Colorado

[Mtn Margie]

This coop will end up costing me about $300; that includes a few tool purchases I needed. The only thing that will be new on/in this coop is the peel and stick linoleum tiles I will be using for the coop flooring. Everything else has been purchased reused at the "Restore" which supports Habitat for Humanity, and the "Used Again" building materials place on the westside in Colorado Springs. If an old grandma like me can do it, so can you!!

It looks great! Keep us updated please!

 

[wsmith]

Well, after weeks of trying to get someone to build a coop for me, I decided to build one myself. By going to a couple of local places that sell used building materials, I am building a 5' x 6' coop. much bigger (and it will be much stronger too) than these cheap-o ones you see on Amazon.com and many other sites. With the winds we have here in Colorado, I have no doubt it will stand up to them.

I'm really hoping it doesn't snow this weekend....I could probably be almost done with it by Tuesday (The 26th). Mind you, I have no real help. When I say I'm doing it by myself, I MEAN by myself. The only help I've had was my son putting the blade in the Sawzall (I didn't know how) and my daughter held the first wall up while I added some temporary side supports. That's it.

I'm a 54 (soon to be 55) year old mother of 5 and grandmother of 3; I have no carpentry skills whatsoever. I read alot about framing. chicken coops and watched a couple of YouTube videos.

Here's a few pictures:






My son tried to do some leveling of the legs.....needless to say, I had to do that job over again!


Last Sunday:


The brown box is an old 30" cabinet that will be a future nesting box.

This coop will end up costing me about $300; that includes a few tool purchases I needed. The only thing that will be new on/in this coop is the peel and stick linoleum tiles I will be using for the coop flooring. Everything else has been purchased reused at the "Restore" which supports Habitat for Humanity, and the "Used Again" building materials place on the westside in Colorado Springs. If an old grandma like me can do it, so can you!!

Looking good!

 

[wsmith]

Well, after weeks of trying to get someone to build a coop for me, I decided to build one myself. By going to a couple of local places that sell used building materials, I am building a 5' x 6' coop. much bigger (and it will be much stronger too) than these cheap-o ones you see on Amazon.com and many other sites. With the winds we have here in Colorado, I have no doubt it will stand up to them.

I'm really hoping it doesn't snow this weekend....I could probably be almost done with it by Tuesday (The 26th). Mind you, I have no real help. When I say I'm doing it by myself, I MEAN by myself. The only help I've had was my son putting the blade in the Sawzall (I didn't know how) and my daughter held the first wall up while I added some temporary side supports. That's it.

I'm a 54 (soon to be 55) year old mother of 5 and grandmother of 3; I have no carpentry skills whatsoever. I read alot about framing. chicken coops and watched a couple of YouTube videos.

Here's a few pictures:






My son tried to do some leveling of the legs.....needless to say, I had to do that job over again!


Last Sunday:


The brown box is an old 30" cabinet that will be a future nesting box.

This coop will end up costing me about $300; that includes a few tool purchases I needed. The only thing that will be new on/in this coop is the peel and stick linoleum tiles I will be using for the coop flooring. Everything else has been purchased reused at the "Restore" which supports Habitat for Humanity, and the "Used Again" building materials place on the westside in Colorado Springs. If an old grandma like me can do it, so can you!!

Questions... Did you put in floor joists / floor supports under the sheathing? How sturdy is your frame? If it wobbles at all, you might want to consider adding some diagonal braces on the legs. Can't wait to see the finished coop!

I ran out of lumber so progress on my feed shed has come to a sudden stop. That and the upcoming weather. I think that for next year I will build a couple of small walk-in coops for my breeding groups, and possibly a dedicated turkey coop/run.....

 

[coloradogal]

I have been so busy with job and life that I miss so much. The puppies are 6 weeks and just getting up throughout the night for potty break is tiring then if they have an accident. I have two with very soft stools so I have to call the vet to do a fecal smear this morning. There's always something.

I think I have done my last hatch. I made the mistake of sneaking a few under two broody hens and they ended up killing one so that just ruined my mood. They are brooding in the bathtub. I'm done using an old dog kennel as they kick too much food around. So the newest batch are brooding in a box and the older batch with beakers(crossbeaker) is in the deep tub in the bathroom.

Last week, I went -15 on the flock but with the new babies and the ones I'm brooding for Judi, I'm up a few. I'd like to find some homes for the phoenix/marans/silkie crosses that are 6 weeks old.

I'm still waiting on a start date but may put in another application elsewhere as I can't keep waiting for a date that never seems to come.

For the puppies, I have homes for 3 already. Yay! Now for them to get just a little older.

 

[dennarahl]

Well, after weeks of trying to get someone to build a coop for me, I decided to build one myself. By going to a couple of local places that sell used building materials, I am building a 5' x 6' coop. much bigger (and it will be much stronger too) than these cheap-o ones you see on Amazon.com and many other sites. With the winds we have here in Colorado, I have no doubt it will stand up to them. I'm really hoping it doesn't snow this weekend....I could probably be almost done with it by Tuesday (The 26th). Mind you, I have no real help. When I say I'm doing it by myself, I MEAN by myself. The only help I've had was my son putting the blade in the Sawzall (I didn't know how) and my daughter held the first wall up while I added some temporary side supports. That's it. I'm a 54 (soon to be 55) year old mother of 5 and grandmother of 3; I have no carpentry skills whatsoever. I read alot about framing. chicken coops and watched a couple of YouTube videos. Here's a few pictures: My son tried to do some leveling of the legs.....needless to say, I had to do that job over again! Last Sunday: The brown box is an old 30" cabinet that will be a future nesting box. This coop will end up costing me about $300; that includes a few tool purchases I needed. The only thing that will be new on/in this coop is the peel and stick linoleum tiles I will be using for the coop flooring. Everything else has been purchased reused at the "Restore" which supports Habitat for Humanity, and the "Used Again" building materials place on the westside in Colorado Springs. If an old grandma like me can do it, so can you!!

Looking good so far! If you haven't bought the peel and stick linoleum yet, don't. I used them in my first coop and they haven't stayed down very well. I would recommend using sheet linoleum instead that way there are no edges that the chickens can catch with their claws.

 

[gardendufus]

Chook Chick lookIs good from here. I always take Wendell's advice on construction, lol. After all, just LOOK at his setup. I also agree that solid linoleum is a better idea than stick on tiles. I ended up giving mine away, but got it free by going to a few flooring stores and asking if I could go through their dumpsters looking for waste they had thrown away. Finally ended up getting it from a place on S Academy.

 

[pichuris]

Well, after weeks of trying to get someone to build a coop for me, I decided to build one myself. By going to a couple of local places that sell used building materials, I am building a 5' x 6' coop. much bigger (and it will be much stronger too) than these cheap-o ones you see on Amazon.com and many other sites. With the winds we have here in Colorado, I have no doubt it will stand up to them. I'm really hoping it doesn't snow this weekend....I could probably be almost done with it by Tuesday (The 26th). Mind you, I have no real help. When I say I'm doing it by myself, I MEAN by myself. The only help I've had was my son putting the blade in the Sawzall (I didn't know how) and my daughter held the first wall up while I added some temporary side supports. That's it. I'm a 54 (soon to be 55) year old mother of 5 and grandmother of 3; I have no carpentry skills whatsoever. I read alot about framing. chicken coops and watched a couple of YouTube videos. Here's a few pictures: My son tried to do some leveling of the legs.....needless to say, I had to do that job over again! Last Sunday: The brown box is an old 30" cabinet that will be a future nesting box. This coop will end up costing me about $300; that includes a few tool purchases I needed. The only thing that will be new on/in this coop is the peel and stick linoleum tiles I will be using for the coop flooring. Everything else has been purchased reused at the "Restore" which supports Habitat for Humanity, and the "Used Again" building materials place on the westside in Colorado Springs. If an old grandma like me can do it, so can you!!

Good for you. I commend you for your effort it is looking very promising.

I have been so busy with job and life that I miss so much. The puppies are 6 weeks and just getting up throughout the night for potty break is tiring then if they have an accident. I have two with very soft stools so I have to call the vet to do a fecal smear this morning. There's always something. I think I have done my last hatch. I made the mistake of sneaking a few under two broody hens and they ended up killing one so that just ruined my mood. They are brooding in the bathtub. I'm done using an old dog kennel as they kick too much food around. So the newest batch are brooding in a box and the older batch with beakers(crossbeaker) is in the deep tub in the bathroom. Last week, I went -15 on the flock but with the new babies and the ones I'm brooding for Judi, I'm up a few. I'd like to find some homes for the phoenix/marans/silkie crosses that are 6 weeks old. I'm still waiting on a start date but may put in another application elsewhere as I can't keep waiting for a date that never seems to come. For the puppies, I have homes for 3 already. Yay! Now for them to get just a little older.

Sounds like you have been busy. Poor little pups. I hope they fill better soon. Everyone is always talking about marans. Making me think. Lol

 

[WFAthlete]

Looking good, great decision to build your own!
We bought a kit online and were a dismayed at the quality. I wound up building an addition with roosts, reinforcing the whole thing with leftover cement board from our house, another layer of roofing from ReSource Yard, new latches and various other materials I had laying around.

 

[coloradogal]

Good for you. I commend you for your effort it is looking very promising.
Sounds like you have been busy.
Poor little pups. I hope they fill better soon.
Everyone is always talking about marans. Making me think. Lol

I hatched some for my brother and they are just starting to lay. The first egg was a dark chocolate with speckles so he's pretty egg-cited. =) I wanted olive eggers, which is why so many of mine are marans/easter eggers mixes. My first generation laid me a very, very pretty olive.

 

[krcchickens]

How do you guys secure your chicken wire on the ground? Has anyone tried using metal landscaping stakes, or do you guys bury it in the ground. That's about all I have left to do and I can move chicks from new temp home in the garage to new home in the coop