post your chicken coop pictures here!

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Welcome to BYC. That's a nice looking coop. I have found that a good electric fence is good for lots of things. I didn't know that it would stop bears but it stops about anything else.

My dad (and me I suppose) just a bit lazy so we took the easy option and just bought a coop.
So here it is, our brand new 'Windsor Chicken Coop'

Just over month now till the chicks can start enjoying it!

Hey everyone! I have seen some really cool coops on this thread!!! Now, I'm trying to make a better coop for these guys


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Anyway, we are willing to buy a coop if we absolutely have to, but we are really liking the idea of turning this old pool deck into a chicken coop! As you can see, a pool use to be there, but a big storm tore it down.
We have this to work with and tons a wood. Does anyone think they would be able to give me a little bit of advice on how to turn this into a better little home for my little guys?






I see potential, some other people have said this too, I just don't know where to start...

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It looks like you have most of the materials here to make a good sturdy coop. I would disassemble it since the shapes will be different. A good wrecking (Crow) bar would do that pretty well. Save the Lattice for use on the run or for walls on the coop. The 4X4 posts can be used for the coop supports and for posts for a run. I would start by figuring out how much lumber I have to work with for flooring and walls and size it to best fit that. Mine is 4X8 just perfect for a sheet of plywood and commercial siding. Mine is about 28" off of the ground. That allows me to place feed underneath and they can use that area for dust baths and to get out of the rain when they are outside. Lay out a rectangle where you want the coop on the ground . There are 2 ways to make sure it is square. One is to measure diagonally from corner to corner like you ar making an X. Both legs of the X should be equal. If they aren' t adjust the layout until they are. You can also use a 3X4X5 triangle. From the outside corner of the Angle measure 3ft on one leg and 4 ft on the other and it will be 5 ft across from the end of the 3 ft side to the end of the 4 ft side. Do the math 3 squared+ 4 squared = 5 squared. You will need some help with this part. I set my posts on 2 inch solid blocks though you can use bricks or other solid material to set the posts on. Take a 4X4 post and measure how high you want the floor. You can use some of the lumber that holds the deck flooring up to support the coop floor. Cut that lumber to length and attach it to the outside of the post perpendicular to the post using a square to check it. Next stand the second post up on the block and nail it to the second post using a level to get it level. A little slope is good to help water drain off. Some pieces of lumber nailde near the top of the post and to a stake in the ground will help to support those posts. Remember to keep them vertical using a level.Set up the 3rd post keeping the corner sqaure. Next set up the fourth post and nail up the last 2 support boards. Now check to see that it is square and the posts are vertical. Now nail more boards like the ones on the bottom across the top front and back. Make the back about 8or so inches shorter than the front so the roof will drain. The nail the boards on the side across the top cutting them to match the angles on the posts The flooring can be made from the deck flooring and the walls can be made from the remainder of the deck flooring or other siding. The lattice can be used for walls or it will be real good to go around the bottom of the coopto keep the chickens underneath. Rafters can be cut from pieces of left over lumber. If you don't have anything solid for a roof you may have to buy some roofing. The cheapeast and easiest is the corrugated roofing sheets. The hardest part is getting the poles set up vertical with the boards attached around them. Use any remaining 4X4s to support fencing for the run. I hope this is sufficient to get you started.

This on the left side of my garage - side yard we didn't use, now it serves a purpose. Started this coop in April 2013 , done 3 weeks later. Still fine tuning it , have added a motorized door on a timer which is now located to the left of bigger door on the left. External nest boxes work great!

This was a chip rack at work I am gonna turn it into a chick brooder in the garage. Just need to get some hardware cloth and build the little cages for the shelves..

LN2008 said:

Here's mine!. It is made almost entirely out of reclaimed or repurposed wood and hardware. Enjoy!

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i saw it!! My son does a lot with pallets so I may have to forward your URL out to him! He has four kinds of chickens. I loved it....thanks for sharing!!!

Oramman87 said:

This was a chip rack at work I am gonna turn it into a chick brooder in the garage. Just need to get some hardware cloth and build the little cages for the shelves..

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Fantastic! I couldn't have passed that up either.

My father in law says it's redneckanearing lol. I call it broke and it was free... Lol

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Redneckanearing is the old word for building something out of junk. I think the proper word to day is repurposing. That's using a buzz word that is much more fashionable. The outcome is the same no matter which term you use. I think it was just brilliant that you repurposed all of that perfectly good material.