Help! No idea where to begin on making a bigger coop/run for our girls.

[Bagawk85]

I've read several threads, seen several pictures, I have an understanding of what is needed for a coop. I just don't know where to begin! I need help! Do I start with a structure and cut to add boxes/vents/run door/etc or do I build around these things that I want? I really need help quickly. We have two RIR in the house (they're well past age to be outside) and 3 BOs in a small prefab coop outside. The BOs are older and bigger than the RIR so we cannot put them together. Yet. That's another thread! Thanks for any help!

 

[iwiw60]

Greetings from Oregon!

For 5 birds you will need to fashion your coop to accommodate that number. Buying one of those cheapo coop kits like you see online will most likely be way too small. I can speak from experience as I did that. It came. I built it. I stood back and said "no WAY that's going to fit my 4 chickens!" Most all of them are pre-fab from China, the wood is awful and cracks and splits.

What I ended up doing was to buy a Lifetime Shed at Lowe's 5' x 8' and am in the process of completing the run that will be attached to it. As for the coop (shed) I needed something that I could stand up in...not so young anymore!!

You might want to go to the BYC forum for people who are putting together their coops and runs:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

Be sure to put on a BIG pot of coffee because you'll spend literally hours in there browsing all the pictures, comments, etc. You will get tons of ideas!!

Wishing you well, and good luck with your girls!!

 

[timmysixgun]

I bought this pre made coop from a shed company and then built and attached the run.

My brother bought this coop with small run and we added onto it.

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[Bagawk85]

What kind of shed company? I've seen the shed kits online (where you buy the wood I believe) but don't know much about them.

 

[Percheron chick]

Get busy on CL. Tons of resources there to make a decent coop. Most will be under $100. Might find something free that just needs to be torn down and reassembled or might find someone who builds nice quality coop on the side. If you have a local resource store, stop in and see what they have. Might just be some windows, a few sheets of OSB board or some lumber but it will be pennies on the $$. An old free swingset with a fort is the ultimate find. Convert the fort to a coop and enclose the swingset framework for the run. You will have a nice set up in a day.

 

[timmysixgun]

Amish shed makers. I'm near Lancaster Pa.