Coop Suggestions

[Raptor Chicken]

So the fact that the coop we bought is too small for our six hens has been weighing heavy on my wife and I, especially since they're getting bigger by the day.

Initially we were going to press on with what we have and just see where it goes as we didn't have any major extra expendable income. We recently unexpectedly have come into an extra $500.

Our thoughts are 1 - buy another coop just like we have and join the runs together, which I have seen done in youtube videos. Or 2 - buy another coop altogether. We could add a little extra money if needed.

Now, our thoughts on the first option are the fact that we would have two separate coops. We've trained our birds to go in the current coop and they're very good about doing so, like clockwork. Would they naturally go into the second coop or what? This option would be the most cost effective.

As for option two its a matter of finding a decently made coop/run big enough. Suggestions are welcome.

As far as building a coop I'm a carpenter by trade and currently work at a lumber mill. I know what material prices are. If you can provide plans for a coop/run build big enough for 6 hens for under $700 or so then feel free to share.


I'm really looking for opinions on option 1 but all are welcome.

Pic of current coop for reference...

ETA - we have a 24x36ft extended run to let them out into every day so not to worried about huge runs attached to the coop neccesarily, although we would like to have something.

 

[DobieLover]

Go out and search for someone selling an old shed and convert that into your coop. You will get the biggest bang for your buck that way.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

They are creatures of habit. For option 1, I think you would have to train some of them to go into the 2nd coop, and it would not be easy. New pecking order and all that.

I found this for you:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/grd/d/washington-storage-shed/7532577942.html

It's about twice the size you NEED, but you get the idea. I'd snag something like this and add nesting boxes, roosting bars, a couple of windows. The upper row of little windows are PERFECT to convert for ventilation! Then sell your existing coop, if you need to recover the cost of it, or keep it for a broody coop.

 

[DickMidnight]

They are creatures of habit. For option 1, I think you would have to train some of them to go into the 2nd coop, and it would not be easy. New pecking order and all that.

I found this for you:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/grd/d/washington-storage-shed/7532577942.html

It's about twice the size you NEED, but you get the idea. I'd snag something like this and add nesting boxes, roosting bars, a couple of windows. The upper row of little windows are PERFECT to convert for ventilation! Then sell your existing coop, if you need to recover the cost of it, or keep it for a broody coop.

this is an ad for someone who builds sheds.

they’re not selling one.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I have seen folks keep their coops/runs for roosting and add another one on for nestboxes/runs combined. But.. you've seen what you get for that kind of money. If your a carpenter have you thought of pallet coop( free) ? Or a hoop coop? Just some thoughts. Or like Dobie said checking around for a used shed or something like that. With your knowledge and tools you'd have a great coop. We made ours out of a bunch of scrap we had on hand and attached it on to our fence build we were doing.
Mind you it was 2 years ago but didn't cost that much .

 

[linguini]

$500 should be enough to build your own extension!!

We are not handy with woodwork, nor do we have any tools, and went with the prefabs route::

We started with the same coop as yours, built a cube run to go with it, quickly realized the coop was way way too small. Bought a second coop and connected it to the entire unit. It took the chickens a few days to migrate into the new coop (on their own). It's nice to have two units that the lower pecking order ones have some place to escape. Nowadays most of them stay in the second coop. occasionally 1 or 2 of them will stay and lay in the old coop.

We did all of those before joining the backyard chicken forum!! If I had to start all over again, we'd build our own coop instead of buying prefabs. First prefab was very sturdy, but leaks. Second prefab is bigger, but very flimsy, the wood panels are so thin, I was afraid to sneeze when we were putting it together, fearing that I'd break the panels!
(We have 7 chickens - started with 6, then to 8 and now with 7)

Some pictures to show the progression:

 

[saysfaa]

...As far as building a coop I'm a carpenter by trade and currently work at a lumber mill. I know what material prices are. If you can provide plans for a coop/run build big enough for 6 hens for under $700 or so then feel free to share....
I'm really looking for opinions on option 1...

8x12 shed.
Shed roof 2' higher on one short end
Roof with 2'+ overhangs
Prices Home Depot website for Colonial Heights, VA. Sorry if that is your store's competition.

Two 4x4x6 pt posts for corner posts, low end ($9 each: $18)
Two 4x4x8 pt posts for corner posts, high end ($12 each; $24)
Two 4x4x12 pt posts for sills, ends ($20 each: $40) correction, should be 8' long ($12 each; $24)
Two 4x4x12 pt posts for sills, sides ($20 each; $40)
Two 2x4x8 pt dimensional lumber for top plate, ends ($5.50: $11)
Three 2x4x8 pt dimensional lumber for top plate, sides ($5.50: $16.50) (this store didn't have 2x4x12)
One 2x4x8 pt dimensional lumber for tie beam at the top of the long beams ($5.50)
$138 for this section - $24 correction

Six 2x4x16 pt dimensional lumber for rafters
($5.50 per 8' so $11 each; $66) plus scraps for sistering the pieces into one rafter)
Four 2x4x8 pt dimensional lumber for Purlins ($5,50 each: $22)
Six 2'x12' metal Roof panels ($32 each: $192)
Correction: 12 2'x8' metal roof panels ($21 each: $252). I forgot the overhangs.
2000 count roofing nails with plastic caps $30
$310 for this section + $60 correction

Eight sheets 4x8 OSB wall sheathing, 2 for the back wall, 3 for each side wall, leave above 8' high and the front open for ventilation.
($15 each; $120)
Twenty four 2x4x8 studs to nail the wall sheathing to ($5,50 each; $132)
5 pound box of nails $25
$275 for this section

One 4x100 roll of 19 gauge, half inch hardware cloth for above walls, front wall, door in front wall, and predator apron. (8' for front wall, 8' for door in front wall, 20' for a 2' wide predator apron, the rest for above the walls. 50' extra but 50' roll is nearly as much as 100' roll. ($223)
5 pound box of screws ($25)

5 gallons barn paint ($108)

138 + 310 + 275 + 258 + 108 plus $36 correction = very close to $1125

Before tax but Also before your employee discount.

Use the nest boxes, roosts, and latches from your existing coop.

It doesn't include the door frame or hinges. Surely those can be found used. Otherwise, add about $20 for 1x3s to make a frame to hold the hardware cloth.

I would use some of the extra hardware cloth on the side walls instead of the front pair of OSB panels. $40 less, more ventilation, and still enough weather protection for your climate.

Actually, in your climate "I" would use two sheets of sheathing total. One across the back and the other on one side at the back. Both horizontal and raised so they are centered on the roost. Or the back wall horizontal and the side vertical - depending on the building site. But I know that would be outside the comfort zone of most people. Not outside the comfort zone of the chickens, though. I'd have to do the math on whether 50' of hardware cloth would be enough; I'd move the front wall back some if it was close... the size is because it doesn't save money to make it a little smaller if you have solid walls. That would make it $90 less ... about $1000 total.

I would use some 4' pieces out of the garbage (they use them to buffer the metal straps around shipments) as diagonals if not using much OSB because the OSB contributes stability also.

That is the value sweet spot for stick built construction. It is quite a bit bigger than you actually need so I may play with a smaller design in the next few days if I have time. Or with alternatives. Hoop coops are another option but others know much more about them.

If you can find used metal roof panels, it gets close to your budget. It wouldn't matter if they leaked some.

Edit an hour or so later to correct two mistakes. Still about the same cost.

In the next day or so, I'll draw the plans and double check materials list. Probably.

 

[3KillerBs]

Since you're in a hot climate,

Have you considered an Open Air coop? That is, a big wire box with a roof and a 3-sided shelter at the windward end.

They're less expensive to build because they use less lumber.

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

I am working on the coop page for Neuchickenstein, but you can see it featured in my hot climate article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

And this one, my Camp Cockerel, could be re-imagined in a sturdier wooden structure with hardware cloth instead of chicken wire and a proper roof instead of tarps. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/camp-cockerel.77789/

My coop ventilation article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Also, you probably already know this, but for the benefit of people reading in the future:

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

6 hens

• 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
• 6 feet of roost
• 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
• 6 square feet of ventilation.
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

 

[Raptor Chicken]

I appreciate the responses.

An update, I talked with my employer about starting a "tab" for materials for a "project" at home. Owner says absolutely no problem just get a list of what I need and he'll total and discount it.

So this is the route we'll be going. Basically the skies the limit as for cost but I'm going to keep it fairly modest. Not spending thousands of dollars.

Been looking at free plans since I got home this afternoon. There are so many out there. Not sure if I'm going to use someone else's or design my own.

But, I'm super excited to build something that I know will be solid, safe and sizeable.

I will start a build thread once I have a plan but suggestions are still welcome here for the time being.

 

[Raptor Chicken]

Oh, and a question, I've read several places that PT wood is a no go yet, in my research here and elsewhere I've seen folks use it.

Whats the flocks opinion here?