Building My First Coop

[K0k0shka]

I am reading your coop build thread now

 

[adirondak5]

Trusses and purlins are done . I'll probably do a fly rafter at the front end too but am going to wait until I get the steel roof panels to double check any cuts I may need length wise on the panel .

Also got the door for the nesting box , I'll take it apart tomorrow and get it painted .

 

[K0k0shka]

Looks very professional. I like your plunge saw.
How did you attach the purlins to the trusses?

 

[adirondak5]

Looks very professional. I like your plunge saw.
How did you attach the purlins to the trusses?

Thank you . The saw is a Hitachi , a 12" sliding compound miter saw . Had it for a while , its a good saw . I just recently got the stand its on , Ridgid brand from Home Depot , fold up and wheels away like a hand truck , I am impressed with the stand , very sturdy and so convenient , I'm very happy with it . The purlins are all attached with nails (pneumatic framing nailer)

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

Hi all, just joined the other day after lurking for a while . I have a thread over in the new members forum , I'm just getting started , don't have any chickens yet . I want to get a decent coop done first so I just got started on that yesterday . I've looked around a bit and read and looked at prefabs and figured I could build one myself . I like the Carolina Coop style so thats what I'll be building with my own take on it . Overall size will be 6' wide by 13' long . Coop is raised so the run will extend under the coop , the hen house will be the same 6' wide x 5 ' long , the roof will extend over the run . Here's yesterdays pics .
First trip to Lowes

Second trip to Home Depot

Set up string lines for corners and strted post hole digging and setting 4 x 4's

That was it for yesterday , still have 2 more 4 x 4's to set and concrete in . More to come .

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

Excellent decision. Prefab coops don't seem to hold up very well. I purchased a Chicken Saloon coop two years ago, thought it was a tab expensive but figured it was build better, particularly since it had great reviews. Well, in under 1 year, it began to come apart. From here on out, I will construct my own.

Don't forget to reinforce it against predators. I'd recommend 1/4-1/2 cloth (machine cloth? mechanical cloth-I always forget the correct term) NOT chicken wire-it'll only keep the chickens in, not predators out. Put the cloth 12" into the ground and also "skirt" it around the perimeter 12" out.

Best of luck!

 

[aart]

The saw is a Hitachi , a 12" sliding compound miter saw . Had it for a while , its a good saw . I just recently got the stand its on , Ridgid brand from Home Depot , fold up and wheels away like a hand truck , I am impressed with the stand , very sturdy and so convenient , I'm very happy with it .

Was admiring it too, with slightly green eyes.
I have a 10" Delta compound slider with folding stand with extensions but no wheels.
It's about 25 years old now and has cut a LOT of wood for me.

 

[adirondak5]

Excellent decision. Prefab coops don't seem to hold up very well. I purchased a Chicken Saloon coop two years ago, thought it was a tab expensive but figured it was build better, particularly since it had great reviews. Well, in under 1 year, it began to come apart. From here on out, I will construct my own.

Don't forget to reinforce it against predators. I'd recommend 1/4-1/2 cloth (machine cloth? mechanical cloth-I always forget the correct term) NOT chicken wire-it'll only keep the chickens in, not predators out. Put the cloth 12" into the ground and also "skirt" it around the perimeter 12" out.

Best of luck!

Thank you . I saw many prefabs that were appealing , but price and build quality was always a question with them .
No chicken wire will be used here , its all gonna be 1/2" hardware cloth , burried/skirted around coop and run .

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

It's coming along nicely. The window I got from Amazon was from the same vendor. I liked how easy it was to install. I wanted to add another window this year however I couldn't find time to work it in. Next summer, perhaps.

 

[adirondak5]

It's coming along nicely. The window I got from Amazon was from the same vendor. I liked how easy it was to install. I wanted to add another window this year however I couldn't find time to work it in. Next summer, perhaps.

Thanks . Yes , the windows are easy to install and the vendor is a good one .
I'm retired and still can't find the time to squeeze everything in