My latest build.

The Barnevelders need a new place of their own. I'm calling it "The Cheep Motel". It's been the least expensive and easiest housing I've built so far. I still have to close in the ends of the actual house and add some 2x4 welded wire in the front end and sides but it's coming along nicely.

Interesting - will this be stationary or mobile? I assume hail storms are rare where you are - I am reluctant to use metal roofing, live in Colorado where we get at least a few a year, usually at least one pretty major one. Love the sturdiness of the cattle panels for framing though, how did you attach it to the frame? I hope you post more pictures as you progress.

Pozees, this will be a stationary coop. We have the occasional hail storm here. I have metal roofing on every building on the farm. Never had any problems. I attached the metal to the panels with 2x4's that I ripped into two pieces. I notched them 3/16" deep to match each bar on the cattle panel then used roofing screws to attach them lengthwise. Here's a picture.

Thank you for the picture and detailed answer, I am impressed - you made a lot of notches! The metal holds up very well in hail, it's just that it makes so much noise. My DH was in our metal barn during the worst hail storm we have ever had three years ago and it was deafening - I ran over after the first 15 minutes with a denim shirt to protect his head so he could come back to the house, and we were shouting to each other and could not hear one another at all when under that metal roof. The hail continued another 15 minutes after that, and left my best-ever vegetable garden looking like a nuclear wasteland. Luckily (knock wood) we have not had another that bad since but every year we get at least one or two and I would worry about the poor girls' ears.

On another note, I see you have three turkeys and I am curious about whether you think they differ significantly in care from chickens, and whether you house them together. I know nothing about turkeys save the tiny bit of info I got from a local keeper who said the white turkeys are very difficult to get from day old to feathered, but once they reach that stage they aren't too difficult to raise.

I'm not Creed but I think Turkeys are Easy! We've bought poults and raised them up a few times and personally I think they are as easy, if not easier to raise than chicks/chickens. They certainly have more personality! LOL
You can house them together (and I have) but it is recommended not to. The primary reason is because of a diseases called Blackhead which chickens can carry and which will make Turkeys sick. However in my limited experience it can be prevented/treated with Cayenne Pepper mixed in their feed.
I suspect that the comment that was made to you about the difficulty in white turkeys may have been said in regard to Broad-breasted White Turkeys. They are the Cornish-cross of the turkey world and can be more difficult because of their unusually large size. If you can get just a few I would recommend giving them a try. I think you would enjoy having them.

Pozees said:

On another note, I see you have three turkeys and I am curious about whether you think they differ significantly in care from chickens, and whether you house them together. I know nothing about turkeys save the tiny bit of info I got from a local keeper who said the white turkeys are very difficult to get from day old to feathered, but once they reach that stage they aren't too difficult to raise.

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Yea the metal is pretty loud with the hail, It happens maybe once or twice a year but usually it's not very big.
I need to update my signature line. I sold the three turkeys I had and then hatched some from their eggs. I started with four and ended up with one that stayed alive. I think sometimes turkeys sitting around thinking of ways to die. The one I have left stays with the chickens. He is very easy going and really has personality. His name is Turk Mcgerk.

Jeanette56 said:

I'm not Creed but I think Turkeys are Easy! We've bought poults and raised them up a few times and personally I think they are as easy, if not easier to raise than chicks/chickens. They certainly have more personality! LOL
You can house them together (and I have) but it is recommended not to. The primary reason is because of a diseases called Blackhead which chickens can carry and which will make Turkeys sick. However in my limited experience it can be prevented/treated with Cayenne Pepper mixed in their feed.
I suspect that the comment that was made to you about the difficulty in white turkeys may have been said in regard to Broad-breasted White Turkeys. They are the Cornish-cross of the turkey world and can be more difficult because of their unusually large size. If you can get just a few I would recommend giving them a try. I think you would enjoy having them.

Click to expand...

I've had royal palm turkeys before. Never again. My tom turned mean and the hens were quite boring and not hardy at all. After the tom flew for my face and tried to spur my eyes out one day, I said enough was enough. Some people may like turkeys but they are not for me.

I really like your Cheep Motel! I like the design of hoop coops and have been thinking of building one very similar to yours. The round tops on them seem to keep out rain and weather better than a flat roof on a rectangular pen.

It's finally finished.


front view.


side view


Nest box access door


Sliding pop door.
This has been the easiest housing I've built so far. There are a few things I would have done different that would have made it even easier.

good job creed! now that is it!!! no more!! we are done.....right?? ; )