Help constructing coop walls.

I went to home depot to purchase materials for my coop walls. My intent is to insulate the walls and after costing out framing, plywood x2 each panel it was going to cost a small fortune.
Any suggestions for cost effective walls?

Why not just price a lawn barn, already assembled? At first blush, they look a tad pricey, but when you really figure the 2x4s, the plywood, the shingles, nails, door hardware, hinges, and even flooring, you might just as well get delivered on a motorcycle trailer and done.

Insulation isn't really "needed" in most cases.
You will always come out cheaper to build yourself rather than buying prebuilt.

Plywood is best for the outside, but you could use cheaper paneling or OSB on the inside where it will stay dry.

Spacing the 2 X 4's on a 2 ft center can save a little there, and using metal instead of shingles for the roof is cheaper also

You just have to accept that new material prices are high, or scale back the plans to fit the budget

I don't know where you live or why you feel you need to insulate. Many of us don't. If it is extremely hot, using wire instead of something solid on some of the walls would probably be more effective.

I also don't know how "cute' yours needs to be. I don't mean that in any derogatory way. Some people live in neighborhoods where the coop has to look really nice, where some of us live where it does not really matter. The chickens really don't care but some of us legitimately do.

For cost effective walls, I suggest you look on Craigslist if you are in the US. Sometimes you can get pretty decent looking material. A really cost effective material might be old roofing metal. It probably has nail holes in it so I would not use it for a roof, but one side of my coop is made out of that.

Another possibility for materials is a local recycling place. Many places have those. I've seen several people on here talk about getting windows there. I've dropped off opened partial cans of paint at a place like that.

You don't need any interior walls or insulation. This is a chicken coop, remember. For the outside walls, I used a product called Smartside on my coop. Was cheaper than plywood or T-111. It has a couple of different looks to it, mine looks like old barn siding. Has a guarantee too. Been on the coop a couple of years now with NO problems, looks as good as the day I finished the coop. I'll agree with BearFootFarm with framing on 2ft centers, saves money, and works out well on a chicken house. As far as inside walls go, What you are really doing is giving mice and who knows what else, a nice safe hidden place to set up their own housekeeping. Pests like mice can be enough of a problem without GIVING them a secure place out of sight to hide.
Jack

i've got a 6x8 coop........ don't worry about insulation or 2 ft center studs...... i've got a stud on each end and 1 in the middle, a piece of 3/4 inch plywood is my wall...... simple n cheap......

• Fast
• Cheap
• Quality

Pick two from the list.

Remember you get what you pay for.
I deceided to get my own chickens when I was hired to fix up a prefab coop with a leaky roof and falling off nest box.

darin367 said:

i've got a stud on each end and 1 in the middle, a piece of 3/4 inch plywood is my wall...... simple n cheap......

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As long as you never get snow or wind. In Wyoming we have lots of both. It would save on cost, but is sketchy.

24" centers will save one stud per wall over 16" centers.

Thanks all for your replys...what about NY weather?...-20 at times in winter and +100f in summer...insulation and good ventilation?

Rich Marshall said:

Thanks all for your replys...what about NY weather?...-20 at times in winter and +100f in summer...insulation and good ventilation?

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Chickens have their OWN insulation, They really don't need any more from us. Open air coops like mine were used, back in the day, up throughout Maine and into Canada. They were not heated or insulated. Put more thought into proper ventilation and floor space for the birds, and don't worry about them getting chilly.
Jack