This is actually my pigeon loft that I built with budget being a primary concern. It would be a serviceable Chicken coop without the Pigeon Trap door and a change in the roosting setup. Were I to use it for Chickens I'd not have the Aviary but rather extend the coop another foot with an open Hardware Cloth window.
I drew inspiration from the Prince T Woods Knockdown design.
It’s a pet peeve of mine when I see someone talk about a diy project brag about how cheap it was when they either have a $4K workshop or a stockpile of wood left over from a home remodel or new deck Or whatnot. I did this with a circular saw, cordless drill, hammer, tape measure and clamp. I also used a finish nailer but it wasn’t necessary, mostly it’s nice as a second set of hands. I had a single saw horse but no table other than the one the loft sits on.
Shopping list is as follows:
6 Pressure Treated 2”x4”x8’$3.30 apiece ($19.80 Total)
3 sheets 7/16th 4x8 OSB $7.75 each ($23.50)
3 1x4x8 furring strips, $2.25 ($7.75)
6 2x3x8’ studs $2.75each ($16.50)
6 6 ft fence pickets, (I found 4 in the cull pile at Home Depot for .40 each) $5.00 total
4 right angle brackets $1.50 each ($6.00)
1 lb #9 galvanized hex head 1 1/2 inch screws $10
1 lb 3 1/2 inch deck screws $10
2 packages of 2 hinges, $2.25 each ($4.50)
2 barrel bolts or hasp, $3.50 each ($7.00)
2 2ft x 5ft hardware cloth $7.50 each ($15.00)
1 4x8 roofing panel $15.00
1 pigeon door, found at a flea market. Don’t remember what I paid.
After taxes it worked out to roughly $160.00.
First things first, have Home Depot rip one of your OSB sheets to 4x4. Have them rip the other two into 3x5, 1x5 and 3x4.
At home, Lay out two 2x4’s. Nail or screw the 4x4 piece of osb to the top. Cut 1 foot off the two 1x5 pieces to make it 1x4 and attach them as well. Gently flip over the sled you’ve created. Cut two more 2x4’s for floor supports and rigidity, attaching 3 center supports ever 24 inches under the OSB leaving the last two feet with no support.
Next, cut a 2x4 into 4 two foot sections. They’re the legs. Use the 1.5 inch screws and the angle brackets to secure to the bottom of the table. I made mine 30 inches tall because I’m a bit taller and didn’t want to stoop to clean the coop out. Mark and cut 4 more pieces as braces for the legs. I had some crummy 2x4s so my braces were unique lengths.
Now, time to build our walls. Take the 2x3’s, cut two into 5 foot and 3?foot sections. Cut one into two 4 foot sections and the last into two 3 ft sections. Place the 4ft sections on the top and bottom of the 3x4 pice of OSB. Mark and shorten two pieces of the 3ft sections to fit. Repeat for one 3x5 sheet.
Next, mark the trap door outline, and the access door width, and cut the remaining 3x5 piece accordingly. Attach the 2x3’s. When your done it will resemble the picture.
Add the back wall, followed by the long sides. I secured them to the frame then added the fence pickets as corner trim and a bit more vertical support.
Add your hinges, barrel bolt or hasp, and trap door to the remaining side.
Now is a good time to cut the extra 1x4 osb sheet and make some nest boxes, and a perch for the bare 3x5 side. I used a 1x4 furring strip for the perch. Last step is to make the aviary windows and attach the roofing panel.
I drew inspiration from the Prince T Woods Knockdown design.
It’s a pet peeve of mine when I see someone talk about a diy project brag about how cheap it was when they either have a $4K workshop or a stockpile of wood left over from a home remodel or new deck Or whatnot. I did this with a circular saw, cordless drill, hammer, tape measure and clamp. I also used a finish nailer but it wasn’t necessary, mostly it’s nice as a second set of hands. I had a single saw horse but no table other than the one the loft sits on.
Shopping list is as follows:
6 Pressure Treated 2”x4”x8’$3.30 apiece ($19.80 Total)
3 sheets 7/16th 4x8 OSB $7.75 each ($23.50)
3 1x4x8 furring strips, $2.25 ($7.75)
6 2x3x8’ studs $2.75each ($16.50)
6 6 ft fence pickets, (I found 4 in the cull pile at Home Depot for .40 each) $5.00 total
4 right angle brackets $1.50 each ($6.00)
1 lb #9 galvanized hex head 1 1/2 inch screws $10
1 lb 3 1/2 inch deck screws $10
2 packages of 2 hinges, $2.25 each ($4.50)
2 barrel bolts or hasp, $3.50 each ($7.00)
2 2ft x 5ft hardware cloth $7.50 each ($15.00)
1 4x8 roofing panel $15.00
1 pigeon door, found at a flea market. Don’t remember what I paid.
After taxes it worked out to roughly $160.00.
First things first, have Home Depot rip one of your OSB sheets to 4x4. Have them rip the other two into 3x5, 1x5 and 3x4.
At home, Lay out two 2x4’s. Nail or screw the 4x4 piece of osb to the top. Cut 1 foot off the two 1x5 pieces to make it 1x4 and attach them as well. Gently flip over the sled you’ve created. Cut two more 2x4’s for floor supports and rigidity, attaching 3 center supports ever 24 inches under the OSB leaving the last two feet with no support.
Next, cut a 2x4 into 4 two foot sections. They’re the legs. Use the 1.5 inch screws and the angle brackets to secure to the bottom of the table. I made mine 30 inches tall because I’m a bit taller and didn’t want to stoop to clean the coop out. Mark and cut 4 more pieces as braces for the legs. I had some crummy 2x4s so my braces were unique lengths.
Now, time to build our walls. Take the 2x3’s, cut two into 5 foot and 3?foot sections. Cut one into two 4 foot sections and the last into two 3 ft sections. Place the 4ft sections on the top and bottom of the 3x4 pice of OSB. Mark and shorten two pieces of the 3ft sections to fit. Repeat for one 3x5 sheet.
Next, mark the trap door outline, and the access door width, and cut the remaining 3x5 piece accordingly. Attach the 2x3’s. When your done it will resemble the picture.
Add the back wall, followed by the long sides. I secured them to the frame then added the fence pickets as corner trim and a bit more vertical support.
Add your hinges, barrel bolt or hasp, and trap door to the remaining side.
Now is a good time to cut the extra 1x4 osb sheet and make some nest boxes, and a perch for the bare 3x5 side. I used a 1x4 furring strip for the perch. Last step is to make the aviary windows and attach the roofing panel.
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