OK, So I'm pretty new to chickens and actually enjoy keeping them since I got the first ones. Each bird has there own personality... It's so much fun and my 3 1/2 yr old and wife love them too.
This has been pretty expensive doing since I didn't get any wood from neighbors. Well a few pressure treated boards for the run but that's it.Here is what I used!
32 - 16ft 2x4
1 - scrap 4x4 that was a freebie
8 - 1/2" 4x8 plywood
8 -1x3
10 - 2x2
boxes of 1 1/4,1 5/8,2 and 3" deck screws
Galvanized nails
poultry net 1" holes: 2 - 24"x25', 1 - 36" by 25' and 1 - 48"x50'
3/4 galvanized poultry net staples
5/8 cable staples
precut kids playground stair setup.
1 gal of stain
1 gal of main color paint
and qt of trim paint.
assorted brushes
9 - 3" hinges
6 - bolt locks
4 door handles
4 bundles of shingles
30 weight tar paper
1" roofing nails
4 - drip edge 8' pieces
roof cap
patio blocks(around the bottom to help discourage the digging animals.
automatic watering dishes with assorted PVC tubing,hoses,bucket,PVC blue(water safe) cement and silicone
other random things that I have forgotten about I'm sure... All was about 820 bucks! I hate NY prices... It was still just about 600 cheaper than having a premade one (the flimsy cheap material coops were 350-400 bucks and the real ones and Amish built stuff for what I wanted was 1350 plus tax and a few add ons... I think it came out all said and done just shy of $1500 for the built one. If you have the money and want the easiest root possible by all means get a good quality one. I couldn't afford it and was on a tight budget after building this! )
The plans... I had none just went for it with a simple out line of what I wanted it to look like. pretty much made it up as I went. I did check a few coops on here before I went to town on this thing. The finished product is 8 1/2ft tall by 5' wide and 6'ft long. It has a run area underneath the coop and and run off the front that is 5'11" tall by 6' wide and 7' long. The lay box is of the back of the coop with an easy access flip up lid. A side door to access the main coop and a door to access the run area. I made an automatic watering system with a 5gal pale and some PVC. I got the watering cups/units from EBAY! Oh, all the framing is 18" on center...
I've had a few people ask me where I bought it even so for being my first wooden project I think I did halfway decent. Maybe a little over built but I'm 6'3" and 370lbs and it hold my large... just fine. So it's just a matter of putting your mind to it... I think some people get scared to make there own for one reason or another just buckle down and you will get it done. Plus the kicker is you built it! There is something to show for the hard work and some late nights sitting in my back yard that I can be proud of and not an eyesore. People seemed shocked when they see the coop they all picture old time farms and the shanty looking coops. Big surprises to see that looking nice from the deck.
It took a while to do by myself with a shot back.... There was some help from my younger brother and the wife mainly watch well she stained some stuff. I took about 2 months of a few hrs here and there then last few days we spent all day getting it prefect and safe. I think short of an army of wild animal to get in this thing. Fort Knox's builders would be proud of it too! lol
(my 3 yr old helping with his coop)
It's not leaning its just the photo with the slopes around it and my picture taking skills!
under the eves is now poultry net covered too!
The water set up is under the ledge... So hopefully it eliminates poo or stuff in the water!
before the mess clean up...
The Buff Orpington rooster, the butt of "rooster" supposed to be an amber sexlink (pullet)and my son's painting drips. lol
It's as safe as I can make it with out electric fences. I will have power to it before winter for a radiant heat panel and lights.
This has been pretty expensive doing since I didn't get any wood from neighbors. Well a few pressure treated boards for the run but that's it.Here is what I used!
32 - 16ft 2x4
1 - scrap 4x4 that was a freebie
8 - 1/2" 4x8 plywood
8 -1x3
10 - 2x2
boxes of 1 1/4,1 5/8,2 and 3" deck screws
Galvanized nails
poultry net 1" holes: 2 - 24"x25', 1 - 36" by 25' and 1 - 48"x50'
3/4 galvanized poultry net staples
5/8 cable staples
precut kids playground stair setup.
1 gal of stain
1 gal of main color paint
and qt of trim paint.
assorted brushes
9 - 3" hinges
6 - bolt locks
4 door handles
4 bundles of shingles
30 weight tar paper
1" roofing nails
4 - drip edge 8' pieces
roof cap
patio blocks(around the bottom to help discourage the digging animals.
automatic watering dishes with assorted PVC tubing,hoses,bucket,PVC blue(water safe) cement and silicone
other random things that I have forgotten about I'm sure... All was about 820 bucks! I hate NY prices... It was still just about 600 cheaper than having a premade one (the flimsy cheap material coops were 350-400 bucks and the real ones and Amish built stuff for what I wanted was 1350 plus tax and a few add ons... I think it came out all said and done just shy of $1500 for the built one. If you have the money and want the easiest root possible by all means get a good quality one. I couldn't afford it and was on a tight budget after building this! )
The plans... I had none just went for it with a simple out line of what I wanted it to look like. pretty much made it up as I went. I did check a few coops on here before I went to town on this thing. The finished product is 8 1/2ft tall by 5' wide and 6'ft long. It has a run area underneath the coop and and run off the front that is 5'11" tall by 6' wide and 7' long. The lay box is of the back of the coop with an easy access flip up lid. A side door to access the main coop and a door to access the run area. I made an automatic watering system with a 5gal pale and some PVC. I got the watering cups/units from EBAY! Oh, all the framing is 18" on center...
I've had a few people ask me where I bought it even so for being my first wooden project I think I did halfway decent. Maybe a little over built but I'm 6'3" and 370lbs and it hold my large... just fine. So it's just a matter of putting your mind to it... I think some people get scared to make there own for one reason or another just buckle down and you will get it done. Plus the kicker is you built it! There is something to show for the hard work and some late nights sitting in my back yard that I can be proud of and not an eyesore. People seemed shocked when they see the coop they all picture old time farms and the shanty looking coops. Big surprises to see that looking nice from the deck.
It took a while to do by myself with a shot back.... There was some help from my younger brother and the wife mainly watch well she stained some stuff. I took about 2 months of a few hrs here and there then last few days we spent all day getting it prefect and safe. I think short of an army of wild animal to get in this thing. Fort Knox's builders would be proud of it too! lol
(my 3 yr old helping with his coop)
It's not leaning its just the photo with the slopes around it and my picture taking skills!
under the eves is now poultry net covered too!
The water set up is under the ledge... So hopefully it eliminates poo or stuff in the water!
before the mess clean up...
The Buff Orpington rooster, the butt of "rooster" supposed to be an amber sexlink (pullet)and my son's painting drips. lol
It's as safe as I can make it with out electric fences. I will have power to it before winter for a radiant heat panel and lights.
Here we go again!!!! lol(going to try to do this one so it can be disassembled fairly easy for portability! Welded wire or hardware cloth this time...)
