We had no idea how to build a chicken coop, but after finding BYC and looking at several, we figured out they all had a few things in common, so we built one with all the common features.
I had lots of ruff cut 2 x 4's left over from granite shipping crates, so we used them to frame it up.
Next, after building the nesting boxes & roost inside, we covered it with old 1/2 x 6 inch cedar fencing, tar papered over it and sealed the coop with tongue & grove cedar that was torn out from a house re-model, building in the doors, vents, egg snatch hatch, and chicken run man door as we went.
Once the chicken wire was stapled in place, we covered it with cedar to match the coop, placing screws every 6 inches to really add strength to the wire holds, making it nearly impossible for a predator to get to the chickens by pulling the wire loose, it's all screwed in.
We let the wire lay out about 6 inched from the base, leaving a buried screen skirt to prevent a predator from digging it's way in, and left 12" on the back fence side so it would be too cramped for something to take a digging position where it could not be seen, as well as leaving enough room for our German Shepherd to patrol the perimeter at will. In order for the chickens not to get spooked by anything between them and the fence-line, I placed a 1/2 sheet of plywood along the back, about 2ft high, so when the dog patrols thru, they don't even know it.
The floor inside the coop is tongue & grove laminate I found at a yard sale, covered with a custom fit piece of vinyl that slips out for really easy cleaning / hose off if need be. The coop door is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, making it light to open & close, while providing enough room for them when they are full grown to easily get in & out .
We got all the hinges at a yard sale for a couple bucks, spent $19.99 on chicken wire, all the screws & other hardware from yard sales & flea markets for pennies on the dollars. The ruff cut 2 x 4's were free leftovers from granite shipping crates. The used cedar fencing was free, as was the tongue & groove cedar having been removed from a house a re-model. The tar paper was only $1.00 for a whole roll from a yard sale. We only had to pay full price for the brand new feeder & watering unit from the feed store, along with the medicated chick feed & the chicks themselves. I think everything pictured came to, at most: $50.00.
I don't think this would have been possible without having discovered BYC first. We had absolutely no clue how to do this, just lots of materials & some time, and this is what we managed to cobble together.
I hope this inspires someone else to get theirs built.
Thanks again BYC, and also for letting me join as a "NEW EGG" > real funny!
