advice needed for new coop builders!

[CTChickenMom]

Check for salvage places where you live for reclaimed lumber. Check also craigslist.com and freecycle.org. I did that and have found 2 salvage places where I'm going to get some recycled stuff to pretty up the hen house. Someone here built her coop (which was quite big) for a whole $93 dollars from leftovers and recycled materials. It may allow you to build a larger coop/run.

 

[rufus]

I know the type of chicken coop you are thinking of. We used to have them years ago. Basically, it is elevated roosting areas with a roof over it and no floor. Sometimes they had walls, and sometimes not. We used fencing under the roosts to keep the predators from getting at the the birds at night. The poop just falls through to the ground below.

In this area, we don't have to deal with cold weather, shade is more of a concern.

The only thing I would do differently now, is put a layer of styrofoam insulation between the top of the coop and the tin roof.

I am in Phoenix, so the coop I have now is more or less a large tractor type. We built it low so that no one could see the chickens. They are behind eight foot walls, but you never know.

Build your coop out of sight, and do it on weekends. You don't want a visit from an officious building inspector.

Rufus

 

[Dr.Doorlock]

I'm building my coup this week. I have two days. Here are a few points I picked up for making it more practical along with an original idea I came up with for nesting boxes.

I already built the nesting boxes. I will frame the walls so I can cut rectangles in the walls and screw them in place. They can be removed for cleaning or painting. They will be lined with shower pan liner. I will walk around my coup and gather the eggs without entering the coup. See the boxes at my web site.

I will also build a roost at one end with poultry netting around it so the hens can get on it without getting under it. I read that 90% of the pooping happens at the roost. The floor of this area will be covered with shower pan liner for easy cleaning.

The remainder of the coup will be built with a 1/2" x 1/2" wire floor for maximum ventilation, BUT I will also have it where I can slide a full 4 x 8 sheet of masonite under the wire floor to eliminate drafts on the few cold days we have near Dallas.

No all I need to do is make these ideas into reality. Wish me luck.

 

[Dr.Doorlock]

One last mention. I'm making the roof with most of the sun blocked out then covering it with polycarbonate. It will have a large panel hinged to open up a "sun roof" for natural light except in the summer when heat is a problem.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dr.Doorlock]

Quote:
You can also get "culls" from Lowes. I got over $200 of slightly warped or knotted wood for $20!