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

[NewGuyOnTheFarm]

Great post. I am really all new to this and I am looking at the cheapest way to build a hen house. I am living on 2.5 acres and I am looking at having all free range chickens. Once I get my chickens, I am also looking at getting 2 dwarf goats. Can you build a good hen house from wooden pallets? Can anyone tell me the cheapest way to build a hen house? Thank you. I will post pics of my chicks as soon as I get them..

 

[NevadaRon]

Hmmm... I remember seeing a post on here somewhere of someone who had built a coop with pallets. You'll have to do a search.

BTW

NewGuyOnTheFarm!

 

[harveyhorses]

Quote:
I did and I am not as happy as I would like. There are gaps, the boards are different widths and thicknesses,
I have it raised about 18 inches. I'll try to post picks, but I don't have any on my work computer, where I am now.
It keeps the weather out and the hens don't know any better, but if I had to do it again I would just buy materials as I could and build once I had them. It has a tin roof that was salveged from a shed.

 

[sequoiadean]

Quote:
Do you know about how much you spent on materials, and do you mind sharing the information? I'm a little nervous because there is one person who says they spent $727 for the materials for this coop and another person who says they spent under $200. We're trying to keep our price at $250 or under and I just wonder if I am being realistic.

Thanks,
CJ

I have spent about $200 on this plan so far, with all new wood. Most expensive parts were the side panels. I'll probably end up spending about $250 total with all hardware, paint, etc. The nice thing about this plan is it's very efficient in use of wood, not much is wasted.

Dean

 

[radkitten]

This is just what my husband has been looking for! Awesome! We're keeping them on our mudroom right now, but this is a great plan

!

 

[TheBrumstead]

Quote:
If I ever get the ok to get chickens

, I am thinking of doing the nest boxes/chicken door similar to this. My coop would be 4x6 and would be going in a 12x7 dog kennel, so things would have to be laid out in a certain way.

 

[audioguy]

We are almost done with our coop and have yet to decide on a run design. We are using the Purina design and had, for those that grew up in the 70's, a "stoner moment", when I came up with, what I think, is a good idea to improve on the design.
We were having trouble finding a good place for a roost. Since we had already modified the plans by moving the door to the right side, while leaving the nest boxes on the front. This left the back with a big door (which we made larger). Since we used the recommendations from those on this forum to make sure the roost is the highest thing in the coop, and that when they are on the roost, then tend to poop A LOT,

, we thought that putting a shelf a few inches below the door opening, would allow for easy clean out. I wandered down the basement and found some old cookie sheets on the floor. I think they were saved for a kids science project or something.
Took them out to the coop and put end to end, were the correct width of the shelf. I can take out the trays and hose them down and we are done!! The roost will be a few inches above the shelf, with a split 2x4 for them to perch!

I will take photos as I build it!! PROMISE!

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
looks like someone was a little jelous haha and i love the shot where the hen is checking it early, as if inspecting,, )(o)
pink

 

[TheBrumstead]

Would someone please post pictures of the inside of a 4x4 if you changed the roost? Also, if you built a 4x4, how many are you putting in and how is it working out for you? Thanks in advance

 

[audioguy]

OK, here are some pics of the coop with some of the mods made to various places.

First thing I did was to move the nest boxes down. If you look through the hole where the nest boxes will be placed, you can see the door for them to get in/out.

Here is the shelf that will sit a few inches below the top opening of the door. I will use cookie sheets on the shelf to catch the poop.

Here is a better view of the door. The shelf will sit a few inches below the top edge.

Full view of the coop.

Kaluha at 6 weeks. We really need to get the coop done!!

More pics to come!!