Anyone want to come build me a coop? Or have some ideas for me?

[rubyrogue]

Soooo.... I need a new coop. I priced prebuilt sheds today... WOW. The one that I want is over 3000 dollars. I know that I could build one for cheaper... if I had the time. But being a single mom working and going to school it would take me forever. Plus Im not the best tool in the box for the job. I have ideas of what I would like but it just seems so much easier to go with a prebuilt, delivered and installed shed. I just hate to shell out money for convienence. The shed I loked at today was 10X16. I figured I could add an inside divider and make part of it storage and have the nestboxes on that wall so i could collect eggs from inside as well.
I currently have a 6x6 coop and a 5x7 coop. I have 23 10 wk old chicks that are going to need bigger accomidations soon. any ideas for me?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Where are you located? If you are in a relatively warm area have you considered a hoop house? I have a hoop house for an outdoor run and it was easy to do. Just click on the link in my siggy to see it. Good luck!

 

[rubyrogue]

I am in southern Idaho. Winters are cold. not a ton of snow(usually)We have been in the 30s all week dropping into teens at night. Water is froze in the morning. Summers are hot hitting the 90s regularly. We have wolves, bobcat, coyote, skunk, racoon, weasle, mink, birds of prey, neightbor dogs, fox.... badger..... I would love to just go get the prebuilt but am having a hard time parting with the $$$

 

[dbcooper02]

How about checking with your local FFA or 4H program, high school wood shop instructor or junior college/trade school. You say you have an idea what you want. There are probably some young people in your area that would jump at the chance to build something and not charge you an arm and a leg for labor. You could probably find an out of work carpenter if you wanted someone with a little more experience. I advocate suporting your local economy rather than giving some corporation your hard earned dollars. Then too you could watch your local craigslist for a cheap or even free shed, have it moved on site and remodel it as needed to suit your needs for way less than the shed you described.
db

 

[patandchickens]

I would suggest waiting til something good shows up on Craigslist or similar. You can get good deals that way sometimes, even after you factor in having to move it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[teach1rusl]

Do you need the storage space??? If not, price slightly smaller sheds. Also, try CL for used sheds (although you'd have to pay to have it moved, which could be a pain). Also, if your area has a VoTech school nearby, check with the carpentry classes about a class project, or even just to find 2-3 kids who might build one for you quite a bit cheaper (although materials are horribly expensive). And it really depends on how tight money is. If you have the money, personally I'd go for it, based on your circumstances (of not being too handy w/tools). I think a few months later, you wouldn't even think about the money. Heck, people spend thousands on vacations that only last a week. A storage building/coop will last for years, and could always be resold in the end.

 

[Judy]

In this economy there are plenty of people who lost their job, are good with tools, and are happy to pick up an odd job like this. Of course it is tricky to find one who will do a good day's work at an fair price, but they are certainly out there, if you can find someone through word of mouth. Don't do it by the hour, but agree on a set price for the job, and a time frame, possibly with payment decreasing if they don't meet the time goal. And don't run an ad -- ask around.

People get taken every day with these kinds of arrangements -- but they also get what they need at a fair price every day. It's a matter of knowing someone.

 

[rubyrogue]

THank you all for your suggestions. I have been watching craigslist but there really isnt much in my area. One of my coops was built by a student at the local college. It works and is very nice but there are many things that are not professional about it. The floor is falling out because of spacing of the studs and the way the board was cut. I could "probably" do without the storage but we get high winds and my feed cans get blown over and the lids blow away. Or animals in the night knock them over. I am calling the local truss place today to see if maybe they can frame the walls and floor for me then i can just nail the plywood over the panels........

 

[mcfarmall]

On the Kalamazoo CL recently there were a couple of 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 gambrel roof yard barns for $350 to $500 you haul of course. Check your local CL and sooner or later you will find something similar...patience grasshopper.

 

[cfdf]

Quote:
I agree with Pat. I just found a 9 x 12 playhouse on Craigs List for $950...that includes them moving it