Cost estimate for building coop/run

[AllenK RGV]

Lots of folks claim they've seen or caught pictures of lions but below is the confirmed sightings The 2014 sighting SW of Ft Worth the lion was actually killed and mounted by a deer hunter.

There are bobcats of course and they are often mistaken for their bigger cousin.

As for the bears...

"A task force was set up in 1978 to track the sightings, and the bears continue to migrate south at a slow but steady pace.

"Texas Parks and Wildlife is tracking these guys and keeping up with sightings of them. We think it's young males establishing territory," says Stainback.

At least four sightings have been documented on game cameras between June and August in Bowie, Red River and Smith counties.

Copyright 2016 KLTV. All rights reserved."

Of course, who knows really... Animals move Anything is possible.

Also a confirmed sighting usually means you hit it with your car and killed it.

 

[Latestarter]

Just sharing the most recent info I could find... That was from late 2017 I believe. There have been LOTS of sightings and reports... these were the ones confirmed. Not trying to be argumentative... I just don't see mountain lions staying in downtown Arlington... Or Dallas/Ft. Worth the city proper... Coyotes? yup, sure enough. Bobcats? quite plausible. Coons, possums, etc no doubt. Bears? sorry, don't believe so. Just MHO...

 

[AllenK RGV]

Past two posts basically say it all. For 6 birds you need ~24sqft inside the coop. You need ~60 sqft of run space. Anything more on either number is gravy. Elevate the coop off the ground by 24-36 inches and enclose within a fenced/secure area to be the run. They can go under the coop for shade.

A 4'x8' piece of plywood (room for ~8 birds) for the floor (outside dimension). Build 3-4' 2x4 stud walls. leave the eves open for ventilation. put a corrugated roof on it. Put in an access door for cleaning. Pop door opening into the run area. Door sized gate in the run walls for you to enter the run. Build external nest boxes (2) on one side of the coop. Make your run 4' wide and include under the coop and extend out 8-10 feet beyond the coop in the other direction. That will give you 72 sqft (10 ft extension).

I would never suggest 2x4 walls in Texas. I would only recommend 4x4's(with concrete footings) as this is Texas and in springtime you can expect 100mph straight line winds.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Just sharing the most recent info I could find... That was from late 2017 I believe. There have been LOTS of sightings and reports... these were the ones confirmed. Not trying to be argumentative... I just don't see mountain lions staying in downtown Arlington... Or Dallas/Ft. Worth the city proper... Coyotes? yup, sure enough. Bobcats? quite plausible. Coons, possums, etc no doubt. Bears? sorry, don't believe so. Just MHO...

Well I left Wise county in 2010, at that time we had everything you list but the bears. Sure I worked in the city but it was only a 45 minute drive away.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Regardless, I wish OP the best. Just please when you build your coop realize you are hosting a meat market for all of your local predators. Protect your defenceless chickens when the lights are off. As they cannot protect themselves at night on their roosts.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Just sharing the most recent info I could find... That was from late 2017 I believe. There have been LOTS of sightings and reports... these were the ones confirmed. Not trying to be argumentative... I just don't see mountain lions staying in downtown Arlington... Or Dallas/Ft. Worth the city proper... Coyotes? yup, sure enough. Bobcats? quite plausible. Coons, possums, etc no doubt. Bears? sorry, don't believe so. Just MHO...

Yep just like I don't want to shoot things to become a statistic. Dead animal=confirmed. I like mountain lions they keep the coyotes in check TBH. They are less intrusive IMO than the bobcats.

 

[Relleoms]

Just don't get carried away like I did, 3500.00$ for the coop build and run,for my starter flock of 9 birds. 2 story 20ft by 15ft coop heat and A/C, auto feed and waterer, solar power, and a music player

Lol, that sounds like a nicer coop than many homes!

Sorry folks, I was thinking my profile had my location listed.. Maybe I was thinking about my old post. I am still located in DFW, Arlington specifically. I am from a pretty well populated area. The only critters I have to deal with are opossums, rats, squirrels, and maybe a neighborhood cat or two. I can't rule out the possibility of a racoon although I have never seen any close to the house, always at friends' or family's houses that were in less populated areas.

As far as space, I really can have as much as needed. I have a spot in the yard between my garden and the fence around the yard that I would like to utilize. Ultimately though, if what I plan doesn't fit in that space I have plenty of space to play with.

Budget isn't really set either. I have about $1800 I COULD use, though I'd prefer not to if I don't have to. Time frame is also fairly loose. I would like to get some chicks started this year, so pretty much only limited by whenever the prime time to get them raised and outdoors here in North Texas is. Outside of that, I don't really have a specific time. And even then, I can postpone to next year if I have to.

I'll start scouring for materials and see what kind of bargains I can find. I have money to spend, but don't mind saving any money that I can. I'll start collecting what I can and start building with what I find.

Originally I started dreaming about chickens in 2014 (in the mentioned post), but it seems like each year it kept getting postponed for one reason or another. This is the year that I think will be the year I finally get to enjoy this great little hobby.

Thanks again for all the help everyone! Such a helpful place, I can tell that I'm in the right place.

Let me know if you want a prefab for anything. I have a friend in FW wanting to sell cheap (probably willing to give away) one, never used. Could possibly be a place for a broody or sick hen...

 

[AllenK RGV]

This looks like a coop to me.........https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/zip/d/wood-pallets/6515402099.html

 

[Latestarter]

Above link has been deleted by the author... Didn't get to see it.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Above link has been deleted by the author... Didn't get to see it.

Guess they got rid of those 10+ pallets.