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

[NevadaRon]

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crysmom if I had it to do over that is the one thing I would change - make more access. I like the idea of the 4x4 sides being removable! That would make cleaning a breeze

 

[brwneggs]

LOVE the coop!!! ( I am a newbie!!- trying to learn!) Could someone please tell me the dimensions to make this into a chicken tractor? I mean I am keeping it the same size for 6 hens and 1 roo. I mainly need to know where to put a drop down door in the bottom of the coop. Would it be best for the middle or on the side. And I will put the cleaning door on the side to open up and the hen boxes in the back. We are having some guys to come over and help us, so I need to get it down pat. Thank you!!
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[havi]

Anybody else built this and have pictures? I would love to see more pictures.

 

[LadyB]

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I did. Well, I should say my husband basically did. He made some design changes as he went, but the coop is still the same style. We also modified it to have the people door on the side, instead of the back.

We are also putting a window/vent onto the other side and adding another chicken door to that side as well (our run is going to attach on that side).

 

[havi]

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I would think you could keep the same dimensions if you were making this into a tractor. That what I plan on doing. Im just trying to figure out the best way to add wheels to it. You said you were keeping 7 chickens in this coop? Youre speaking of bantams, correct? Because 7 large breed chickens wouldnt fit in this coop of 4ftx4ft. As to the rest, I would think its whatever is best for you. I wouldnt think you would want the nest boxes on the down sloped side though. Think about when you go to get eggs when it is raining, all that rain would be running of the top into your lap.

 

[NevadaRon]

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I would think you could keep the same dimensions if you were making this into a tractor. That what I plan on doing. Im just trying to figure out the best way to add wheels to it.

For starters, you wouldn't want to make it raised if you're going to put wheels on it.

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That's exactly why I expanded the size to 4ftx8ft - 'cause I have 10 chickens.

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You definitely do not want the nest boxes on back, for the reason havi points out!

 

[tlaquepaque]

I have this type of coop only bigger. I do not have the external nest box thing on mine. I'd like to put one on since I'm going to have more laying hens soon. How does the nest box attach? How is it supported?

Lauren

 

[NevadaRon]

Lauren the front edge sits on a 2x4. The sides are (at least mine are) screwed in from the inside of the coop through the wall. The rest is made out of 3/4" plywood so it is very sturdy. Check out these pics from the Purina website and you'll see what I mean by the 2x4.

Front View:

Side View:

 

[tlaquepaque]

Thanks, it just doesn't look like the 2x4 would be enough to hold it. Maybe with screws on the sides. I think we're going to give it a go and see how it works.

 

[NevadaRon]

You'll see once you put the 2x4 up and a piece of 3/4" plywood for the base it will already seem sturdy. But you definitely need to screw the sides into the existing coop wall, and I found that to be easiest from the inside.