Building our Coop

[JekkaLynn]

We finally got started on our first coop. We plan on building a few little coops and having our birds free range in nice weather. In fall we will build one big coop for warmth and put up wire to divide the birds into groups by breed.

 

[Folly's place]

Sounds cute but much more material and labor intensive. How about one building with dividers? They can be movable or have doors. Warmer in winter, too. Mary

 

[JekkaLynn]

My DH is a builder so is changing the design as he goes and using up material we have on hand. We dont have the material for one big coop right now so he is making one small one that we will use for the chicks once it is warm enough outside. By the time they outgrow it we will have a second coop built out of an old calfhutch. Then once we have saved up for materials we will build a big coop and use the little coops for quarentine and brooding futute chicks.

 

[JekkaLynn]

The first small coop is 6' long, 4' wide, and 5' 2" tall. It will be totally enclosed with wire or wood until the chicks grow up a bit. How many birds can I keep in that space?

 

[JekkaLynn]

We are using greenhouse plastic for parts of the roof to let in the sunlight

 

[JekkaLynn]

First Hubby ran out if nails. Then he forgot to buy hinges. Now it is raining.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!!! 24 sq. ft. may handle up to six birds, or fewer, depending. You aren't going to like the five ft. height for yourself unless you are really short! Mary

 

[JekkaLynn]

The roof opens and a piece of fencing on the enclosed bottom is a door that opens sobs can get at both levels. This is going to mostly be used for chicks I am assuming it will comfortably hold more chicks then chickens.

 

[JekkaLynn]

We finally got a roll of hardware cloth to cover the coop with. Now we just have to build a big moveable covered run.