Coop Build Process

[knobhillfarm]

Day 4 work included caulking, a good start on painting, and a bit of work on the run that will be attached. Didn’t feel like a particularly productive day but progress is progress. Rain forecast for tomorrow and a full work week will slow things down until next weekend.

On a side note, my 5 week old chicks spent their first night in a small coop outside last night. They were so confused as it got dark so I helped them back into the roosting area and they fell right asleep. This morning they came right out when I opened the pop door and tonight when I went to check on them, they had found their way back to bed all by themselves. Two seemed to sleep on the roosting bar and the other two were piled up in the shavings together. Can’t wait to get them moved into their new home.

 

[knobhillfarm]

Made a little more progress in my spare time this week by installing doors and finishing up the main panels that will make the run. Still have a little touchup painting to do as well as need to install hardware cloth under the coop. Hopefully can wrap it up this weekend.

 

[knobhillfarm]

Another full day of work today. Got the run all put together and roofed and painting done. Just need to install the apron now and I think it’ll be all done!

 

[knobhillfarm]

And that’s a wrap. Chicks are happy and enjoying their new home this afternoon.

Grand total came in around $1140 with the high building supply costs right now but still a bargain compared to some of the nicer looking prefab units that still need assembly and customization. Build took a total of 6 full days plus a few afternoons. With an assistant, it could have certainly gone faster.

Thanks for all advice and encouragement along the way.

 

[3KillerBs]

Beautiful.

 

[christenschmitz]

This looks fantastic!

I'm hoping to finish my coop by the end of the month. I have the floor built and the posts in my garage. Still feeling intimidated.

 

[knobhillfarm]

This looks fantastic!

I'm hoping to finish my coop by the end of the month. I have the floor built and the posts in my garage. Still feeling intimidated.

Thank you, the coop seems to be working out great so far. I know how you feel as I spent way too much mental energy planning and stressing over things that turned out to be way worse in my head than they were in reality. I'm fairly handy and have built a few decks and some small pieces of furniture, but this certainly stretched my skill set. I most dreaded the roof as I had never built trusses or installed shingles before, but youtube has a treasure trove of good instructional materials and it was actually kind of fun to learn and put the skills to use. Just keep pushing foward and it will all work out. Good luck!

 

[3KillerBs]

youtube has a treasure trove of good instructional materials and it was actually kind of fun to learn and put the skills to use. Just keep pushing foward and it will all work out. Good luck!

That's how my DH learned to install metal roofing -- which is remarkably easy to work with once you learn the tips and tricks.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Day 1 building progress of coop for 6 new chicks. This will be the 4x6 enclosed portion of the coop and there will be a hardware cloth run attached where the pop door is framed out and a large portion of that wall will be hardware cloth. Nesting boxes with access door will be on shorter left side with ventilation windows above. Large clean out door on long side opposite from run, and roost bars on the shorter right side. We have hot humid summers so a lot are area is planned to the hardware cloth with option to cover with plexiglass for winter.

Anything obvious I need to rethink at this stage?

Figuring out roof trusses is my next project to tackle. I want a fairly low pitched shingle roof because it’s already getting tall, but I need to think through how to get more ventilation in the eves as well. If you have a roof truss design that has worked well for you, please post a picture.

Thanks!

View attachment 3077246

Yours looks like mine did! Good luck

 

[Chikwhisperer]

And that’s a wrap. Chicks are happy and enjoying their new home this afternoon.

Grand total came in around $1140 with the high building supply costs right now but still a bargain compared to some of the nicer looking prefab units that still need assembly and customization. Build took a total of 6 full days plus a few afternoons. With an assistant, it could have certainly gone faster.

Thanks for all advice and encouragement along the way.

View attachment 3098235View attachment 3098238View attachment 3098240View attachment 3098242

VERY NICE!