Coop ideas?

[MadisonOde]

Hey all,

Looking for an easy, low-cost coop for about 2-4 hens for a group of people to build. I was thinking about A-frames, but I’ve heard people have had problems with roosting?

 

[DobieLover]

Hey all,

Looking for an easy, low-cost coop for about 2-4 hens for a group of people to build. I was thinking about A-frames, but I’ve heard people have had problems with roosting?

Have you check the coop articles for small coops that appeal to you?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/small-coops.18/

 

[PirateGirl]

You could build an approximately 4 ft cube out of 6 pallets.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I am currently building a coop our of scrap wood. This is the framing.

 

[MadisonOde]

I have tried looking at the articles, didn’t really find any that fit exactly what I wanted (I know I’m picky) although I did only go through like half of the pages. Just looking if anyone had better examples.

 

[PirateGirl]

I have tried looking at the articles, didn’t really find any that fit exactly what I wanted (I know I’m picky) although I did only go through like half of the pages. Just looking if anyone had better examples.

If you are picky, then perhaps we need to know a better idea of what you are looking for. All you really specified is how many birds it's meant to be for. Do you want a human to be able to walk in it? Do you want to have more room for chickens in the future? Does your town/building department have any restrictions you must abide by? Is there a roofline you have in mind?

 

[MadisonOde]

I am currently building a coop our of scrap wood. This is the framing.
View attachment 1769204

That looks great! If you don’t mind me asking, do you know how much the materials cost you, and did you have plans?

 

[MadisonOde]

A human does not need to be able to walk in it, but there will need to be enough room for a heat lamp bc the winters here can get down to -45. There does not need to be additional room.

 

[TomZilla43]

I built my father in law a coop that was "based" on an oversized pallet, I think it 74"x42". Just bought a few 2x4's and a couple of sheets of pseudo T-111 sheathing, and finished it out made a coop that he was thrilled with and more than doubled the size of his previous lil store bought coop. People look to get rid of odd pallets like that around here all the time and will not only give them away but are overjoyed when you take them off their hands. I had some left over OSB that was used as a floor, so the whole coop hardware and all set me back maybe a little over a hundred bucks. Just some food for thought. I see you're located in WI so your winters are serious whereas I live in the Southeast where we think the sky is falling if it gets down to zero. So I'm sure your coop considerations are quite a bit different than what we face down here in the south.

 

[PirateGirl]

-45 F or C, with or without windchill?

My coop was a fairly basic design for 4-5 hens. A simple sloped roof like this is easier to build than one that peaks in the middle or any other shape. One whole side opens up and is hinged doors for human access for cleaning and egg collecting. I have a door that opens on the opposite side for humans as well. There essentially is just one roost bar in the middle that runs the long way. The nest boxes are things I found and modified and just placed inside (easy) an old wooded wine box, a milk crate, and a wicker basket.