8x8 Coop Building Diary!! *pictures* UPDATE on pg 7!

[HHandbasket]

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4?? Ha, that is what I said! Never works. LOL!

I had to first convince my wife that they are fun to raise and having fresh eggs is the best. Once I had her sold on the idea, she agreed to "start" with 4 layers. One for each of us. Knowing her like I do, she will learn to love them and my bet is she will get so into them that she will take over the chores! Should be interesting!! My two kids (8 & 10) can't wait!

Oh we women are the worst when it comes to loving our chickens! Between the wife and the kids, your goal of only "4" chickens is at best a small start. LOL.

Chicken math gets to all of us eventually. We started with the intention of 2, maybe 3 laying hens, that would be fun. Yeah. Sure. Two or three. Maybe. LOL.

If only.

 

[gryeyes]

In preparation for hiring Farmer Lew to build a coop just like yours, I am measuring out the space in my yard for it this weekend. Then I can obsess over the empty space until he accepts the job and can start on it.

I am so thrilled for you!

 

[flyweed]

I have just a couple of questions for this build. I work for a house and garage builder on weekends, for supplemental income..and just wanted to know if you had to pull a permit for this? As for most anything you build, including sheds you must. For the cement foundation blocks...did you put support blocks under all the middle floor joists as well? otherwise your building will start to sag to the middle over time.

lastly...if you did pull a permit to build it, the walls look great, but they are not up to code for outer/load bearing walls.

I don't want to sound like a fuddy duddy at all, but if your local town or city worker should drive by and see you building something and ask for your permit and inspection records

Dan

 

[Dogfish]

Solid construction. Nice job. Only change I would make would be to have the roof eaves hang out over the edges of the walls a bit on the front and sides. Didn't see the back. 4"-6" would be a good idea to keep the coop dry. Just a thought.

I remembered that this needed to be able to be broken down when I saw the screws. Once it is in it's final place, changing the screws out with nails would be a great idea. Much more shear strength. I would also suggest adding a few more pier blocks under the floor joists when it gets to its final position in a few weeks. Test out the floor and see how much flex you have. If there is a lot of flexing, you'll know.

Looking forward to the final pictures!

120 SF requires a permit where I live, and their structure is 64 SF.

 

[farmer_lew]

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We are going to add 10ft corrugated roofing panels, and that will give the overhang.

 

[Dogfish]

Perfect!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Seriously? Really? Seriously? People need a permit to build a shed? I never heard of that. Does that include LARGE chicken houses? If that is true, then I am in BIG trouble.

Oh well............

 

[Morgan7782]

Yep the roofing material will hang over, and as for a permit? Anything 10x12 feet and larger requires a permit here I am pretty sure. My backyard is not visable from any streets, and the people behind us were joking that we would need another garden shed soon because this one will be full LOL. But the permit is not needed for 8x8 from what I have read. The structure itself is also 7 feet tall at the highest point I believe, or 6 1/2 feet at the highest point. But because it is on the piers it gives it another half foot or so of raising.

So far the floor has very little, if any, flex or give. It will be sealed as soon as this fog lets up lol! Once it is finished I will need to come up with a coop name lol!

This whole project is awesome. I am learning a lot even though Farmer Lew is doing all the work

I help where I can though. I am new to the whole construction bit, so learning as I go.

The entire coop was built from Farmer Lew's head. There was like one or two sketches drawn out, but everything he pretty much just made as we went along. In order to get it kit style, he added another 2z4 so that the corner hinge thing could attach correctly. When we were trying to figure out how to hold the plywood steady and level, he took two flathead screwdrivers and jammed them in, making a sort of cradle for the plywood. Just really creative rednecky idea's that work REALLY well! No offense BTW!!!! lol! I thought it was great. But I am really having fun, and my chickens will be SO happy to have a nice new coop, man they are going from 4 hens in 12ft square space to 4 hens in 64 square feet of space LOL!!!!!

 

[chickens4jojo]

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Around here, if you do not build a shed (coop?) with a permanent foundation you do not need a permit, nor do you pay taxes it on it from my understanding. I found that out from a reputable local builder a few years ago.

BTW: Great coop! I have really enjoyed seeing all the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post them all.

 

[Morgan7782]

I am so happy with it I can't even tell you! And would you beleve...

My 10 month old "hasn't laid an egg yet" Barred Rock pullet is actually in the new structure, trying to nest... on plywood.

No bedding. No dirt. Nothing but plywood. And here Joon is trying to "fluff" the wood and make herself a nest in the corner...