Horse before the Cart? In this case Chickens before the Coop

[LoveMyChicks2]

Okay, so I'm not the sharpest beak in the bunch, then again I am a quick study. I have paged through a lot of information and I'm so overwhelmed. I need help, encouragement and just plain ole' understanding. Let me start by saying my husband just deployed to Iraq so I am minus one very, very, good handyman.

I have 12 chicks -- 8 RIRs and 4 BRs. They are 9 days old today. I have no idea where to start with building a coop without spending tons of money. I've been looking over the net for plans and am willing to pay for such, but which ones?

Any advice will be and is very much appreciated. (We have plenty of land on which to put a coop.)

 

[CityChook]

Are you going to build it yourself? Have someone help you? Buy something and retrofit? Or are you looking for alternatives to building a whole coop at this point?

For 12 chickens, assuming that you choose to keep them all, you will need a 8x6 coop (at the minimum) and a 10x12 run.

Have you checked into your local craigslist? Before we built, I looked for coops locally and found tons of sheds. They can be moved with the assistance of a flatbed tow company.

ETA: WELCOME! You're amongst friends here!

 

[LoveMyChicks2]

I think I may try to build with some help of course. Thanks, I will look on Craigslist. We have a flatbed trailor so a shed may be an option also.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Welcome from one newbe to another. My chicks are almost 6 weeks old, and have another batch of 2 day old chicks. Our coop is almost finished. Putting the final coat of paint on inside today We did not start from scratch, but took a treehouse/clubhouse that my dh had built for our children 14 years ago, took it off the 6' stilts it was on and placed it onto a landscaping trailer. We moved it to the desired spot and now are retrofitting it to be out chicken coop. If you check craigs list, be flexible about what the building was originally. It does make it easier, we already had four walls, floor and roof just by moving it from one place to another. Good luck!

 

[Chiefs Mess]

I was there 7 years ago. We moved to our home for good, hubby was on his twilight tour. My boys joined a 4-H Club which was chickens. A neighbor gave the boys Momma and her 7 days old chicks. We were very happy but hubby was out to sea and no way I could build something.
I went to a local business that built sheds. All shapes and sizes and they do extra if you asked them too. Plus their delivery was awesome. My problem was solved and it did not cost no more than buying the materials myself.

Soo if there is a shed business in your area check them out and do the homework if it would be easier buying one already made or a DIY job.

Another thought, if you are comfortable finding a hanyman and ask how much it would cost him to build one for you. And if that works out, you know who to call in a pinch if something happens around the house when hubby is shipped out.

 

[will hunt for food]

My advice: GET STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Regardless of what route you take. My birds are busting out of their brooder box, and they won't be able to move into the coop until next week. I have to still build the run!

 

[Baymen Moe]

A big thank you to your hubby for serving our country.

Bill

 

[will hunt for food]

I came back here to thank your husband and you for all the sacrifices that are made to cover my butt here in the States. I see someone beat me to it. If you lived closer to me, I would do my best to give you a hand.

 

[LoveMyChicks2]

I have been thinking about riding around and looking at sheds that I could have installed. The more I look at all the goes into building, the more

I feel. I checked out Craigslist but believe it or not nothing - at least not today.

Thanks so much for the "thanks to my hubby". I miss him!, course now I have my "girls" to keep us busy (not to mention the home schooling).

Alas, the search for the "perfect" chicken coop goes on.

 

[will hunt for food]

Not sure what your budget is, but there are companies out there that will build and deliver a coop.

http://www.horizonstructures.com/coop.asp

Also, look at Craigs list for other cities in NC. I know someone was listing some coops that they would build per your specs in the Raleigh Craigs List. He was listed as being in eastern NC.

Here is an ad I just found:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/1183896794.html