How can I do this cheaply?

[chicken_angler]

Ok now I have 8 brown egg laying chickens and two roosters. The coop is too small to add onto so i am going to have to build a larger coop for winter! I like this one design but I want one with a large enough area for about 15 chickens. Anyone have some pics of their coop that doesnt have a lot of money wrapped up into it? Thanks!

 

[miss_jayne]

i will be posting pics of my hoop coop soon...building it right now....about 150 bucks.

 

[chicken_angler]

Oh BTW, we have a big trailer full of wood that is all moldy and rotten form being in rain. So I was thinking about using pallets?

 

[patandchickens]

It's really a matter of materials not design... so if you are On A Tight Budget, perhaps the thing to do is go flat-out trying to scrounge materials, and then see what you can make with the stuff you end up with

Most valuable will be 6' and longer 2x4's (especially if they are vaguely straight -- although frankly 2x4s are not that expensive if you have to buy some straight ones) and sheets of plywood or large pieces thereof. Chipboard/osb/thatsortofthing can be substituted for the plywood in some situations but actual plywood is better.

So, chat with guys at construction sites

no seriously, do. Visit any business in town that might get equipment or merchandise in very large packing crates. Check your local craigslist and freecycle religiously. Look at the side of the road while you're driving, and always have some rope and stuff with you

Good luck,

Pat

 

[miss_jayne]

yep! pallets are great recycling items! i am using them for roosts and they are good for a dry
feeding area inside, off the regular floor or grass.

looks like you get to have a bonfire too!

 

[chicken_angler]

Yep we do look at the side of the road. I just built a little coop for $3.74

 

[cluckychick]

I would love to see some coops built out of pallets. There is a place in town given them away free and I want to stop and pick some up but I need ideas how to go about making it. Thank you

 

[denahli]

Check out your local dump/xfer station

People are always throwing out timbers and construction materials. just talk to your local municaplities station manager first and explain what you are doing.

I have a neat resource here. This guy cuts and sells huge sections of coated billboard canvas and sells it. Wondeful roofing1 the stuff is coated and uber heavy duty. its like sixty bucks for a 20 x 60' section.


Of course the top of your coop may feature the marlboro man, but who cares! lol

As far a lumber goes both 'big box' home improvement stores price match 10%. So you can get a discount there.

I agree WATCH CRAIGSLIST! A Terrific place to find materials.

LOL My inlaws have given me one of those gi-normous satellite dishes and I am still trying to figure a way to make it a roof...LOL!


Growing Poultry Gorilla Style...Duck and Cover!

a FOWL joke I know

 

[SterlingAcres]

Try your local freecycles. They are forever giving away things they think are trash. If you see a pile of stuff in anyone's yard, just knock and ask if they're looking to get rid of it. My uncle's have bought $200 '06 pickup trucks like that. LOL You just need the nerve to ask.

Good luck with your search

 

[zoeart]

I just built my coop last week, and spent a total of abouut $30, mainly on hardware. Scrounging, trash-picking, craigslist!
Also- check home depot or lowe's- they often have a bin of very cheap lumber and plywood pieces that they cut off of damaged ones- I got 4 half sheets plywood, and 8 4 ft lengths of 2x4's for $12.
have fun!