First coop build

[JmeV]

I had a budget, but I've blown it. Somewhere in this thread I'll tally my costs for posterity.

I wanted to get it built earlier than now, but I definitely wanted to finish by Christmas when the grandkids can see the chickens that will hopefully like this coop. That led me away from trying to do it with free wood.

I get it. It took us over 6 weeks to do ours because we had to hunt for so much reclaimed and free stuff. Your project looks awesome, so you should be proud!

 

[aart]

and ultimately decided to finish with shingles that I had in the garage.

I hope it's an optical illusion and those shingles are on the low side of roof and not the high side.

 

[Machseven]

I hope it's an optical illusion and those shingles are on the low side of roof and not the high side.

nope, they're high.

On the top row of the shingles, I did put roof tar over the nails and the seams pretty liberally. I ran a seam of roof tar under the shingles on top of the drip angle.

 

[Machseven]

I get it. It took us over 6 weeks to do ours because we had to hunt for so much reclaimed and free stuff. Your project looks awesome, so you should be proud!

I'm well over six weeks. It will be four months if I get done by end of year.

 

[aart]

I'm well over six weeks. It will be four months if I get done by end of year.

Took me 6 months to build coop(in existing shed) and run,
had to clear/rearrange several sheds first,
after 6 months of research and planning.

 

[Machseven]

Took me 6 months to build coop(in existing shed) and run,
had to clear/rearrange several sheds first,
after 6 months of research and planning.

I did spend a few weeks clearing that spot too. I had vines, stickers, little trees etc. that I tried to thoroughly purge.

 

[3KillerBs]

My buddy told me the same thing! I will probably do this. He got a kit at HD and it worked forhim.

Here's a how-to.

I remember my Dad doing this on the doors at our old house.

https://todayshomeowner.com/how-to-fix-a-sagging-screen-door/

 

[Machseven]

Next I started on the coop itself. I put in the floor and one wall with what sill eventually be a window.

Throughout the projects, I used clamps extensively.

I initially cut the window wrong and had to redo it. Here's picture of it before I fixed it:

I will put hardware cloth inside and add a flap to the front eventually.

 

[Machseven]

We want to try the deep litter system advocated by Carolina Coops. The coop will have a 12" deep litter bed, and we're going to add the industrial hemp sold by CC. A friend is hopefully going to bring me some leftover linoleum to line the bottom and sides. These next few photos show the access to the coop. The lower door will only open when I'm changing litter, which hopefully won't be that often. The upper doors are when I need to get into the coop.

Doors open:

Doors closed:

I've got the upper part of the wall cut and painted, should get it on this weekend along with the nesting box. This is pretty much up to date. I should make some good progress this weekend.

 

[aart]

nope, they're high.

The opposite of how they are supposed to work.
Hope all the tarring works.