.
• The people holding the wall’s fame members in place should not let go of the wall’s frame members until the upper portion of the frame has been completely secured.
• Have the fifth “tall” person secure the upper portion of the frame to the wall’s frame members.
• Once the upper portion of the frame is secured to all four of the wall’s frame members, everyone can let go of the members they are supporting.

Step 6: Installing the stationary portion of the floor
• Attach the ¾ inch 4’x4’ plywood floor piece to the floor cross beams.

Step 7: Building the roof
• Assemble the diagonal roof members and the center longitudinal roof member.

Steps 8 will require several people. This step will most easily be accomplished with five tall people.

Step 8: Attaching the roof
• Have four people lift up the roof frame.
• Place the roof frame on top of the existing frame structure. Do not release the roof frame until the roof frame has been completely secured.
• Have the fifth person secure the roof frame to the already existing framework. Once the roof frame has been secured to all four corners, it can be released.

Step 9: Building the walls
• Cut out a 1½’ x 4’ section from each 4’ x 6’ wall piece. Cut out two 2’ x ½’ section from each 4’ x 6’ wall piece.
• Prepare to cut the 4’x5’ wall pieces. Measure and mark 4’ up on the 5’ sides. Find, and mark the midway (2’) point on the 4’ aspect closest to the 4’ marks you just made. Draw lines from the 4’ marks to the midway point. Cut the 4’x5’ wall pieces along these lines.
• Cut out a 1’ x 2’ from one of the 4’x5’ wall pieces.
• Cut the other 4’x5’ wall piece as shown in the figure. The lower 4’x4’ square will become the large door on the back of the coop.
• Attach the roost holders to the interior of the 4’ x 6’ walls
• Attach the run frame holders to the exterior of the 4’ x 5’ wall which will be facing the run.

Step 10: Attaching the walls
• Attach the walls to the frame. Do not attach the 4’x4’ door at this time.

Step 11: Building and installing the chicken nests
• Use ¾ inch plywood. The nests are 1‘6” x 1’ 4” x 1’6” (depth x width x height). Assemble the nests as shown in figure.
• Attach the nests to the floor of the coop as shown in figure.

Step 12: Chicken ramp
• Use the 1’x2’ piece of plywood removed from the 4’x5’ wall piece.
• Attach ¼” x 1” x 1’ pieces of wood to the 1’x 2’ piece of wood.
• Attach hinges to 1’x 2’ ramp. Now attach the other side of the hinges to the floor of the coop.

Step 13: Run door
• Using two 2½’ , and two 4’ pieces of 2”x 2” wood, assemble the run door as shown in the figure. Attach wooded 2” x 2” diagonal members into the doorframe. Cut a piece of 2½’ x 4’ chicken wire, and staple this to the door. Attach door hinges.

Step 14: Run frame • Dig a 1’ deep trench for the chicken wire and run frame.
• Place the 5’ metal poles into the postholes. Put them 1’ into the ground.
• Attach horizontal run frame members to the top of the vertical run frame members. The 10’ horizontal members should rest in the holder against the coop.
• Attach 5’ horizontal member along the ground. Attach the 4’ vertical member to create the doorframe.
• Attach the run door hinges to the run doorframe.

Step 15: Attaching the chicken wire to frame and coop
• Wrap the chicken wire around the run frame, making sure the chicken wire extends 1’ into the ground.
• Attach the chicken wire to the run frame and the coop.
• Cover the place where the chicken wire is attached to the coop with a thin piece of wood, to protect people from scratchy wire.

Step 16: Introduce your chickens to the coop and enjoy.

How to use the Alice COOPer chicken coop and run

Collecting eggs

  • Get the key for the nesting doors bar locks.
  • Chickens might try to jump out when you open the nesting doors, so be ready for this.
  • Unlock the padlock and slide the securing bar out.
  • Do not open nest door until you are ready to collect eggs.
  • When you are ready to collect eggs, open the nest door, and collect eggs from the nests.
  • If a chicken is in the nest do not shoo or push the chicken away. Simply close the nest door and try the next door.
  • Secure the nests once you are done collecting eggs.
  • Slide the securing bar through the slots. Put the padlock through the securing bar’s hole and secure the lock.

Using the Large Rear Door to the coop

  • Get the key for the large rear coop door.
  • Chickens might try to jump out when you open the large rear coop door, so be ready for this.
  • Unlock the coop door lock.
  • Open the coop door. Watch out for chickens trying to jump out.
  • Secure the large rear coop door when you are finished inside the coop, by putting the lock back in place and locking the lock.

Going inside the run

  • Get the key for the run door padlock.
  • Unlock the run door padlock, and carefully pull the run door open.
  • Enter the run. Close the door behind you.
  • If you are five feet tall or taller, be careful not to bump your head while inside the run.
  • When leaving the run carefully close open the run door.
  • Watch out for chickens as you open the run door.
  • Exit the run.
  • Close the run door, watching out for chickens as you carefully close the run door.
  • Do not slam the coop door closed.
  • Put doorframe latch over the door’s D ring.
  • Put pad lock through D ring.
  • Close the lock and make sure the lock is secured.

How to maintain the Alice COOPer chicken coop

Cleaning the removable roosts

  • Open the large access door to the coop. One at a time, lift the roosts up and out of the roost holders.
  • Clean chicken poo off of the roosts.
  • Place the roosts back into their holders.

Cleaning the removable floor

  • Open the large access door to the coop, if not already open.
  • Slide the removable floor member out of the coop.
  • Clean poop off of the removable floor.
  • Return the clean floor to the coop by sliding the floor member back into the coop.

Cleaning the nests

  • Access the nests from the interior of the coop, or through the nest doors.
  • Remove bedding. Check for poop. Clean up any poop. Sweep up other debris.
  • Replace bedding. Secure the coop when you are done.
  • Dispose of bedding and debris in the compost or in the trash.

Maintaining the exterior of the coop and the run

  • If desired, re-stain and/or weatherproof the exterior of the chicken coop according to schedule provided by the manufacturer of the stain/weatherproofing material you have chosen to use.
  • Check for loose screws. Tighten loose screws.
  • Check the chicken wire for developing holes and frayed chicken wire. Mend frayed chicken wire to prevent users from getting poked. Patch developing holes with galvanized chicken wire.

Moving the Alice COOPer Chicken Coop

Preparing to move the Alice COOPer coop and run

  • Moving the coop will require:

1.) Four strong and healthy adults. Attempting to move the coop with less people may result in damage to the coop, or injury to movers.
2.) Two eight foot metal poles, or strong wooden poles
3.) Shovels
4.) Gloves will also be handy

  • Choose a location that you would to move the coop and run to.
  • Make sure the new location is big enough for the coop and the run.
  • Grade the new location to make it flat, and dig trenches for the chicken wire and the run’s framing. Dig the trenches two feet deep.
  • Make sure you have a clear path to the location to which you be moving the coop and the run.
  • Remove all chickens from the coop and run. Put chickens in a safe place during the move. Don’t forget to give your chickens food and water in their temporary space

    .

Moving the coop

  • Remove the pieces of wood connecting the chicken wire to the coop.
  • Remove the staples connecting the chicken wire to the coop.
  • Carefully remove the chicken wire from the coop.
  • Make sure the chicken door and the large coop door are secured, so they do not open up while the coop is being moved.
  • Place poles underneath coop beneath points shown in figure.
  • All four people should lift the poles at the same time. Once the poles touch the bottom of the coop continue to lift the poles and the coop.
  • Move the coop to the desired location.

Moving the run

  • Be careful of pokey, scratchy chicken wire. Wearing gloves can help prevent pokes and scratches.
  • Dig dirt/sand away from the buried chicken wire. Chicken wire is buried 1 ½ feet deep.
  • Disconnect the chicken wire from the run poles by removing the chicken wire pole attachments.
  • Remove the chicken wire and set it aside in a safe place where people will not get scratched.
  • Dig up the buried metal run frame posts. As you dig up the metal run frame posts, be careful not to let the posts fall and hit someone.
  • Remove the run frame posts from the ground.
  • The portion of the run frame containing the run door has a slightly different configuration than the other run frame components, so it’s removal will be different. The portion of the run frame that has the run door should be removed as a unit. If this portion of the run frame falls, or twists the run door may be damaged. Removing and moving this portion of the run frame will be most safely accomplished with four or more people.

Discussion and next steps

References

See Help:Footnotes for more. Template:Reflist

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