Coop Builders - Advice needed

[m.kitchengirl]

Posting being removed by thread starter.
No further input needed.

 

[Ceilismom]

If you possibly can, please take a photo and post it here. Maybe we can offer you some suggestions to at least salvage it with some modifications. I'm sorry you've got such a mess on your hands.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

Hate to say it but this is about more than a chicken coop and you probably already know it. He apparently could care less about your opinion because he didn't use the plans you purchased and he purposely built it while you were away even after you explicitly told him not to. Not sure what your long-term plans are with the sweetheart but you'll need to decide now whether or not you're willing to be a doormat for his father or whether you want to be treated like an adult.

 

[horseshowmomnv]

Please post some pictures, I am sure there must be a way to restructure the "coop".

 

[m.kitchengirl]

I am sorry I ever asked for help building my coop.

 

[TomGallopavo]

Tell him the truth, it is not a chicken coop and you want him to follow the plans. If he can't you will find some one who can (or maybe you can, I built mine and I'm no carpenter). He is a grown man and and can take it...or maybe he is not. If he were a gentleman he would have already done as you wished. You have to assert yourself, be firm, but kind. If he is not understanding, you have learned something very important about him...and probably his son. I'm sorry as this must be very stressful for you. But hey, the egg box looks decent. And when he is gone and you have your chickens...bliss. Good Luck!

 

[yakibert]

I would hire someone to build the coop you wanted. ...maybe integrate the Father's design into it somehow as an add-on to your plans ..as maybe an extended run? You decide ...but get the one you wanted built, extend your Father in law some praises for being kind (maybe it's the only thing he knows and subconsciously knows he can't follow plans) ...but get what you were hoping for and not let this fester into something bigger.

 

[Ceilismom]

I don't know what I was expecting the finished "coop" to look like, but this definitely wasn't it. It appears that you have a lovely exterior nest box and....a chicken ramp. I don't suppose there is any chance that he's not done with it yet?

If you can't afford much (any?) more for building materials, could you maybe measure the pieces that have already been cut and assembled, and go from there? It appears that the thing is held together with L-braces? If that is the case, it should at least be fairly simple to take apart and reconfigure as needed. I just can't wrap my mind around using the frame as-is and ending up with something that is the size you want, practical, and sturdy, but hopefully someone with more experience will chime in here with a brilliant solution. Maybe a trip to a Re-Store if there is one near you could help keep the cost down for the rest of the materials that you'll need. Barring that, there is the option of re-using wood pallets. I am no construction expert, but there are some good coop pages on here where pallets were used, and they can be had for cheap or free.

 

[m.kitchengirl]

I was able to get some materials from a friend today who had some stuff left over from a recent build.

I have accepted I will have to spend some money on it. I am sure I will spend more than I would like. It is what it is.


Quote: X2. I didn't say much yesterday because, well... I thought maybe I wasn't seeing the big picture, or maybe there was more coming...
It sort of dawned on me overnight that this was what he planned to make.
I came home today & this was "finished" in the driveway...

Goodness, I hate to be on here complaining. He is a sweet guy, I know he really thinks he is doing what he should do, and I hate to cry in the face of his kindness. I would like to figure out how to adapt it so my chickens can be comfortable in the winter.

 

[ScottM]

You could reuse the 'nestboxes' but the rest (are those 1x2s?) look more like a run than coop.

After reading your initial post, I thought that it couldn't be hat bad. But that is definitely not a coop. You'd have been better off telling him u wanted a doghouse.

If $ is an issue, try to find used pallets to take appart and go from there

/Scott