Coop from Building Chicken Coops for Dummies

[Caat]

Morning everyone! After much research, debate, plannign I think I have finally found the perfect coop. I am considering using the plans from the "walk in coop" that you can find in "Building Chicken Coops for Dummies". Has anyone here used those plans aned how did your coop turn out. I was at our local hardware store today and priced out the materials. I came very close to the amount "quoted" in the book minus the window

The only thing about the plans that I am considering changing is adding a full door (with the chicken door incorporated into it) that would lead into the run. Then there's a matter or running electrical and insulating it since I live in BC Canada.

How does on insulate the nest boxes that open to the outside? I was thinking of just having weather stripping around the pannel but other than that not insulate since it would be quite impracticle. Right?

On the plus side, the hardware store has a table and mitre saw on sale....

Wonder what hubby would say if he came home after his fire arms class today to find new power tools.....

have a great day folks!

 

[foxfire]

Go for it!!...guys like power tools.

 

[JaysChicks]

When you build it be wary a few dimensions are incorrect.

On page 254, in the front wall framing diagram. - The placement of the studs @ 58.5" and 77" is wrong, if you nail these in place without first fitting the window header and sill, you won't get it to fit. 77" minus 58.5" leaves you 18.5" to fit a 18.25" window header/sill PLUS the 1.5" stud. The window jack studs should be at either (57.25" and 77") OR (58.5" and 78.25") in order to fit the window. It depicts the space between studs wrong, the 18.25" label should be 21.25". Or the arrow heads should be brought in, as they are in the correct depiction of the chicken door space in page 256.

On page 256, in the right wall framing diagram. - It says the total length from outside of the left stud to outside of the right stud is 63.25", when it should read 66.25".

Still the best book off the shelf for plans on building coops.

Although, this may all be moot as I don't know if the book is any different for Canadian customers.

 

[Caat]

Quote:
Thank you for the great feed back. I will certainly keep it in mind when building the coop. I don't think the cdn version is any different than the us version. Well other than the price that is

I'm on the road to a second hardware store for pricing!

 

[JaysChicks]

Quote:
I wasn't sure if it would be illustrated in the American system or metric.

 

[Caat]

In inches & feet thank lord for that! I really dislike using metric!

 

[gryeyes]

Here's a thread for a BYC member who made a coop from the book, and even made some alterations from it. But she pretty much built it all by herself.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=404806&p=1

 

[Caat]

thanks guys, you rock! Hubby and I went to Home Hardware, found a shed kit that comes with everything I need to build the coop for half the price of buying all the materials!! The fact that the kit is unassembled is great! we get to modify it without any trouble. I'm hoping to get back there today to pick up the 2 saws (Mitre and table) then nxt paychq get the shed and ....

start building the coop!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited since I'll be able to put in electrical and insulation for LESS than the original price of the mats for the coop - electrical and insulation!

the only downside.... I'm NOT patient!!! I want it all NOW!

Thanks again everyone!