Helpful hints for building coops

[Ponypoor]

I am currently building my biggest coop ever and thought about how many newbies are trying to build their first coop ever. Thinking of all you struggling to learn the use of tools and with questions on your mind about planning, i thought it would be helpful to share what i have learned and let others do the same. Even small tips can ease frustration in the building process. If you just want to share pictures of your progress, have at it. Let's share and encourage each other.
The usual back yard chicken rules apply. Please play nice, no need to be rude. Everyone has to learn sometime . Welcome to my coop building thread.

Great idea!

 

[Ponypoor]

To budget HOURS in the hardware section trying to figure out the difference between one type of nail/screw and another.

Don’t use nails - always use screws. They hold better and are easier to remove if you need to fix something.

(I loooove the hardware store )

 

[Ponypoor]

it looks like the frost season is over.
our blackberries are not blossoming at all,. they do this every few years.
however, out mulberry tree is setting berries.
first time since I planted it 8 years ago.
the apple, pear and plum trees have dropped all of their blossoms. the elderberries are just starting to blossom. the joy of living up nort.
I dragged the garden once more for good measure
then got the corn planter ready and it started to rain. 2 hours earlier than predicted,. we got 6/10 of an inch. not good for planting, the good for the raised beds.

My pears trees are showing their pears, and looks like plums also. Apples are a dime a dozen here…. Grow wild on the road side! Unfortunately looks like my Peach trees were hit by frost a few weeks ago. No peaches this year.

Asian Pears

 

[jvls1942]

ponypoor, sorry about your peaches.,
i am too far north for peaches.
i haven't checked the trees to see if fruit is set/
it rains a little and some times a lot every day.
if i ever want to get the corn planted i might just have to broadcast the seed. too muddy to use the planter
but the raised beds are doing very nicely/
I have a lot of ideas about how a coop should be built/ too late in life to do a new coop,.