• Last updated 5/5/13 by dee4012

  Our coop and run took about a month to finish for our new additions.  We used the plans from Purina Mills and created our cute little 4 x 4 coop and added an 8 x 4 attached run. A good part of what we needed came from reclaimed lumber and leftover supplies from various projects.  Before building, I estimated that the coop, run, and finishing touches would cost about $600.  After scrounging through what we had left over from other projects, acquiring some used materials from relatives and the local used lumber store (Urban Miners), and several trips to Home... read more

• Last updated 5/8/13 by Lunachick22

Hi, With all the help I have received from other members posting such valuable information I thought I would do the same. Our inspiration came from "Miss Jenny's Chick-quarium" So a special thank you to them. I am new to chickens so I wanted a brooder that the chicks could stay in until we moved them to the coop, I also needed it to be easy to clean and fun for my family to watch the chicks grow.   Brooder Dimensions: 2'30" tall 25" Deep and 4' Wide. We used plywood, 2x4's and plexi glass in the construction. We also put a hinged lid on top which we covered in... read more

• Last updated 5/5/13 by StonyCreekCC

The base is 2 massive pallets nailed together. There is hardware cloth on top of the pallet. the frame is made of 2 x 4s. The highest point inside is 4 feet with a pitch for the roof. The front has chicken wire on the top. You can see there are hinges that allow the chicken wire to be covered or exposed depending on the weather. There are ventilation areas in the pitch on either side. It will be covered with hardware cloth and be open all the time. Here is the back of the coop.  There are 16 nest boxes (way more than what I need but hey I might end up... read more

• Last updated 5/4/13 by featherweightmn

Wow, we love seeing all the homemade coops on this site -but, we opted to buy one already made. Just didn't have the time, or patience to make one. Also, we wanted a "good quality" coop that would last through the ages. So, thankfully we bought one made by the Amish(or Mennonite society -not sure which) community. We were so impressed by the attention to detail and craftsmanship! For $900 (or so) dollars total we were able to get extras like windows, a run, tin roof(or tile if desired) in any paint color -or stain for the same price! (we added the flower boxes)... read more

• Last updated 5/4/13 by featherweightmn

Wow, we love seeing all the homemade coops on this site -but, we opted to buy one already made. Just didn't have the time, or patience to make one. Also, we wanted a "good quality" coop that would last through the ages. So, thankfully we bought one made by the Amish(or Mennonite society -not sure which) community. We were so impressed by the attention to detail and craftsmanship! For $900 (or so) dollars total we were able to get extras like windows, a run, tin roof(or tile if desired) in any paint color -or stain for the same price! (we added the flower boxes)... read more

• Last updated 5/4/13 by ocd123

    The chicken Mansion   We decided to build a new chicken coop much bigger than our last to hold 6 birds.  So we watched quite a few chicken videos on youtube and found some really good ideas. We designed the coop in two sections so that we can close off one side to make it easier to clean out.     We have two sliding doors which close off the sleeping area/nesting boxes and second section to the coop.To open and close these doors we have installed a pulley system which is secured by a wooden toggle and metal hook. (Below:)         The... read more

• Last updated 5/4/13 by swainton

My daughter had ben asking for chickens for almost a year. I'm a pushover but it took a long time for my wife to relent. We went and checked out some other chickens and coops in the area to make sure it was something we really wanted to do. Once deciding we were going to raise chickens I got the book "Raising Chickens for Dummies". It was great. I didn't do any other reading other than that and this site helped a lot as well.      Here we are unloading the lumber. I think I spent about $300 in my first run to Home Depot. I think I have spent about $700 total... read more

• Last updated 5/3/13 by kkidsmom

Getting the pallets: $1 each at the local green recycling/compost place. Free found stacked down at our local lake and with permission of the county commissioner. Free from my work, our hospital gets from 2-5 per day. Pallets are more easily taken apart with a wrecking saw and a nails in wood blade rather than hammers and crow/pry bars. The latter tend to split the wood too much.   Planning the design: Taking after my father and his building projects, the plans are all in my head (causing my DH no little amount of stress) and have some fluidity as we go. Having... read more

• Last updated 5/3/13 by kkidsmom

Our First Coop: With little building experience and a plan modified and borrowed from TSC my DH and I began our coop building venture. The finished product. Something old - the crate and pallets used for a porch and steps. Something new the coop itself. Something borrowed the dog kennel panels and the basic idea for the coop. Something blue the old table in the corner provides shade and shelter while giving them an outdoor roost.   This is just the beginning. I will add more pics and explaination soon. read more

• Last updated 5/3/13 by jennyp0208

We've been wanting chickens for years but didn't think it was possible on our small, in-town lot. After some careful law researching and thinking, we decided to give it a go! We knew we wanted a coop and fully enclosed run. Although we plan on free ranging some, we live between two schools with a big playground and a 3rd school only a few blocks away, plus the normal collection of stray and pest animal, so it's necessary for us to have a space where they don't HAVE to be let out to range.   We started with this idea:... read more