Hooping it up!

[reptileink]

About 2 years ago (wow, time goes fast) I put up a thread about how I was going to use an old dog pen to build a coop/yard with.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/574140/my-new-project-elevated-coop-from-dog-pen

We kind of shelved the idea as cost was an issue and committment to the chickens, but my wife is hardcore set on getting fresh eggs, so here we go again.

*I will supply pictures as we go, but just brainstorming ideas right now*

Our neighbors moved away (ok, abandonded their house), and before they walked away, they told us we could take the homemade jungle gym they were leaving behind. Again, 2 years later, it was knocked over by some kids in the neighborhood and left to sit in the weeds.

Well yesterday I went with my braun and sheer luck and literally rolled an 8 foot high pressure treated jungle gym over a 3 foot fence and into my backyard incurring a little damage but nothing major.

So now I have a good amount of pressure treated lumber including a 4x4 platform made like a deck. I plan to skin the whole thing in plywood, but it will fit perfectly in my dog pen with only cuts made to the 8 foot 4x4s(?)

My first question is this one: Can I run hardware cloth under the whole bottom of the pen as to deter anything digging into it from below? Will this bother the chickens to have hardware cloth on the ground (covered by something, haven't determined sand or hay. Will this bother them for scratching? It's only about 10 foot x 10 foot pen.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

x2. Seems like it would be a better use of space and easier to secure and cover it with the coop outside of it. You'll also be able to access the coop and nest boxes better. Since you have chainlink off of one side already, you could have that side meet up to the side of the coop where the ramp will go and then cover any open area with hardwire, the add a tarp, roof, and/or wire across the top of the run.

 

[rides2far]

There is NOTHING worse than a thief! You work hard to buy something & someone just takes it! So sorry

 

[braddockfarm]

Well, you are doing great.

 

[BleuSaphir]

Looks great!
Is their any way to reroute the dog pen to attach it to just where I see the hens can access in and out rather than using the pen to enclose the coop itself?

 

[reptileink]

Ok, here are some pictures of the wood and area:

Don't mind the garage, we are siding it next spring







So my thoughts are to build the coop a bit above the dog pen, but below the fence line, and cover the top of the pen with chicken wire/hardware cloth. My only concerns are going to be accessing the coop to clean as it will be enclosed in the pen. I thought about a flip top roof, but the coop is going to be like 4ft high x 5 ft wide. I don't want to stoop over every time I need to enter the pen (due to the top being covered). I also don't want to cut off an entire side of the pen as that seems like a waste to me.


Open to any and all suggestions (remember, this is on a $0 budget...lol )

 

[thomasboyle]

Looks like a good start. You can bury hardware wire and cover it with dirt or sand to prevent predators from digging under the wall. I did that in my coop, using old fencing and covering it with 6" of sand. They never get down to it so it does not bother them.

The chain link fence will keep some larger predators out, but smaller ones can go right though it, and still others, like dogs, can rip chain link apart. So I would add another layer of 1/2" hardware wire to keep out the smaller predators.

You are smart to think about cleaning the coop - too many people don't factor that in, and it becomes a major hassle and doesn't get done! I would give yourself as much room as possible. I am trying to picture what you are planning - is the wooden coop going to be in the middle of the dog fence? Or on one or more sides? If you put it on one of the sides, you could cut away a portion of the chain link fence so you can access the wooden wall from the outside, and then hinge that wooden wall to allow the entire wall to be a door, and give you as much room as possible. You will never say "I have too much room here, I wish I had made the door smaller!" just make sure you have a way to secure it closed so raccoons and other sneaky predators can't open the door and harm the chickens.

Post pictures of what you end up going with!

 

[reptileink]

Thanks for the response. I was beginning to think I had the plague or something...lol.

In any event, I was trying to refrain from cutting a side of chain link off, but luckily, they are just bracketed on, so if I ever need to sell the pen, I can put the side back on. So great idea to butt the back of the coop up against the open chain side. Then I can just seal up any holes.

I planned on putting smaller mesh on the inside of the pen as well. I will be sure to keep everyone updated on my adventures as I am not a finish carpenter (but like to think I am...lol)

 

[reptileink]

So I broke out the sawzall today to break down the big 8ft posts and create the platform which will be my coop bottom. It's almost not worth working with recycled wood as I ran into problem after problem with stripped/rusted screws, loose boards, uneven cuts, etc.


The platform away from the rest. I then cut two more legs giving me 12" of space underneath the coop for the chickens to hide and keep it off the ground.



The platform is 48" x 51" hope this is big enough for 3 chickens, but I think they will be fine. I plan on re-skinning the broken piece in front and re-inforcing it from behind. I couldn't get the screws out and just said forget it.



I removed the side of the chainlink to get acess to the back of the coop to clean and collect eggs.


I am not going for a fit and finish coop, just something to house the chickens at night. Like I said, I am no carpenter...lol

 

[thomasboyle]

Looks good! 4x4 is fine for 3 birds. How are you going to build the sides? For a cheap source of lumber, look at old pallets. I have a feed store near me that sells them for $1 each. You can get 10 or more 40" siding boards from each one. They might be perfect for your walls. Are you going to add any windows? For windows, check Craigslist. I have a collection of 15-20 windows for various projects that I picked up for free or a couple of bucks each. I like the old single pane windows with individual panes. They look good, are secure and are easy to fix if necessary.What about nesting boxes - are you going to build them within the 4x4 platform, or add them onto one side so they hang out the main wall. Make sure you make them easy to get at, as you will be collecting eggs every day.