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

[ILikeChicken]

What has everyone done for roof on this? We expanded to 4x6 and this is getting expensive!! We are up to $300 and no roofing material yet. DH said will be $100 for shingles just for coop, and we have the run to do too, so was wondering if there is a cheaper way? He was going to do the corrugated PVC called palruf but I'm not sure about it. It seems so flimsy but maybe its fine i dont know. He already cut out sunroof on plans but could fill it in. I don't know how anyone built this as cheaply as some said!!

Im over 600$ currently on mine but its a bit modified, and still not finished.

I used the translucent corrugated roofing the plans requested, Although I went with the "smoke" rather than the clear, I had to buy 3 sheets @ 26$ per sheet (however I just added the run this weekend so Ill need 3-4 more). I also bought the highest grade they offered at my store uv resistant and strength wise. Had I went with the low quality I could have spent half that.

I also went with the 5/8' t-111 siding for the walls, 3/4' plywood for the floor, topped with vinyl, made the posts longer so that I had 34" of clearing under the coop for extra run space as I also built a 4x8' run thats just slightly lower than the roof of the coop for a staggered look. I have yet to build a nesting box and other various things I plan to put on this house for the crew.

I did save some by using all treated lumber for the 2x4s as they were almost 1$ cheaper per than regular ones, and I also lucked out and got 36" x 100' of hardware cloth for 30$ from a clearance aisle at my local hardware store last winter.

 

[mark9199]

For those that have built this coop or a similar one with a small, raised, treated plywood floor... what type of materials and method are you using to keep it clean? There's sweet PDZ, pine shavings, etc. mentioned in other threads but what about for this size and type of floor/coop specifically? I'd like to hear how you're maintaining and cleaning. Thanks

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We used a good sealer on the floor, wood shavings and deep litter. For deep litter, I only use the shavings, no additives. I add a little more shavings as needed and clear it out once a year in the spring. Deep litter works great on a coop this size.

I was thinking this was the larger coop plan they have, sorry. For this smaller design, with your location, you might also want to try sand in the coop. Just scoop it daily, to clean it. Like cleaning a cat litter box.

 

[mark9199]

We used a good sealer on the floor, wood shavings and deep litter. For deep litter, I only use the shavings, no additives. I add a little more shavings as needed and clear it out once a year in the spring. Deep litter works great on a coop this size.

I was thinking this was the larger coop plan they have, sorry. For this smaller design, with your location, you might also want to try sand in the coop. Just scoop it daily, to clean it. Like cleaning a cat litter box.

Thanks for the reply. For now, I'm going with the deep litter method and see how it works out:

 

[Rollingreen8420]

I built one based on these plans i made it 6x6 and a little taller i also put the laying box on the back and put in 2 big clean out doors on one side and built it on sleds and my run will unlock from the coop into 3 pieces so everything can be moved with ease. if anyone has any questions about some of the changes i made let me know and i'll help you out.

 

[GreatWhiteAfro]

My coop is done, although I might add another window in the back, and I'm working on the run. Here's a few pics!!

 

[mark9199]

My coop is done, although I might add another window in the back, and I'm working on the run. Here's a few pics!!









I like it! Nice job!

 

[kwhit]

Well I certainly have learned a lot the last several weeks.

I learned I love chickens.
I learned to speak clearly my ideas and stick with it.
I learned that chickens are smarter than I thought.

We built the Purina Coop. We put the nest boxes too high so now the chicks (10 weeks today) are roosting in the nest boxes.
I read this in an earlier post and tried to advise my hubby when he was building it but I guess I didn't stress the thought much.

The only thing I can possibly do is to install some new nest boxes on the floor inside.

Earlier I also had asked members their thoughts on the material to use on the floor of the coop. I decided to go with a piece of
left over vinyl floor from our camper and so far it works well but it is somewhat of a problem getting into the coop comfortably to
scoop poop. (I do it daily). I wish I had made the coop back door taller. When I finish up the pine shavings I am going to switch to
either sand or sweet PDZ. It sounds a lot easier to clean with a kitty litter scoop than a modified hardware cloth scoop for pine shavings.

Hey did I ever say that I have never raised chickens before?

Hind sight is so 20/20! Live and learn!

 

[mark9199]

Well I certainly have learned a lot the last several weeks.

I learned I love chickens.
I learned to speak clearly my ideas and stick with it.
I learned that chickens are smarter than I thought.

We built the Purina Coop. We put the nest boxes too high so now the chicks (10 weeks today) are roosting in the nest boxes.
I read this in an earlier post and tried to advise my hubby when he was building it but I guess I didn't stress the thought much.

The only thing I can possibly do is to install some new nest boxes on the floor inside.

Earlier I also had asked members their thoughts on the material to use on the floor of the coop. I decided to go with a piece of
left over vinyl floor from our camper and so far it works well but it is somewhat of a problem getting into the coop comfortably to
scoop poop. (I do it daily). I wish I had made the coop back door taller. When I finish up the pine shavings I am going to switch to
either sand or sweet PDZ. It sounds a lot easier to clean with a kitty litter scoop than a modified hardware cloth scoop for pine shavings.

Hey did I ever say that I have never raised chickens before?

Hind sight is so 20/20! Live and learn!

I'm brand new to this, too. Got our first chicks a week ago. Everybody has to start somewhere. There's so much to read through here it makes your head spin.

For now, I've got 3 or 4" of pine shavings in the coop and am doing a 'wait and see' as to how well deep litter works out but am considering putting vinyl down and trying the PDZ if deep litter doesn't work out.

I don't know what to tell you about the nest boxes. I must have got lucky and read somewhere to make them lower. Your husband must be punished!

 

[popsicle]

Well I certainly have learned a lot the last several weeks.

I learned I love chickens.
I learned to speak clearly my ideas and stick with it.
I learned that chickens are smarter than I thought.

We built the Purina Coop. We put the nest boxes too high so now the chicks (10 weeks today) are roosting in the nest boxes.
I read this in an earlier post and tried to advise my hubby when he was building it but I guess I didn't stress the thought much.

The only thing I can possibly do is to install some new nest boxes on the floor inside.

Earlier I also had asked members their thoughts on the material to use on the floor of the coop. I decided to go with a piece of
left over vinyl floor from our camper and so far it works well but it is somewhat of a problem getting into the coop comfortably to
scoop poop. (I do it daily). I wish I had made the coop back door taller. When I finish up the pine shavings I am going to switch to
either sand or sweet PDZ. It sounds a lot easier to clean with a kitty litter scoop than a modified hardware cloth scoop for pine shavings.

Hey did I ever say that I have never raised chickens before?

Hind sight is so 20/20! Live and learn!

Maybe try blocking off the nest boxes until they start laying. That might help get them in the habit of using the roosts so they won't sleep in the boxes when they are opened up again.