HS Coop Building??

[MadisonOde]

Hey all, high school student here. So at my school we do a senior exit project, which basically is a big project you do in the community and write a paper about what you did, for example someone built new baseball shelters, or coached a soccer team. I was thinking that I would have a sort of “chicken kit day.” Basically, I would provide pullets and probably the coop? I thought maybe everyone building their own little a-frame coop for 2-3 hens. However, will those be fine for Wisconsin winters? Thoughts or plans? Sorry for the long read, would love anyone’s ideas. Thanks!

 

[MadisonOde]

And make sure people were interested and signed up beforehand for sure

 

[aart]

I thought maybe everyone building their own little a-frame coop for 2-3 hens. However, will those be fine for Wisconsin winters?

A-frames not a good design....tight space, hard to weather proof and ventilate.

 

[Acre4Me]

Hey all, high school student here. So at my school we do a senior exit project, which basically is a big project you do in the community and write a paper about what you did, for example someone built new baseball shelters, or coached a soccer team. I was thinking that I would have a sort of “chicken kit day.” Basically, I would provide pullets and probably the coop? I thought maybe everyone building their own little a-frame coop for 2-3 hens. However, will those be fine for Wisconsin winters? Thoughts or plans? Sorry for the long read, would love anyone’s ideas. Thanks!

Does your HS have an area or interest in having their own chickens? Maybe this ties in with some classes (ag, animal science, food science, home ec, etc). You could build a walk in coop for say 10 -12 chickens. Of course, this may not be allowed or supported at the HS, but could be an option. I know some schools do have gardens and animals like chickens.

an A-frame is not going to be very good for WI weather. However, an elevated coop (like you might buy at Tractor Supply) could be built better than those pre-fabs (that is bought at TSC), and you can send them home with the plans for the attached run to build themselves if time only allows for building the coop. For a coop for 4 chickens you need a 4x4 interior floor (not counting nest boxes) and a 4x10 run or approx 40sq ft. For 6 chickens you need a 6x4 interior. The 4x4 interior makes better use of your materials as most plywood etc comes in 4x8 sheets. Also, what are town ordinances and allowances for chickens in your area from which the HS pulls? If most everyone is allowed 4 chickens, then you can aim for that number.

Supplies: Can you get the support of a local company to provide you with the materials at a reduced cost - since you don't want to have to charge too much for the "chicken Kit Day", but a local company may support you in this as it is for your senior project. Will they provide you with an experienced helper so the novice learners can get through the building phase at a reasonable pace?

Good Luck - and sounds like a fun project.

 

[MadisonOde]

Does your HS have an area or interest in having their own chickens? Maybe this ties in with some classes (ag, animal science, food science, home ec, etc). You could build a walk in coop for say 10 -12 chickens. Of course, this may not be allowed or supported at the HS, but could be an option. I know some schools do have gardens and animals like chickens.

an A-frame is not going to be very good for WI weather. However, an elevated coop (like you might buy at Tractor Supply) could be built better than those pre-fabs (that is bought at TSC), and you can send them home with the plans for the attached run to build themselves if time only allows for building the coop. For a coop for 4 chickens you need a 4x4 interior floor (not counting nest boxes) and a 4x10 run or approx 40sq ft. For 6 chickens you need a 6x4 interior. The 4x4 interior makes better use of your materials as most plywood etc comes in 4x8 sheets. Also, what are town ordinances and allowances for chickens in your area from which the HS pulls? If most everyone is allowed 4 chickens, then you can aim for that number.

Supplies: Can you get the support of a local company to provide you with the materials at a reduced cost - since you don't want to have to charge too much for the "chicken Kit Day", but a local company may support you in this as it is for your senior project. Will they provide you with an experienced helper so the novice learners can get through the building phase at a reasonable pace?

Good Luck - and sounds like a fun project.

We do have a couple of construction companies that I will be contacting. Do you think of we pre cut everything, and screwed most of the parts together, we could get them done in a couple of hours. I don’t know how hard it is to put elevated coops together, we have a big shed coop at our house,
.

 

[aart]

I don’t know how hard it is to put elevated coops together

Build a prototype, that will tell/teach you a lot...then that one could be the display model.

 

[Acre4Me]

We do have a couple of construction companies that I will be contacting. Do you think of we pre cut everything, and screwed most of the parts together, we could get them done in a couple of hours. I don’t know how hard it is to put elevated coops together, we have a big shed coop at our house,
.

You could go about an elevated "kit" a couple of ways:

1. Provide materials and plan for a platform (a square of 2x4s attached to legs) that they can build on site at their home. So they build the 4x4 chicken house at your Kit Day, and complete the rest on their own according to plans you provide.

2. Make it integrated with the coop (so the 4 side posts will be one length), making it taller and has to be transported on its side to their home. The enclosed run can be built according to plans you provide.

Prefab coops are notoriously poorly built with poor quality materials, and they usually do not have adequate ventilation. However, you can get your inspiration from the pre-fabs for your Kit Day, and add in the proper modifications for better ventilation and better materials.

You and skilled adult should put your heads together to determine a design, then make a mock-up. This will tell you where the slow spots are, and those may be what ends up getting pre-done or partially done before the workshop dependent on how much time you plan to have for the workshop. I think 2 hours may be too short for this. You are calling it a Kit Day, so I would think a 4 hour session (or longer) is appropriate when thinking about a group of unskilled people having to build a 4x4 enclosed structure.

If, instead, you do put most of it together then maybe your Kit Day focus will be personalizing the structure with trim, roof shingles (and or cupola), paint, etc. So maybe you need to think about what your focus is. Doubt you can get a structure built and personalized in one session with a group of inexperienced people.

Good Luck