Nesting Boxes:
Ok, I have been told that there are too many boxes here so it's up to you how many you wish to make. I just put 2x4's down on floor 12" apart. I made a rectangle with 1 more middle support. On top of this I put my 1/2 osb board. I attached a 2x2 to the front of the boxes. I used 1x12 from dividers cut 12"x12". Screw dividers into the 2x2 and toe screw into wall in the back. I cut 3 sections of 2x2 for sides and middle for support of next level. Osb on top of your dividers and repeat process. For top I attached a 2x4 to the wall and sloped osb roof for boxes. I used remaining 2x2's to make a small perch between bottom and top. Done! Paint!
Interior Trim and Roost:
Trimming the inside, or painting is strictly up to you. I used trim to cover the gaps between wall boards I put up. I thought it gave the entire inside an awesome look. 1x4's were used for trim. Painted them red to accent the white.
For the roost I set 2x4's across this side up at 3' and 4'. I put flat side 2x4 on top of this. I used pieces of 2x2 on each side of the 2x4 to hold it in place that way I can remove it for cleaning. I also added a small step up roost at 2' for heavier birds to give them a lift.
First day in coop.
Exterior of coop:
Before you start hanging exterior boards now is the time to predator proof your bottom. I used 25 ga metal wire all the way around coop with 3' apron. Run wire up high enough so that your exterior walls will overlap it. I covered the apron with old roofing shingles to keep weeds down. I will cover this later with dirt.
You also want to cover vents at the sides of your coop now. Hang your out side walls the same as you did the interior (just with a lot more room to work). Cut out for windows and run door. I also used trim to cover board gaps on out side using 1x4's and painted white to accent red. I made awnings to cover window by using 1x6's. Cut at 45 degree angle to attach to coop then attached a cross board at the ends. I used some colored tin to cover. I used some left over lattice I had around to cover the bottom of the coop.
Not completely done, but chicks love it!!
Outside Run:
- 65 = 8' Garden timbers
- 30 = bags of QuickCrete
- 5 = rolls of 36x25 1/2" hardware cloth
- 5 = rolls of 36x50 25 ga welded wire fence
- 3 = 1x6x8 treated for gate
- 1 = gate latch
- 1 = rented auger Home Depot
- 2 = rolls of 7'x100' deer netting
My run was made using 8' garden timbers set 2' deep and set in concrete. Set 17 posts using a rented auger from Home Depot. I cut tops off posts as some were deeper than others do to our rocky soil. The top, bottom, and middle rails are also 8' garden timbers. Middle set at 36" and top at 6' to fit wire.
Bottom wire is 36" 1/2" hardware cloth. Top is 36" 25 ga welded wire. Outside perimiter of run is aproned with 25ga wire also laid out 3' and covered with roofing shingles to keep weeds down.
(Son on lunch break and Lab wanting that lunch)
Chicks first day in run. "That's one small step for a chicken, one giant step for the flock".
Gate is made from 1x6x8 treaded lumber cut to height with 3 dividers for support. I covered gate with 1/2" hardware cloth. Latch is a sliding pin latch that locks into a drilled hole in the post. Coop sets on a slight slope so I put another 1x6 at bottom of gate to cover gap.
Entire top is covered with deer netting. We do have hawks in or area so better safe than sorry. I used roofing butt tabs to hold netting down. They are nails with a green circle plastic tab on them. They worked great on net. (You can see a few in above pic)
First day in run.
This design is great for those of us that don't really understand framing walls, roofs, and other construction aspects of building a coop. It also saves you quite a bit of money on lumber costs for you can get pallets free if you look around. I tend to go overboard, but you can easily go with dirt floor, or no interior walls or trim to cut cost. I hope other find this helpfull for them to get their project started and share in the joy of watching their chicks step out into the real world for the first time.
Thanks for viewing my page.
Jjamerb
If you have any questions feel free to PM me here or drop me and email.
