Step 3: We started on the wall & window:

The large window (laying flat on the floor of the coop) was purchased at a local auction for only $5.00! It was really quite the find, at over 5 x 3'10" and it's thickness is over 5" it really was the deciding factor for how tall the one end of the coop would be.

The biggest challenge then became moving the extremely cumbersome and heavy window. We knew that once unloaded from the van, we weren't going to be ab

le to move it very far; and that it would take framing to hold it up because we couldn't depend on either mom or son alone to hold it for very long whilst the other person worked.

The plan, as it played out, was to move the van as close to the coop as possible, park and unload directly onto the floor (as seen in the photo). It needed to be facing in the direction it would be installed when propped upright if possible.

In the photo, Patrick is using the hens laying box stand (the support frame as seen in ear

lier photos), to stand on... this shows how strong they were built, and it gave him a level surface to work from while moving along a side of the coop as it grew skyward.

Patrick is framing in "temporary" walls, they would basically help us hold up the window while we secured it. They would be moved later, and two would be eventually cut to size; but this was a work in progress and not a typical way to erect a wall or mount a window.

The window is mounted into place, it would define the entire end; and tallest wall of the coop. Allowing for appropriate amounts of both light and ventilation. A crank screen portion of the window allows for the chickens to have the air movement inside, even on rainy days; the window opens out and up, to allow for the water to run off the window.

You'll notice inside the coop, we have now placed the laying box platform and laying boxes; together for the first time. They had to be placed inside at this point, because the door wouldn't not accommodate their size later on. They needed an open wall to be placed in position. The coop length was determined by the length of the boxes we built (remember we built them first to allow for lots of space). The walls at this point (in the photo) are still all the same height, shortly after this, the walls were angled to allow for a slight pitch to the roof for water and snow run off.