5-18-14: Just about finished now but I need to add a few windows, electric light/outlet and a wall mounted wood feeder. There is also a side door on the left for easy coop cleaning and access to the rear sliding chicken door. Next also is to finish the pen area seen in back where I dump my leaves and grass, lots of bugs and worms for the hens to feed on during the day.




The Chicks now pullets are fast outgrowing the plastic tub and soon the dog house seen using a 75 watt incandescent bulb.


The Beginning....
This coop is based on similar small coop design found here. I did a 3D solid model of this in NX 9.0 and some 2D elevations in AutoCAD. By doing this I was able to just cut to size and build without stopping to think about it since all the design was done first. It's not at all necessary but it helps if you have the software.

Edit: Ramp opening is now 10.25" x 20" and rotated 180.

I started building on 5/2/2014 and I am using cedar 2 x 4's that make contact with the ground and will coat with some linseed oil. Most of it though will be just plain spruce 2 x 3's.



To help assemble the rafters I first cut the plywood (by design bellow) and screwed the rafters to it, making it really easy to assemble. I am also using water proof wood glue. Note: When cutting the rafters end angle on a miter box you use 22.5 degree angle. The blue represents the plywood outline and the black dimensions at the right is for the crows foot.


5/4/2014: Today I will be putting up the roof plywood 2 layers of 1/2" so the 3/4" roofing nails will not protrude into the coop. But I want to first add some gable end over hang so I will be cutting some more rafters but to a different configuration seen bellow:


I am also going to add another 1/2" layer of plywood on the roof so I will have 1" total and not worry about nails protruding through when I do the roof shingles.

5-8-2014: Moved the coop to it's final location in my yard and added the wire cloth, deck, and gave it a coat of Linseed Oil.


5-13-14: Worked on the nesting box's tonight and they are 12" x 12" x 10" in height.

5-14-14: Finished the nesting Box's and gave it all a coat of the Boiled Linseed Oil.