Found this coop on Craigslist....

[Liselle]

Woot!! Finally got a response after a semi-nasty email. She still has it and is offering it to me for free!! Now Iam just waiting on another response to see exactly where she is located and when I could pick it up. So, cool if it works out.

 

[Liselle]

I got the coop!! Now to just find the time to finish it and build the run.

 

[missnu01]

That's awesome! Congratulations. I don't think it needs all that much though. I'm not big on painting ramshackle chicken dwellings... and I like a slightly worn hand built building. Don't know why.

 

[Liselle]

Actually might have a chance to get another coop, this one is supposedly finished. So we'll see what happens there.

 

[Percheron chick]

You never pass on a free coop. You can use the first one for raising chicks or for broodies.

 

[Liselle]

So here are some better pix of the coop.

I wanted to run some things by you guys, since you're the "experts" in this area, or at least have more experience than me with coops. Descriptions of what I'll be doing are under each pic.



What we plan on doing to this one is create a door with a latch. We will probably hinge it so it opens downward as opposed to outward, and try to make it as flush as possible so it hangs down freely.



This will be her entry door. A walk-up board will be placed here. This is an area I'm not sure on...do I need to do something else to this? I wasn't sure if I needed a door and was a little confused as to how she would get in and out if there was a door, but I was also concerned about things getting in if there wasn't a door....so help? LOL



This little area here (the gap in the top right) will be filled in with a simple tapped in block.



The roof will need to be painted, as someone mentioned, but what kind of paint is suggested? I DO plan on either shingling or tin-roofing if I can find those items.

This is where the extent of the work will be done...the big open area here will be another hinged at the bottom door so it opens down as opposed to swinging out. This is so I will be able to pull out the bottom that I will be making. The bottom will be a simple piece of wood cut to fit the existing floor, but I will be attaching either a solid vinyl piece or peel and stick tiles to the board, and attach some sort of handle to be able to lift it up and out for ease of washing poop off it. A mini-broom and dustpan will work for cleaning out shavings.

So all that being said, this is my projected supply list. Please feel free to let me know if you have any additions, subtractions or suggestions on what I need to do to complete this. (Not pictured is the nesting area, which doesn't need any real work)

26x36.5 wood for large door
5 hinges (3 for large door and 2 for other)
2 locking mechanisms/latches for doors
29.5x31 board for floor
handle of sorts to attach to floor for ease of removal
vinyl stick squares or sheet for floor
17x23 wood for small door

 

[Percheron chick]

No reason to have the first door. It's not going to serve any purpose. You do need the pop door and the 1/2 open side is great for cleaning out. I would make the big door so it opens up. That gets it out of your way to clean (prop it up with a broom handle) but more important it is safer. The door can fall down if a raccoon fiddles with the latch but if it opens up, it will remain closed just by the weight of the door. You could build a trough (piece of plywood with 2x2 sides) that covers the bottom of the coop. that you could just pull out and dump to clean. Or just rake it out.
I would nail a board under the pop door to give you something to rest and nail the ramp to.

You need roosts as well.

Any paint will work on the roof under roofing material. Because it's made out of OSB, it needs something more than just paint. I would even take that off and start over. Add a support in the middle so it won't bow like it is now and extend the roof so you have some protection to keep the rain/snow from blowing in.