Finding Someone to Build a Coop

[georgiagail]

Quite honestly, for the $300 price you are talking about, I'd order a dog run from Lowes (10 x 10 which can also be converted to a 5 by 15 if you wish); it's a tad over $200, set it up, add a roof with brace rail clamp, 3/4" PVC pipe and hardware cloth and either attempt to find a small shed on craigslist OR add a large igloo doghouse on the inside as your coop for around another $100 or so.

I've added a picture of one of our runs with the dog kennels just so you can see what the heck I'm talking about regarding the roof.



Gail

 

[GAchickennewbie]

I didn't find anyone, but managed to combine the two coops myself.



The boards are on the sides to keep the wind and rain off my girls. The entire coop and run is 55 squre feet. The girls are only in there at night and free range during the day, but I like them having room in case of "heated chicken discussions". lol!

But wait.....there's more. I bought 3 new chicks Sunday from a local breeder. They are 4-6 weeks old, but I plan on keeping them inside until they are around 10-12 weeks old, depending on our weather in January and February.

I have extra 2 x 4's that are 5' high and found some extra hardware cloth. My goal is to make a 5 x 5' coop for them while the young girls get to know my older flock safely. When they eventually start roosting with the rest of the flock, I could easily add that coop to the current coop, giving all the girls an 80 square foot coop to hang out in during bad weather and at night.

 

[GAchickennewbie]

Gail-I love that idea with the dog run. Would need to get one already put together though. I have zero fencing experience

 

[georgiagail]

So did we when we first started (although we've built plenty of privacy fencing).

Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply also carry dog runs that are panels you just bolt together instead of building each frame and then adding the chain link fencing part (which takes 2 people and sure as heck takes longer than the "suggested" 45 minutes). These do cost more though.

If you go this route, choose a product that is 6 feet in height, not 4 feet unless you are a very, very tiny person or you like to stoop over.

We just finished a coop/run for my youngest son who is a pretty big guy using the "do it yourself kennel" and roof and he can easily walk into it without room to spare with the roof.

Gail

 

[matt44644]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/75073/rwd
He build coops in TN

 

[Math]

I use the dog pen also for my chicken run. It works great for me. I also use the canvas top to keep off rain and to provide shade during hot sunny days. I live in south Georgia and it gets very hot during summer months.

Georgiagail your coop and run looks very good. I recommend it.

 

[EagleEyes]

I commend all of you that are looking for a handyman to build a coop for you. But $300 is on the light side. Mine cost more and I had the structure and got lots of free stuff. But the kennel fencing is a good idea for the run with hardware cloth added.
the other thing that came to mind is the time spent actually building this thing. It doesn't happen overnight. I spent over a month, but then again, I don't do anything very fast, and I designed it as I went along.
I'd for sure help anyone out around here, but time is valuable. We all have plenty of things to do.
I've got a Motorcycle that is itching for me to get on it.
It's sure better than paying a TON for a manufactured one! (that isn't all that great!, in my opinion.)

 

[Math]

Eagleeyeice, your coop looks good. You did a good job.

 

[EagleEyes]

Thank you, but i like to do this kind of stuff. And then again, I'm retired and have time.(the key to life)
The best to you

 

[georgiagail]

"Georgiagail your coop and run looks very good. I recommend it."

Thank you. We got fancy with the roof on our first run but since then have gone the flat roofs on the others that just seem to "pop up" in our back yard:



Eagleeyeice is quite right on his comment spent building these things. Just finished the coop and run for my son (I've encouraged him to post pictures here). For four chickens it took us (working mainly on full weekend hours) at least six weeks to build this. We haven't yet had the courage to estimate the costs but let's say that his first eggs should probably be viewed in the range of being as valuable in weight as gold.

It would, of course, be much cheaper to simply continue buying eggs in the grocery store but that's not really the point of going the backyard chicken route for many of us on this group. As with many who have pets, I suspect it's the chicken "pets" who rule the human as opposed to the opposite at times.

Gail