EZ Frame Chicken Coop Build

[kurby22]

I have decided since I am now a full blown crazy chicken/quail lady, it is time to retire the prefabs and build more substantial coops.

This will be my very first attempt and while it’s still not 100% from solid 2x4s, it will be much better and should give me the confidence to build a bigger coop in the spring! I searched on here and couldn't find any threads on building with the EZ Frame plans, so i thought I'd make a thread and share the pain (and fun)

Feel free to follow along and share ideas as I go!

 

[kurby22]

So yesterday I officially started! I counted out all the brackets and made sure they were all there. Then headed to Lowe’s with my packet and plans.

Lowe’s did all of the wood cuts I needed which was awesome. We don’t have a ton of tools or experience cutting wood, so it was much easier to go this route! I bought the 2x2s and handed the paper to the guy and away he went!

While he cut I gathered some other things, including the screws and primer/wood sealant. I don’t know if it was the best choice and I may regret it, but I got liquid white flexseal as the sealant.

I tested with a small spare piece of wood, and it did not deter the board from going inside the brackets, which was my concern! It’s tight but should work! Today I took the largest pieces and painted them and now they are drying!

I had to quit after this round because of the fumes and my arms got tired! I wish painting didn’t take so long…waiting patiently for things to dry is NOT my forte! It’s also crazy windy and rainy here so I can’t do any other site prep either.

Tomorrow I will paint the other sides of the boards that are dry and also paint some of the roof joists and trusses.

 

[kurby22]

While I impatiently wait for things to dry and be cut for the next steps, I decided to add something fun to the “accent” wall

 

[3KillerBs]

It's great that you're documenting this system. That will be really helpful to people in the future.

Where is the ventilation in that coop? I'm concerned that a company that would provide a chicken coop kit so small that it's measured in inches rather than feet would also measure the ventilation in inches.

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

 

[kurby22]

It's great that you're documenting this system. That will be really helpful to people in the future.

Where is the ventilation in that coop? I'm concerned that a company that would provide a chicken coop kit so small that it's measured in inches rather than feet would also measure the ventilation in inches.

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

I get to decide! That why I picked it! I’m building the ventilation into my design myself :-D I need a lot because our summers are SO hot! Thank you for the link on ventilation I want to make sure my ideas make sense! I know it sounds small, but they are tiny birds and will have a lot of run to make up for it and the run will be covered so they can be out in the elements

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I cut my steel with tin snips. Luckily I didn't have to cut much but it's doable. Just wear good gloves cos it's sharp. Also, having learned from a horrid mistake recently and a trip to ER, I found a great way to cover sharp metal edges, once the roof is on, is get a few foam pipe insulating covers. they fit perfectly over the edges and protect you from any brushing against the sharps.

 

[kurby22]

So this is the coop I purchased from EZ Frame. I ordered it the last week of August and FINALLY got it by Thanksgiving. Customer service and communications from them are slow and minimal, but when I talked to them, they were helpful and apologetic about the wait. I get the impression they are a very small business.

Anyway, the coop is a 38x60 inch footprint and meant to be a coop with run. It would be great for like two-3 chickens as it is described to be used. However, I’m actually going to make it two 30x38 coops for my tiny d’Anver project birds and the grow outs when needed. Each side will have an auto door and open to a large outdoor covered run for each coop.

While it took forever to arrive, the product seems well made and should serve its purpose well!

 

[kurby22]

That's the best thing to use, IMO.

How will you make roof overhangs with the EZframing?

The roof is going to have a plywood sheath and then I will be attaching PVC roof panels to the plywood. It will be wider than the roof and longer by 1.5 or 2 inches. Plan to do this, only with plywood underneath to nail the roof closure strips to and then nail the panels to the strips. My inexperienced mind thinks this should work, will it? My plan is to have the run be slightly angled downhill from where it connects to the coop and have water run off the coop roof onto the run roof and down to the end of the whole structure and down to the drain at the end of the sloped part of the yard.

In this smoky color

 

[Krugerrand]

Sorry I was late lol. It greatly increases adhesion. It is easy to fog by spraying from a further distance and slighty increasing the speed of your stroke. You only have to wait till dry to touch for the following coat. Other tricks are, Even passes from edge to edge. Always start or stop your spray while moving. Do not reverse direction while spraying. Shake can, at most, every 2mins during spraying.

Great bits of advice. Were you a graffiti artist in a previous life?

 

[kurby22]

Today was a busy day! The hardware cloth arrived and this time it’s black!

We cut down all the siding to the measurements of the coop, cut the roost bars, cut the wood pieces that will go between the legs to staple cloth, I cut and attached hardware cloth to the outer trusses. I also painted the base pieces with flex seal and painted the last side of the siding. I’m so glad I stayed committed to black hardware cloth—it looks so nice!

We even managed to cut the corners off the side panels.

I’m also really glad I didn’t listen to the husband and bought a chalk reel for the cutting! He said he could just use the laser on the saw, but it wasn’t enough. The chalk reel worked perfectly!

I also learned a couple things today…one, the peel and stick linoleum is not real sticky. So we went ahead and used flooring adhesive to make sure it sticks! And two, the plastic used for the joint braces should NOT be hammered they break pretty easily.

My hand is hurting from all the painting and my back is hurting from all the bending and lifting…so I’m done for today!