Cheap, Relatively Easy House Suggestions? we

[FeatherstoneFrm]

What you need depends on where you are. I have mine currently in an 8x13 dog run with a tarp covering it. I put up 5 pallets, 1 on each end, 2 across the back and 1 on the front so it is open on 1 side. They are sitting on concrete blocks. I put roosting bars in the closed end and nest boxes in the other end. Because it is inside the run and under the tarp, I haven't put a roof on it yet and the chickens are enjoying roosting on top of one wall. Because I'm in Georgia, the open slats of the pallets allow air flow and I can wrap a tarp(s) around it in the winter if needed.
If you call around to some local stores, you can get pallets for free. I get mine from Office Max.
I realize this is small for your needs but that's the beauty of pallets, just add more as you need more space.

 

[llombardo]

I got one of those prefab ones. I'm modifying it for this winter and my intentions are to build one next spring. I am just not sure about my building abilities. I keep getting stuck on windows and installing those the right way. I've got ideas in my head. Can't draw worth a crap, so that is no help.

 

[Folly's place]

The low tech less expensive window is a framed opening, covered in hardware cloth well secured. In winter, either an awning, or doubled clear plastic, secured with staples and wood strips.
Real windows come cheap at a Habitat Restore, in addition to doors. Shop there first! Exterior stain, hardware, all kinds of stuff!
Mary

 

[paintedChix]

and still, a hoop coop is sooo easy to build and can be done with the pallets as well... Ours have made 2 hwy moves totaling 40 miles, were originally moved around at first property but not at leased/temp property at a friends' home. Then they were moved a handful of times here, but the ground cover was sparse, sandy w/ coarse clumps of grasses/weeds/cacti and it was hard on the wooden joins to bump over that (even on the one that you put wheels on).

So they became permanent and I have ideas on to build portable tractor ones later. I love that I can stand up in mine, use a variety of roost & nesting box options - even a HUGE variety of roofing options. I've used feedbags stitched to the cattle panels as walls to stop wind, rain & the snow we do get here in NC. Because we have access to LOTS of cardboard thru the spay/neuter Vet clinic I work for, I can/have made temp walls (that lasted a very wet/rainy winter season into the next humid summer - 9 months total) from. Not the prettiest, but was expedient and sure did work and best of all - no charge, LOL - and replaceable when needed before wood walls were completed.

This place had 1/2 height (about 38-40" tall - will need to measure) pens that had flat "roofs" on them. Actually, 2 were open. Not sure if they ever had roofs. One is covered by flat 2x4 wire and the 4th has tin roofing on it (again - flat). We've used the cattle panels to raise the roofs & tarped them (for now). Two pens done, need to do the 3rd & 4th one.



Then we will also be hooping a larger run - the birds have figured out how to get/out of it when I want them to stay in it...

We also breed/raise Shetland ponies and I collect all the haystring (mostly orange poly) from both small squares and large round bales. I "wash" and "dry" the string to make it neater to take into home - roll into "tamales" and then proceed to weave, braid or crochet it into many different items. The projects this year have centered around woven panels made on a $7 Boye loom from Wal-mart to make covers on brooders and rabbit cages that are outside - as "shade cloth" and as a holder that you slide doubled feed bags (the woven plastic ones) under to keep the little chix warm/dry/draft free.

There are so many different ways to build a hoop coop - you could even try doing one w/o a wood frame or only a small portion of wood (CHECK OUT Blooie's run in WY, no less). Just depends on how you want to use them and how you want it to look. I have often taken the bent panels from TSC (Menards & Farm/Fleet in MT) at a lower cost - as much as 50% off ($10 instead of the current $22). I have also repurposed the bent/mangled panels that ponies have done a number on - to use for hoop coops, gates & doors for the hoop coops.

I've used bottom cracked buckets as pop doors and as nesting boxes. Use a tire for a dust bath.

I'm not the most computer literate person, sometimes still create major problems w/ hitting wrong keys in wrong sequences. BUT I'm learning how to use the FaceBook marketing app on my phone, FreeCycle for the 4 counties we live in the middle of (like the 4 corners of CO) and Craig's List. The ReStore in our nearest area closed/moved and I haven't located one that I can easily get to anymore - especially with my larger trk, but look forward to drooling over projects that could come to be again...

Love the Coop section of BYC.

 

[llombardo]

The low tech less expensive window is a framed opening, covered in hardware cloth well secured. In winter, either an awning, or doubled clear plastic, secured with staples and wood strips.
Real windows come cheap at a Habitat Restore, in addition to doors. Shop there first! Exterior stain, hardware, all kinds of stuff!
Mary

Never thought about the plastic over the windows. The same kind to insulate windows in the house, right?

 

[Folly's place]

I use the rolled plastic sheeting, nearly clear in a double layer. It can last to be reused a couple of winters, and is inexpensive. Summer.
Winter
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Sorry about the duplicates! Mary

 

[Melky]

Welcome to BYC!​