3 to 5 hen chicken coop as cheap as I can (Within reason)

[BertandMary]

Just starting my build. I will post photos here over the next week. Currently I am using my cell and updating my chicken page on Facebook as I go. All of that will get transferred here too.

For those on FB my page is, Bert's Chicks. If there is more than one it is the one in Fayetteville, NC. We don't sell anything. The page is for occasional updates about the birds we keep. We moved and sold the reds last fall prior to the move. We also sold the old coop.

We thought we would put off having hens again until after we moved in 3 years to, Asheville, NC, or somewhere over on that side of the state, Of course, Mary missed them, and, truth be told, so did I. We just bought 3 Buff Orps and 3 BLRWs chicks a little over a week ago. We will keep them together in the new coop as juveniles but Mary has me building a second coop to keep them separate by breed. We are highly considering breeding them as a hobby and then selling at flock swap events.

This coop is going to be 4'x4'. I will make adjustments on the fly but have the basic idea down. I am using as much free wood from different Craig'slist adds as I can. So far I got a free 4x6x8, a tool bench from a couple moving, (He made it but I had to take it apart), and some tossed out 2x4s from a shipping and moving business. I had to pull some nails but have a nice chunk of the build material for about 3 or 4 bucks in gas and my time/effort.

I also frequent Lowes to check on bad paint mixes which they sell cheap as heck. Sometimes they have nice colors but frequent checking when in their area is a must to find something, Mary, might like. My kids will be painting the finished product so I can blame it on them. haha

 

[aart]

oops.

 

[BertandMary]

oops.

Did I post this in the wrong spot or just our selling off the old coop and birds...LOL.

 

[BertandMary]

I have spent just under 8 bucks on this so far. I took several photos while getting to here and will upload them another day. As I mentioned earlier, I got free wood from craigslist, a work bench, some tossed out misc wood and some shipping crates. Pulling the staples out of the crates was tedious. This is the side where there will be a window. The chicken door is on the left and my cleaning door is on the opposite side. I still have to frame the nesting boxes which will be constructed for outside access.

 

[BertandMary]

I've got the nesting boxes framed and built in. I have taken a lot of photos along the way and will try to get them up in order as I near completion. I am right around 28 dollars into the build. I picked up a bundle of close out shingles from 84 lumber in town for 10 bucks. I picked up cabinet hinges for 50 cents each from the Restore Warehouse and got a scrap piece of vinyl for the floor for 4 bucks too. Lowes had a gallon of exterior Valspar paint that came open during the mixing process. It had just over 3/4 of gallon so they sold it to me for 3 bucks out of their bin. (They also give the military discount on items from the bin so it came to 2.84 after taxes and 10% military discount) I will a photo up today of the nesting boxes and vinyl installed. I still have to find a handle and lock for the door of the nesting box. I may make them from scraps or spring for some at a garage sale or some other frugal place.

 

[BertandMary]

This is a view of the nesting boxes and the vinyl on the floor. I need to find a couple of more 1 inch screws for the door hinges. They work but there is room and a place to a couple of more screws. The pressed board is too pliable to make good doors so I used a scrap piece of plywood. I put primer on the nesting boxes but haven't gotten to the divider and door so far. I even did the underneath since our high humidity will weaken the press board fairly quickly. I am going to *** the sheeting to the walls later today and maybe tomorrow depending on how the time frees up. I has to be done this weekend or at least soon. The chicks are growing fast. I do have a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Rooster. He is easy to identify compared to the others. I will toss up a photo of him along the way too.

 

[BertandMary]

One of my little helpers is checking the view out from the window. Vents to be added later. We wanted to start putting sheeting on to

get a real feel for it. The kids and I both are thinking about doing the base coat of paint now just so it starts taking form and feels closer to the finished product. There is rain on Friday so it has to have paint and a roof or be put back in the garage.

 

[BertandMary]

A guy down the road was moving junk to the side of the road earlier today. I slowed and took a look. I asked him if I could take a know for my nesting box handle. He told me to take what I want so I did. I hinges for the chicken door and the window with some left over. I took all of the knobs too. They are the old porcelain type and since I will be building again, I figured I might need more. I took a couple of doors too. Will update about them later. Still under 28 bucks on this project.

 

[BertandMary]

Put the roof on today and built an awning for over the window. I still have to put sheeting on two sides. I got a gallon of exterior paint for 5 bucks from Lowes. Mary said she liked the maroon color. I had to test it out by doing a little of the front so I can see how the maroon will look with white trim. It isn't fully dry in this photo but the darkest areas will give you and idea. There is no white paint on it yet. That is just the cheap 2 dollar can of primer. Hopefully I will finish it all this week and then add more and better photos. Need to build locks to hold the window shut. Coop isn't on level ground yet but I moved it to the backyard near where it will be at the end. It was just easier to move now before I add too much to make it a pain in the neck to move. The roof added a significant amount of weight. Roofing nails and the maroon paint bumped me up to 38 dollars on this project so far.

 

[ChickityChina]

Looking great so far! Ours is just a base so far lol, but it is the same shape and about the same size as yours. Very well done on the budgeting too!