I've haven't had pigeons in it very long but one of the females is already sitting on a couple eggs so hopefully I'll have some young ones to home to my coop by next spring/summer. It was a lot of fun and the design was pretty efficient so it wasn't too spendy either......hope you get some ideas from this for one of your own!!!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Gettin' started....two sheets of plywood are enough for all four walls.
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P901262220080901_114407_14.jpg)
Put 2x4s on the bottom to stengthen the legs and support the floor....
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P901262420080901_114430_16.jpg)
Put in a couple 2x4s across the back to support the shelves and put in the floor.....(dauther thought I should turn it into a playhouse!!)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P907270820080907_131305_72.jpg)
Put in the nesting box divider and rest of the supports for the shelves....
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P907271020080907_184848_74-1.jpg)
I subcontracted out the tough stuff.....
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P914272120080914_161217_02.jpg)
Cut the doors with the circular saw, added some perches and hinges and then cut them the rest of the way open with a jig saw (much easier that doing hinges on a loose door)....
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P926276420080926_203158_04.jpg)
I painted the inside and out while it was open.....(not that it matters that much :roll: )
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PA03280720081003_122407_03.jpg)
I screwed on the top and built the aviary and loaded it with birds.....
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05294920081105_131412_01.jpg)
I put plywood on both sides and and across the top of the aviary so I only had to use one roll of mesh and doors on both sides of the wire cage for easy access......
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05295020081105_131614_02.jpg)
From the door on the right side.....large "bullet feeder and grit container.
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05296220081105_142328_14.jpg)
From the door on the left side.....large galvanized drinker with stand and heater (cord goes out the door in the floor).
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05295520081105_142127_07.jpg)
One happy camper is already sitting on a clutch so we must have done something right with the nesting bowls and pine needles.....
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05295220081105_132137_04.jpg)
Pigeon on the right has feathers on her feet. Not sure what kind she is but she's super friendly so I think we'll keep her.......
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05295620081105_142133_08.jpg)
I'll give ya one guess why there's a brown ring in the grass around the coop...... :roll:
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/PB05296920081105_143143_21.jpg)
Don't take these as gospel but this is what I came up with after running a quick tape on my coop.....
(I used 5/8ths plywood)
Walls -
Cut from 4x8' sheets (96")
Front - 52"H makes Back - 44"H and 48"W
Sides (cut from same sheet by starting at 52" and cutting at an angle to the 44" mark on the other side)
52"H in front and 44"H in back and 48"W
Roof 56" x 48"W
Floor 48" x 46 3/4"
Nest boxes -
Middle Support for boxes - 14" Deep and 43 1/4" H in front angling down to 41" H in back (cut using side as template for angle)
Box platforms - 23 1/2" W by 14" D (Box heights = 14"H)
I used 1x4s for supports under each box (on sides and middle support), 2x4s supporting box bottoms in back, 1x4s (or 1x3s) along front of the nest boxes
Frame
Legs - 8 foot 2x4s (4 each)
Floor/Ceiling support will take four 2x4s
Aviary overall = 28"Tx33D"x36"W (Mesh roll used = 36" x 10')
Frame is 2x2s
4 - 36" for top/bottom on front and back
8 - 30" front to back
7 - 25" supporting roof/floor
plywood across top of aviary - 37 1/2" W - 12" D
plywood on sides of aviary - 28"H - 16 1/2" D
Doors
Aviary - 20"T x 11"W
Side - 26"T x 17"W
Trap door and door to aviary - 10"T x 12"W
Bottom - 10"T x 10"W
Easy perches = 5" 1x4 screwed to end of 4" 2x4
**Update**
I have several birds laying eggs/hatching chicks so the coop is working well.....
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P510435420090510_184619_31.jpg)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P510435220090510_184530_29.jpg)
A couple new additions (#5/#6)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P510435320090510_184557_30.jpg)
I added a "Settling Cage" per OhioGSP's thread (pieced together from some wire fence I had sitting around) to get my birds oriented to the trap door without having to let them out just yet. They're diggin' it big time......
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P510434920090510_184007_26.jpg)
Here's a pic from their first release away from the coop......
![Image](http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/Nebraska01/P530452720090530_182432_17.jpg)