Budget Chicken coop/run underway

[Hexe]

We finally started to get the chick's new home going. We refurbished a old kids playhouse that was left on our property. Some plywood, a bunch of screws and a nice Sunday was all we needed. We have purchased 2 sheets of plywood and 2 - 2x4s. Other than that, we purchased 100ft of 12.5g welding wire fencing. Everything else was salvaged materials or left over materials from old projects. The window on the right side is a sliding window with screen. The one on the left side is just a dormer window.

Here is a picture oft he coop with the door closed.




And here is one with the door open:





Not sure if we should put a cover over the second row of nesting boxes or not. Do you think we should? Any other feedback or comments you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

This week we will fence the run. Most likely we will do 16'x14' and cover it with pond netting since the hawks are real bad here.

 

[MI chickens]

One thing that I'd recommend is lots of paint, in and out, makes it last longer and looks nicer. We use mis-tint paint from the home center, inside the color doesn't matter, to me or to the chickens. We use a lot of reused wood and stuff for our coops yet they turn out nice with a couple coats of paint.

 

[MI chickens]

If I were you I wouldn't bother with the top row of nest boxes, just use what you built as a cover for the bottom row. In our large coop we have about 20 hens and they only use two nest boxes. Plus a box outside when they free range. You'll need a cover because you don't want them using their nest to perch on at night, then you'll end up with 'messy' nests and messy eggs.

 

[pbandj]

How fun! I love it!

 

[Going Quackers]

Looks good! i agree with the paint, we too grabbed miss-tinted cans for a discount.