FREE chicken coop plan (nice one too) on the Purina Mills Website

[audioguy]

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Yep, I can second this, I noticed it as well in the materials list.

I am Building this coop as well, my bill so far is 152 bucks, I am modifying the coop a bit, buy putting the nest box on the right side of coop, and the cleaning door on the left side and making it hinge out instead of down. I think it will look better and allow for easier cleaning.

We are modifying it as well. The nest box will stay, but right under the cleat will be another door added that opens out. This will be opposite the other door on the plans and allow me to push the bedding out with a broom. Adding a window to the south side. Making a vent in the roof. Also changing the roost since they will wind up pooping on each other using that set-up.
I also raised it 6" higher and will be adding a run to the back side.

 

[quillary]

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Okay, thank you!

 

[quillary]

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We had some 2x4s already, and spent about $240 at Home Despot on the rest of the wood, hinges, latches, etc. If we were buying everything new I think it would still have been under $300.
However, if you're building the original 4x4 plan, it would be much less. Going the 4x6 route, we're going to have a lot of leftover scrap wood.
Good luck!

 

[beesong]

I went 4x12 with this and am pleased; I wish I had thought to make it a bit taller, though. But I am no carpenter, so I'll just be glad with what I was able to do. It's not done yet, but it's getting very close. I can't do any more until we can jack it up to reset the footer pads. All 6 4x4 panels on front and back open for ease of cleaning, and the middle "window" in the front opens for ventilation. All small panels across the top drop down for venting also. The windows on the back panels drop for more ventilation. Heat is a big problem here in the high desert during the summer.

What I learned from this project:
1. There's always more wood at the lumber yard.
2. When you get home, all 12 pre-packaged hardware things you count out from the bin will not be the same.
3. Don't keep track.

 

[NevadaRon]

LOL beesong on the "What I've learned"!
Your coop looks great and I like how you made it so it could open all sides!

I wish I had done that.

You mentioned that you are in the "high desert" - where, exactly? I'm in Northern Nevada. It gets pretty warm here in summer, too (well, only in the month of July really

) and my girls like to hang out under their coop on those days.

 

[beesong]

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Hi NevadaRon:

Thanks for your kind words! I'm near Mt. Shasta, but I know your area well. I spend a lot of time in the Black Rock and other areas of northern Nevada.

 

[happymom99]

Quote:
We had some 2x4s already, and spent about $240 at Home Despot on the rest of the wood, hinges, latches, etc. If we were buying everything new I think it would still have been under $300.
However, if you're building the original 4x4 plan, it would be much less. Going the 4x6 route, we're going to have a lot of leftover scrap wood.
Good luck!

Thank you for that info. Soon (hopefully!) I will pics up of my coop that are based on this design.

CJ

 

[happymom99]

Beesong - Beautiful coop! Any chance you could post some pics of the interior and your roosts too?

Congrats on your beautiful new coop!

CJ

 

[beesong]

Quote:
Wow, thank you! I can't believe I actually made something that people like. I'll do some interior pix when I have it more together inside. I'm making one of the 4x4 "sections" so that it can be used seasonally as a brooder area. I don't like the ladder roosts like on the plan 'cuz my birds always all want to be at the highest point, of course. So I'm trying roosts run the length of the coop all and across the 4' width.

 

[happymom99]

Quote:
Wow, thank you! I can't believe I actually made something that people like. I'll do some interior pix when I have it more together inside. I'm making one of the 4x4 "sections" so that it can be used seasonally as a brooder area. I don't like the ladder roosts like on the plan 'cuz my birds always all want to be at the highest point, of course. So I'm trying roosts run the length of the coop all and across the 4' width.

Looking forward to the pics. We just got the materials for ours yesterday and I was painting sheating today. My

DH

is going to start building tomorrow!

We are making ours 4x5 and we're not going to do the ladder roosts either. We're going to put a 5' roost with a droppings board for now and in time we may add a second roost.

I can hardly wait to see what gets done by end of day tomorrow!