Chronicles of a New Coop

[bwebster]

First off, I really love the advice and existing threads on BYC. That is one reason I want to start a thread following our new coop build. The advice, questions, experience and criticisms are an incredible resource. I read a few old threads and was directed to some by members that were very helpful. One of which gave me idea to ditch the metal shed idea and build my own! And, perhaps down the road, my thread will be referenced by someone as well.

The coop will be 6x8, framed like a shed with a gable roof. I finished the floor and getting it up off the ground this weekend and started framing the walls. Well, one wall. It's in the garage until I frame the rest and get the lumber for the roof. Leveling on the uneven ground was a bit of a hassle but thankfully I had different sized pavers lying around.

Attached are a few photos so far, perhaps one even containing a rare glimpse of the creatures that inhabit my property. Otherwise known as my children.

I framed the floor with PT 2x6s hung with joist hangers 24" on center. I decided 24" instead of 16" to save money, and that the load on the floor will be chickens and their accompaniments and not my tractor. Looking back, it would've only been like $15 more, but this should hopefully be OK. On top of that is PT plywood.

Excited to get back to work but I also have to work at real work. Drag. Updates when they come!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How exciting to start building a coop. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[aart]

Love me a good build thread!!


Go with big roof overhangs and open soffits for winter ventilation!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

 

[bwebster]

Great idea! That is less work too haha. Just fascia board.

 

[aart]

That is less work too haha.

Well, kinda. Was tricky to get HC bent and up in one 16' piece.

 

[bwebster]

HC is tricky always lol. And painful. My dimensions are 8x6 so it'll be a bit easier hopefully.

 

[aart]

HC is tricky always lol. And painful. My dimensions are 8x6 so it'll be a bit easier hopefully.

Tip:
Take small piece of HC and bend it in place, then use that as a pattern to bend the larger piece.
Laying HC out on my concrete garage floor really helped.

 

[bwebster]

Currently gathering supplies. Hope to get most of the coop done by or during this weekend. A couple more Home Depot trips first... ran out of lumber. 3 of 4 walls framed and in the garage. Gotta frame the people door wall next.

I attached a couple pics of my current setup, hoping maybe some brains bigger than mine can think of a good way to connect the current run to new coop. I'll be removing the lower level part with the planter and expanding off the end for a nice long run. My conundrum lies with the overhang on the current run, and the height difference. The new coop, when done, will have 6' walls and a 12" roof height, plus being up off the ground. So probably about 8' from ground to pitch. The run addition won't be covered (other than HW cloth or chicken wire) so I kinda want the covered section where the chickens come out, though it won't butt up flush to the new coop. I suppose I can just cut off the overhang?

Hope to have more updates soon! Subfloor material, vinyl floor, windows and HW cloth are all in the garage. Just need a few more 2x4s, 2x6s for the rafters, and sheathing for walls and roof. Felt roll, shingles and drip edges ordered and ready to be picked up.

Btw... We have 5 FAT barred rocks in there now, 3 wearing pinless peepers. Easy to see why we are expanding! And of course we want to add 3-4 more haha.

 

[bwebster]

Boy that took forever for supplies!! Joking. Finding the time was the real hurdle, but I was able to get quite a bit done today. One thing I've noticed since Covid is the price of lumber is way higher than it was last year. Bummer.

Anyway, today I framed the wall with the people door, put up the walls and sheathing. I had a ______ moment when doing this. (Fill in the blank with your preferred term). I should've only sheathed the side walls, put up the rafters, and then did other walls. Now there is nowhere to attach the pitch section of sheathing. Oh well. I plan to just add a third top plate on those walls lol.

I had a tough time attaching the rafters to the ridge board without metal hangers so I called it a day right there. I have all the rafters cut and ready to go once I get those. Toe nailing is not a strength of mine. Pitch of roof is 4/12.


So left to do is frame the roof, put up OSB sheathing, felt, and shingles. Build a door, frame the windows, install chicken door, add trim, move old run over and connect, then expand the run. And all the fun stuff inside like best boxes and roosts.

I plan to build a storage area with a poop tray above. And ideas or experience or pics of inside coop storage???

I attached a few pics of the progress. It's certainly a bit taller than it needs to be (6' walls) but we wanted plenty of head room and plan to put roost fairly high up.

Updates when they come!

 

[bwebster]

Roof up, sans shingles. There's a rain storm heading this way (with snow at the tail end, apparently), so I wanted to have the roof up and at least the underlayment down. I was able to get that done today. A little tough by yourself, but I managed. I made wound up screwing some 2x4s to help me install fascia board alone. Worked out perfect. Tighten or loosen screws to raise/lower board to be flush with rafters.

After this storm passes I'll finish the siding/sheathing and get the rake drop edges up and shingle the roof. Then I have to build a door, install the windows, under roof deck insulation, put down vinyl floor, and all the inside accompaniments.

@aart I took your advice and will leave soffits open and cover with hardware cloth.

Pics attached. Feels like I'm rounding the corner here! I've made a mistake here or there, a bad cut or two, but it's coming together and it is very structurally sound. Thankfully trim exists to cover my mistakes!