Building my first coop! - progress thread

[K0k0shka]

I'm impressed. I can see I need more carpentry skills.

Long live the internet! That's where I learned everything I know about joints (and other things)

 

[K0k0shka]

Update: I got windows and a door!
Shed windows from Amazon, and a used door rescued from the curb. It will need some love, but it has a window! Which is exactly what I wanted - for more light - and was going to build a door with a window in it anyway, so now that’s one less thing I have to do. Yay!

 

[K0k0shka]

Two more walls framed out! I'm having to build them on top of each other because I have no other flat surface to work on... (garage and patio too small, basement too full).

When I was first designing and cutting the wood, I was looking at another coop on here and its plans, and its frame didn't have an overhang on the back. They just extended the roof board. I have since reconsidered and now regret following that plan I'll correct this by leaving the roof rafters longer, and maybe attaching a fly rafter type of piece to extend the outermost 2x4s to give the roof support along the outer edges.

Here's the north wall as well:

I better hurry up and finish this soon, because I'm blocking the kids' play area and they're starting to complain!

 

[adirondak5]

Looking good ! Nice CAD drawings you've done there . I dabble a bit with a CNC wood work and use CAD for that .
I like your coop design and progress pictures , nice windows too .

 

[aart]

Here's the north wall as well:

Curious why you didn't use continuous top and bottom plates?

 

[K0k0shka]

Curious why you didn't use continuous top and bottom plates?

All joints are half lap joints, so all the wood is continuous. You’re just seeing the cut half of the lap.

Like this:

 

[K0k0shka]

Looking good ! Nice CAD drawings you've done there . I dabble a bit with a CNC wood work and use CAD for that .
I like your coop design and progress pictures , nice windows too .

Thank you! This is actually just 2D drawing/animation software, but it’s what I’ve got, and it gets the job done.

 

[aart]

All joints are half lap joints, so all the wood is continuous. You’re just seeing the cut half of the lap.

Like this:

Ohhh....lotta work, but probably just as strong as typical wall framing.

 

[K0k0shka]

Ohhh....lotta work, but probably just as strong as typical wall framing.

Yeah, it takes longer, but the joints are much stronger and more stable than the usual butt joints that coops are made with. This will be a walk-in, so I wanted it stable enough for people to walk inside of. Also, it will be under a giant maple tree which has occasionally dropped branches as thick as my thigh, so... I want to protect the coop from getting totally flattened.

 

[K0k0shka]

The last wall is all framed out! Stacked on top of the other walls because my working area is too small. Half lap joints again. I added extra supports under the door where we’ll be stepping on the frame. The door is off the floor by 8 inches to allow for a thick layer of bedding. The long opening at floor level on the left is where I’ll push the litter out through on big clean-out day. The human door needs some love, but it was a good find and free!