Hi All,
I'm starting to plan out the materials I'll need to build my coop so I can budget accordingly, and start to source whatever I can for free. Can you let me know what I'm missing?
Lumber:
6X6 posts to be legs (4 of them)
2X6 to make floor joists
2X4 for stud walls
2X6 for ceiling joists (to support green roof with soil and plants)
2X2 for run supports - IS THAT STURDY ENOUGH WITH 1/2" HARDCLOTH?
2X4 to frame in door to run and to frame poo drawer
Ply:
1/2" ply to sheathe 4 walls (minus windows on two walls and door on one)
1/2" ply to build nesting boxes
1/2" ply for the bottom of poo drawer
5/8" ply to sheathe roof and for sides to the planter/green roof up top
Siding, Flashing & Trim:
5" hardie plank to match our house (we have tons left over)
1X4 to trim edges and runners on coop
1X2 to trim windows and door on coop
4" flashing for windows, door and green roof (we have that left over too)
Windows and Doors:
2 1X1 or 2X2 windows (louvered)
cat door - WILL THAT WORK FOR CHICKENS?
Miscellaneous:
Post Haste Cement - to pour "footings" for the coop (just a 6" deep pad for the legs to stand on)
soffets for ventilation
1/2" hardcloth for run (buried for burrowers) and to cover windows, and for bottom of coop (will be open to poo drawer beneath)
screws
linoleum for poo drawer
Hinges for human door to clean coop
latches and chain for windows and human door
3 or 4" drainage pipe to build feeder
scrap for ramp to door and "playground" equipment
tree branch for fun
I haven't researched how to make watering devices yet, so I'll have to look that up.
Are 2 nesting boxes enough for 4 chickens? for 6?
I want to have the nesting boxes at a level that my kids can collect the eggs, maybe with a stool, but not so low that it's a pain to get in to clean. Also, it needs to be low enough to be able to pick the salad greens I'll be growing on top. I'm also putting vertical planters down the side NOT in the run to grow my strawberries. The run is enclosed, so the chickens won't be able to eat the salad greens either, but I promise I'll share
How tall should the coop be on the inside?
Should I insulate and put walls up inside? We live in Vancouver - so pretty mild in terms of hot AND cold. But, the temperatures here are changing, definitely getting hotter every year... I assume having at least walls inside would help me keep the coop clean. Also, I will be putting in soffets for ventilation - you can't mess around in terms of moisture here! If I insulate I'd probably also use vapour barrier. We would have all of this already from our renos. No added cost.
Anything else I'm missing?
I'm starting to plan out the materials I'll need to build my coop so I can budget accordingly, and start to source whatever I can for free. Can you let me know what I'm missing?
Lumber:
6X6 posts to be legs (4 of them)
2X6 to make floor joists
2X4 for stud walls
2X6 for ceiling joists (to support green roof with soil and plants)
2X2 for run supports - IS THAT STURDY ENOUGH WITH 1/2" HARDCLOTH?
2X4 to frame in door to run and to frame poo drawer
Ply:
1/2" ply to sheathe 4 walls (minus windows on two walls and door on one)
1/2" ply to build nesting boxes
1/2" ply for the bottom of poo drawer
5/8" ply to sheathe roof and for sides to the planter/green roof up top
Siding, Flashing & Trim:
5" hardie plank to match our house (we have tons left over)
1X4 to trim edges and runners on coop
1X2 to trim windows and door on coop
4" flashing for windows, door and green roof (we have that left over too)
Windows and Doors:
2 1X1 or 2X2 windows (louvered)
cat door - WILL THAT WORK FOR CHICKENS?
Miscellaneous:
Post Haste Cement - to pour "footings" for the coop (just a 6" deep pad for the legs to stand on)
soffets for ventilation
1/2" hardcloth for run (buried for burrowers) and to cover windows, and for bottom of coop (will be open to poo drawer beneath)
screws
linoleum for poo drawer
Hinges for human door to clean coop
latches and chain for windows and human door
3 or 4" drainage pipe to build feeder
scrap for ramp to door and "playground" equipment
tree branch for fun
I haven't researched how to make watering devices yet, so I'll have to look that up.
Are 2 nesting boxes enough for 4 chickens? for 6?
I want to have the nesting boxes at a level that my kids can collect the eggs, maybe with a stool, but not so low that it's a pain to get in to clean. Also, it needs to be low enough to be able to pick the salad greens I'll be growing on top. I'm also putting vertical planters down the side NOT in the run to grow my strawberries. The run is enclosed, so the chickens won't be able to eat the salad greens either, but I promise I'll share
How tall should the coop be on the inside?
Should I insulate and put walls up inside? We live in Vancouver - so pretty mild in terms of hot AND cold. But, the temperatures here are changing, definitely getting hotter every year... I assume having at least walls inside would help me keep the coop clean. Also, I will be putting in soffets for ventilation - you can't mess around in terms of moisture here! If I insulate I'd probably also use vapour barrier. We would have all of this already from our renos. No added cost.
Anything else I'm missing?