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

[audioguy]

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I also plan to use this design for our coop. From what you said it looks to be somewhat correct. That extra board fits outside the 48" wide wall dimension, as looking at the front view. Taking a normal 2x4 which is 1.5x3.5 shows it on its side. So in actuality is really only 1/4" off since you would split the dimension of 1.5" which is 3/4 inch on each side. The plan only allows for 1" or 1/2" on each side.
The flaw might be in the drawing in that the front view shows the plywood to be cut 48" wide and fit inside the side pieces, which would make it 1" wider, or 49"??
I guess they just leave some wiggle room.

 

[llnmaw]

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For new lumber $150. Misc hardware/fasteners (some were from habitat store) and shingles were around $50. We had tar paper and a wee bit of scrap to fill in the gaps.

I think it is a really financially reasonable option for a simple coop! I'm still adding a few things here and there (window) so maybe another $25?

We built the 4x4...space dictated nothing larger......

We built it slowly ( over 2 weeks and hour here and there) under our patio cover due to weather, but assembled the pieces and had the coop up and running in 2 days.

~L.

 

[NevadaRon]

Quote:
I also plan to use this design for our coop. From what you said it looks to be somewhat correct. That extra board fits outside the 48" wide wall dimension, as looking at the front view. Taking a normal 2x4 which is 1.5x3.5 shows it on its side. So in actuality is really only 1/4" off since you would split the dimension of 1.5" which is 3/4 inch on each side. The plan only allows for 1" or 1/2" on each side.
The flaw might be in the drawing in that the front view shows the plywood to be cut 48" wide and fit inside the side pieces, which would make it 1" wider, or 49"??
I guess they just leave some wiggle room.

Unfortunately, I didn't notice that flaw until after I had built the frame of the floor.

However, I had no desire to take it apart (never go backwards!

) so I got another sheet of 3/4" plywood and used a 1" strip on the floor; the rest I needed for the nest boxes anyway so it all worked out in the end.

 

[chicks@feathers]

just what i need a small coop

 

[audioguy]

We are using the Purina plans, but they will be modified to fit my needs. I have a friend that just took down his deck and he said I can have all the lumber I want! Most of it is no good, but free is free and I will take what I need.
We also have a few delivery businesses in our area that regularly give away pallets for free. They allow you to come by and break them down, take what you need and chuck the rest in a dumpster they provide. I guess its a best of both worlds. We get wood and they have the pallets broken down for free!

Our girls arrive next week!!!!!!!!

 

[beesong]

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Wow -- $30 for a chicken coop plan. Ouch.

 

[audioguy]

The one on the Purina site is FREE FREE FREE!!

 

[beesong]

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That's the one I've been using, too. But mine is so different that it stopped looking like the original plan long ago! I'm making it 4x12, too. Not being a carpenter, I'm doing this very, very slowly. Very.

 

[NevadaRon]

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Which one did you build? Post some pics - we'd love to see what it looks like!

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That's the one I've been using, too. But mine is so different that it stopped looking like the original plan long ago! I'm making it 4x12, too. Not being a carpenter, I'm doing this very, very slowly. Very.

I just built a new, larger one (chicken math, you know

) - 8x12 based on this design but with modifications. It's almost complete - not a moment too soon, since I have 17 juveniles that are in need of leaving the brooder!

 

[quillary]

Hi there. I just got the materials to build this coop, though we are making it 4x6, based on everyone's advice. My question is, what did you do with the skylight opening? On the design it looks like a hole that just gets covered by the corrugated roofing. I was thinking of putting some hardware cloth over it at a minimum, since it seems like a raccoon could break through the roofing. Did people put glass in there, or just leave it open for ventilation?
Thanks!