I accidentally built a Chicken Castle (my 1st coop)

[afviolettes]

A few months ago my wife and I decided on chickens ... we looked high and low for a good coop but the largest (but yet smallest) coops were ~$400. Certainly I could build something better ... for a modest $500-600 ?

So, thus began a 6 week project (mostly due to rain - ridiculously large amounts of rain for Texas).

Details:

- Run space - 196 sqft
- Run Space minus Coop Space - 148 sqft
- Coop Space - 48 sqft (doesn't include 5 nest boxes at ~12in x 12in)

Other details:

- Run is 6 feet tall (for the humans)
- Electrical is available to the coop, just not installed yet
- Roof is insulated
- Vinyl is stapled to the floor for easy cleaning

I've attached a few pictures below, but also included a link to the full gallery. I will say, this turned into a much bigger project than I thought it would ... the total cost was probably closer to $1100.

Chickens:

- 2 Blue Wyandotte's
- 3 Rhode Island Red's
- 1 Columbian
- 1 Silkie (Ended up being a Rooster)

Plan to get roughly ~9 more.

Link to full gallery: http://s166.photobucket.com/user/b1hojo22/library/Chicken Castle

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Very Nice!!
Don't worry...you'll spend more $$$ before it's over

Does your ramp have a closable door (pop door) to shut at night - couldn't tell in the photos?
Reason asking is predators can easily get through chicken wire, unfortunately chicken wire is more for keeping chickens in, not things out.
I do recommend hardware cloth over the windows for predator protection instead of chicken wire and closing the girls up at night.

I'm sure you will get more input, but good job!

 

[afviolettes]

Wyorp,

Not at the moment - I'm getting an automatic one soon... As far as the predators my 3 yappy dogs are doing a good job of literally keeping anything and everything out... With 6-8 ft fences around my yard I hope that keeps the "bigger" predators out, but I intend to put cloth on the windows and vents at least

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like a good plan

 

[BruceAZ]

pictures of coops like this is worth the

what's the final price tag? if you don't mind sharing

 

[afviolettes]

pictures of coops like this is worth the

what's the final price tag? if you don't mind sharing

Bruce, I was shooting for 650-750... After 800 I stopped keeping track... I'd say final was probably 950-1200

 

[BruceAZ]

Bruce,

I was shooting for 650-750... After 800 I stopped keeping track... I'd say final was probably 950-1200

that's about 2x the estimate budget there.. but it's a nice looking coop/coop

did you waterproof the woods? it will help it last longer (protection against water and sun exposure)

 

[JPJewell]

Very nice!

 

[henny1129]

It's wonderful!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I love it. I'll hire you for my next one.