Coop finished, pics!

[4theloveofhens]

Wow, this is pretty much exactly what I've been sketching out the past few weeks (ok, months...) of my ideal coop design. Just a few questions for you

Do you find the space is adequate in the run? I have 4 girls and wondering... I was thinking of my run (Not including under coop) being 8 x 4 but??

Also, how much would you say the whole thing cost minus the hardware cloth? Just curious as we are on a very tight budget

Last, I don't suppose you took any pictures while you were building? We are mere beginners when it comes to construction so any helpful tips on how you did the framing, dimensions, etc, would be amazing!

Thanks again!

 

[TK421]

I really like this set up. It looks like something I could build without screwing up too badly! Congratulations.

 

[camotruck]

Quote:
Great idea. I should have thought of this, that is the way we protect our locks on the tool trailers at work. Thank you for bringing it up, something I will take care of before winter.

 

[camotruck]

Quote:
First of all I came up with this design by looking at coop after coop online and on this site. It is a combination of things that I wanted to incorporate in this coop. If it wasn't for learning a ton of stuff on this site (about raising chickens and coop designs) I never would have been knowledgeable enough to get into this hobby.

I learned that the rule of thumb is 10 sq ft per chicken in the run, my run has 52 sq ft which includes under the coop. If you were looking at putting a similar run under the coop along with the 8x4, you should be ok. Although many people say go big in case you want to get more chickens later. Something I may regret down the road. Although my chickens are a little less than 8 weeks old, they seem very happy with the room in the run, and happy with the 2' high and 4' high perches in the run.

I spent about $90 or so on hardware cloth and had about 10 or 12' to spare. I would say I might have $200 into it without the hardware cloth. I did get all the siding on the coop donated, if I would have used plywood I would have went with T-111 which is $25 a sheet, and I would have been looking at at least 2 sheets.

No, sorry I didn't take pics during construction. I will send you a PM with some of the dimensions. A simple book or website on framing construction will be a big help just to understand some of the basics.

Thanks everyone for the compliments.

 

[mrkpero]

Hey,
Thanks so much for the info about the sand. We are in Graytown, so that is not very far to go. My husband said Woodville Rd nursery also has sand, but like you said, don't know how fine it is. Still better than clay soil after the rain! Thanks again and good luck with your new chicks!