Coop conundrum -- Advice for construction newbies?

[EMcD]

We need a bigger coop. You know, the first coop LOOKED like it was big enough for 6 hens (original 3 + 3 more this Spring) ...but it's not. So it's time to move up (and we see more chicken math looming...)

The prebuilt coops are very expensive around here. I'm not finding anything right on Craigslist in our area.

But we don't have construction experience. I've seen some great coops and gotten a lot of inspiration from this forum. But any advice on plans or instructions that are VERY detailed, the how-to for those of us who don't have building experience.

I see the basic ideas, but the videos, or coop stories take things for granted since they already know the terms and the steps to do it right....

I feel like I'm overwhelmed in looking at ideas, and posts, and plans....

So, I know others of you have built coops successfully with little prior experience! I'd love any tips, lessons, or rec's of plans that are easy to follow!

Thanks in advance.

 

[davemonkey]

My advice is to go simple at first. Just build a square building with a roof and then put some skin on it...kinda like a basic shed.

Depending on how big you want to go, all you really need is 4 corners, and then a support every 3-6 feet if you are using larger dimension lumber (2x6, or 4x4, or round posts). If you are using all 2x4 or smaller, then you want a vertical board every 2-4 feet or so for stability (but even THAT can be stretched further apart...and I'm erring on the conservative side).

To tie all these vertical boards together, you want a board running the length of each side at the very top, the middle, and the bottom. (The middle one will get cut to allow for a door.) These hold it all together.

On the roof, the simplest design is to have a single slope. In other words, the boards at the front of the coop are "x" feet tall. So you cut the boards at the back a few inches shorter so that the roof has some slope to it. The amount of slope will depend on where you are. Are you trying to get snow to fall off, or just let rain run off?

The "skin" can be anything from plywood to sheet metal to hardware cloth or chicken wire or a mixture of all of the above. Solid skin (metal or wood) will work to hold it all together securely.

Anyway, that's the simplest method I can think of, besides just nailing together a bunch of wooden pallets...which you could also do.

 

[Life is Good!]

This one might work for you:

http://ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/shed-chicken-coop

It's a basic shed that's a chicken coop. Know what makes a coop a coop and not a shed? A roost bar, nest boxes and feeder/waterer. That's it! Otherwise, you'd be making a garden shed!

And the nest boxes do not need to stick out the side of the building - just take milk crates, turn so the 'open' end is at the front. Screw a 1x4" board across the front (to hold the bedding in), fill with straw and you've got a nest box! You can screw them to the wall a little off the floor (say about 18"), so that way the girls have more floor space. (You can also drill a hole, and connect the wood to the plastic with a zip-tie like you'd use on electric cords)

A roost bar is simply a 2x4" turned so the 4" is the top edge - run it along one side wall. To hold it in place, the home stores sell these aluminum brackets in the decking department (usually) as they're often used for decks. Screw the bracket to the wall. Screw another bracket the same height as the first. Cut the board to fit. Plop it in the bracket and screw from underneath to hold it in place (in case everyone jumps down at the same time!)

I'm not sure your budget - but I know many folks have purchased a pre-made (called pre-fab) shed from favorite home store, and used that successfully. Usually, you need to add another window or two, add some vents at the peak of the roof (that's the pointy bit at the top), cut a chicken door in the side to go out to the run, and you've got a little coop. Get a wood one, not a plastic one - those are harder to modify successfully.

Try seeing something like this from Lowe's:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_437507-5765...&Ntt=shed&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=shed&facetInfo=

In fact, going to see one of these (they're likely in the parking lots - yes, you can sometimes go inside them) - to see how it's made, might help you with some ideas of what to do. If they're locked, go in and find someone to open it for you. Customer always gets to see inside before they buy, right? So go inside it!

This one was really cute!
http://www.lowes.com/pd_344323-57658-194252_0__?productId=3550128&Ntt=shed

Good luck! Ask tons of questions - that's what the folks at the home stores are there for!