Colorado

[elbertchick]

I'm really interested to hear about how you pallet coop goes. we started to try one and it was just too darn hard to pull the darn things apart where we needed to.

We didn't even get that far - I mentioned it as a possibility and Bob said pulling them apart was much harder than I thought it was LOL.  I wonder if they can be cut apart with a sawzall?

I have seen a couple examples of coops built from whole pallets but they were nicer and bigger pallets than I've ever seen around here.

We don't plan on pulling them apart. Four on the base with plywood. Then setting up each pallet an attaching them together with bolts and two by four for stability.. Will cut out doors and a window with a circular saw. And attach a roof. I hand picked the pallets, so they are nice, and will side the outside. The inside will eventually get chicken wire or trimmed out. If.......all goes as planned.

 

[ozexpat]

I am cross posting this posting from a thread I started


Road Warriors Egg Transportation - take your eggs to work or on vacation
walkingbird replied to this thread on March 11, 1:42 pm
So, I have recently discovered ozexpat's Diary of a Crazy Chicken Man, and am reading furiously to catch up. Amazing thread, I live there vicariously while it is snowy where I am. I saw this link in there, and thought, Hey! I'm going on vacation soon!

April 21st or 23rd or so, I will be driving from the Phoenix, AZ area to the Denver, CO area. I would be glad to transport eggs if anyone wants to send/receive them, although I myself will not have an incubator to hatch in or any eggs to provide (unless my button quail get off their a**es and start making with the nookie).

It would be an 18 hour trip by car with a probable overnight stop.

Let me know!

 

[samsr]

Getting ready to actually start building my chicken run. Does anyone have recommendations on where to purchase hardware cloth? It's going to be our biggest expense but I want to make sure I'm getting good quality stuff to protect my flock without getting completely fleeced!!

I ordered mine from Amazon. I got twice the length for the same price as Home depot and lowes. If you can wait a few days, it is a very economical way to purchase it. I received mine in about 4 days. It shipped from the Phoenix area.

 

[maggiemo]

I just posted a classified for some laying hens if anyone is interested. They are just hatchery birds.
I need to make room for this years chicks.
I thought I would try this before going to the swaps, or craigslist.
Thanks!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

If I could get a swap set up for Colorado Springs area, would anyone be interested in attending/selling? I am starting to look into locations but I need an idea how popular it may be to help convince the lot owners.

 

[EHook518]

Getting ready to actually start building my chicken run. Does anyone have recommendations on where to purchase hardware cloth? It's going to be our biggest expense but I want to make sure I'm getting good quality stuff to protect my flock without getting completely fleeced!!

We bought ours at Stockyards. The price was good but when it came time to cutting I realized that if I cut straight along the squares I had an odd shaped piece. Not sure if it was worth the money I saved.

 

[jgurshtein]

I ordered mine from Amazon. I got twice the length for the same price as Home depot and lowes. If you can wait a few days, it is a very economical way to purchase it. I received mine in about 4 days. It shipped from the Phoenix area.

Yeah, I was thinking of ordering online but we need quite a bit so it almost seemed stupid... but maybe not!

 

[jgurshtein]

We bought ours at Stockyards. The price was good but when it came time to cutting I realized that if I cut straight along the squares I had an odd shaped piece. Not sure if it was worth the money I saved.

AH! Thanks for the advice. Sorry yours was..... difficult!

 

[Chook Chick]

I ordered mine from Amazon.  I got twice the length for the same price as Home depot and lowes.  If you can wait a few days, it is a very economical way to purchase it.  I received mine in about 4 days.  It shipped from the Phoenix area.

I have done alot of research on coops, especially the ones on Amazon. You will find them all over the internet too.
I was going to get one until I saw how flimsy and lightweight they all are! We have some darned pretty strong winds here in the Springs, and I sure don't want my girls getting blown away or injured; plus the prices are ridiculous!
So, I have decided to build my own. I can make it to my liking and I know it will be made well.
I went to a recycled building and construction materials place today and was like a kid in a candy store! I got 2-5' half trusses for $15; an old kitchen cabinet I'm going to use for a nesting box for $2.50; a set of hinges and handles for $3.00, and 2 aluminum vents already covered with hardware cloth, $5.00!
They also have reclaimed 2x4's and OSB....but I need to find someone with a truck, I don't think my minivan would haul it all....they will however, deliver if necessary. Trying to save some $$ here yet make sure my girls will be warm in the winter and as cool as possible in the summer.....
Two days ago I knew nothing about how to frame a floor or a wall, etc....I watched videos on YouTube.... easy peasy....I also watched videos on how to shingle a one panel roof deck, or shed roof...pretty simple....nothing hard about that either.
I bought a 24" square and a 24" level today, plus 3 boxes of 3" wood screws. I have a Black and Decker drill and am borrowing a circular saw.
I'll take pictures from start to finish. I'll be 55 years old next month, I plan on having the coop done within a couple of weeks after I get all of the materials.
Who said grandma's can't do anything? Shoot, I learned how to ride a motorcycle 3 years ago and have a 700cc Honda!
Lol...I'm just getting started!!

 

[Kitty990]

If I could get a swap set up for Colorado Springs area, would anyone be interested in attending/selling? I am starting to look into locations but I need an idea how popular it may be to help convince the lot owners.

i would, and if its set up in advance you might want to post an ad in the independant news paper and craigslist