build your own or pre-fab?

[rynanne]

Ok, I'm looking at web pages and catalogs and reading every book my library has on building coops. I'm not very handy, so I worry about the safety/security/etc of the coop should I build it. Am I over thinking it? or do people find that pre-fab work really well?

thanks!

I will have 4-6 bantams and have a VERY small back yard.

 

[nivtup]

Build your own.

You can do it.

 

[Ole rooster]

Yes I agree. The bought coops never have enough space for the run.

 

[simplynewt]

Yes I third that - Build your own. There are many designs you can get many ideas from. Take some time to browse through them and I am sure something will start to take shape in your thoughts.

Thats what I did and I built my own for the very first time and I am very pleased at what I constructed. You can view the steps and the fiished product on my BYC Page.

Good Luck and if you ever need more advice, you are in the right place.

 

[aoxa]

You'll still have to put it together. Just make your own

I never did anything like that before, and it wasn't all that difficult.

 

[rynanne]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

I've got all winter, I'll just have to put my head to it and go at it!

 

[jeepguy982001]

yup build your own plus it will be way cheaper too.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
First thoughts should be size (how many birds will I ultimately have?),
location (no low spots, is exposure to sun/wind important)
foundation (slab, dirt, stilts and if stilts does it float or below frost line)

 

[simplynewt]

Be sure to have a solid plan together before you start building. You can easily get sidetracked once work begins. Take everything into consideration. How many chickens, the winter months, the summer months, what type of bedding, ventilation, egg collecting, etc.

 

[Life is Good!]

Another item to add to the list of needed thoughts -

How tall am I?! I build my coop for my height. My husband is taller and the times he has to go into the coop, he invariably hits his head on a rafter - as I built it for ME to go into! And now, we're looking at the deep litter method for litter management, which means the rafters will be 6-12" CLOSER to MY head too! Whoops!