Coop from old playset

[aart]

Ahh, didn't realize you had chicks in there.

So about 5x6', that is going to be very tight space for 15 full grown birds come the middle of winter. Not sure you can even fit enough roost length in there let alone anything else.
Might want to plan on expanded run with solid cover and wind blocked sides.
Crowded Cabin Fever is not a pretty thing.


Might I suggest for future chicks?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

and for this winter
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[Cluck-cluck_boogie]

P

Ahh, didn't realize you had chicks in there.

So about 5x6', that is going to be very tight space for 15 full grown birds come the middle of winter. Not sure you can even fit enough roost length in there let alone anything else.
Might want to plan on expanded run with solid cover and wind blocked sides.
Crowded Cabin Fever is not a pretty thing.


Might I suggest for future chicks?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

and for this winter
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

Took your advice and started the add on. It's about 17 sq ft, so it gives em another sq ft per chicken. It took all the left over wood I had, so that's as big as it's gonna get for now. Was able to get the base and roof on, should be able to have it tiled and sealed up with the door by tomorrow. I'll probably put the shingles on as well and have the painting done by the weekend. I'm also going to open up the run so they have more of a covered run.

I was considering just putting wire over the open triangle area on the roof line for ventilation and possibly covering it with plexi glass in the winter. Thoughts?

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

AWESOME!!!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Thought I would post this since I couldn't find a lot of similar info when I was constructing my coop.

I'm a newbie to chickens and was looking for an inexpensive way to get started. Most of the coop designs I liked were pricey to build and even more expensive to buy pre made.

I ended up building my coop from a neighbors old playset and the run was constructed with old wood from another neighbors old pool deck. Both neighbors were planning on trashing the stuff so I got lucky. The tar paper, shingles, and pvc that I used were leftovers in the attic from the previous owner of my house.

All together I spent about $350, most of which was for hardware cloth (expensive!), hardware (hinges, locks, screws etc) and things to properly wire the electric (swapped a 30 amp break to 20 amp, outlets, light fixtures for heat lamp and light on timer). I built my own feeders and waters out of 5 gallon buckets, both of which I can fill from outside the coop. I probably could have done it for cheaper, but it turned out the way I wanted it.

Anyway, here are some pictures. Any questions, comments, or suggestions for improvements would be appreciated. Thanks!


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Beautiful!!

 

[peckpeckpeck]

This is amazing!
You've made such quick progress & done a beautiful job. Watching to see what you decide with winterizing

 

[Cluck-cluck_boogie]

This is amazing!
You've made such quick progress & done a beautiful job. Watching to see what you decide with winterizing

Thank you. My goal was to get the addition on and secured as quick as possible. Still have to open up the run underneath, paint, and do the roof, but none of those should take very long.

I decided to wire half of the roof line on each side. I bought some plexi glass and will use that to cover the wire in the winter when it gets nasty.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Looks great

 

[peckpeckpeck]

I decided to wire half of the roof line on each side. I bought some plexi glass and will use that to cover the wire in the winter when it gets nasty.

Maybe this is obvious but I don't know...
where do you buy plexiglass & how do you cut it? Isn't it pretty thick?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey I think you doing great there

 

[Cluck-cluck_boogie]

Maybe this is obvious but I don't know...
where do you buy plexiglass & how do you cut it? Isn't it pretty thick?

I picked it up at menards. It was 9.99 for an 18in x 24 in. It's not very thick, I think maybe .100 in. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but it is what it is. It was in the window section, kind of hidden. Took me forever to find it.

They sell acryic cutters but it doesn't need to be pretty, just functional so I will use a jig saw or table saw. I may use my band saw if I can get it to work. I imagine a good ole fashion box cutter would work also, but i prefer my power tools!