I am a failure at chicken coops....

[namastemama]

I agree its nice to have both people know how to do things. when I was don with the worlds worst morning sickness, I could not handle cooking and DH's cooking abilities are limited to mac and cheese and PB and J the kids ate a alot of take out.

 

[laseterlass]

I built my own too. My husband is terrible when it comes to building anything with wood. My coop was sposed to be easy to unassemble, but I let him help me....... Now he has to call a friend to help move it. Next year I will be adding a larger run. I hope he has to go out of town for a week on business.

My big tip? Trim is your friend! And Keep it simple!

 

[namastemama]

That is a great coop!

 

[laseterlass]

Thank You. I would post plans but I lost them half way through the build. The only problems are that a new hen not raised in it does not know how to use the ramp and the door is to tight when it gets damp out. I am hoping that the door works for a few more months till warmer weather then I will take it off and shave the side a little bit.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
There is something to be said for knowing how to do something on your own - not necessarily by yourself, but knowing the processes and procedures. Does that make sense? I really do appreciate it when my hubby offers to do something for me, but I much prefer that he just help. Not just because I enjoy working with him, but also because I don't want to be reliant on him being where I need him, when I need him. The same goes for him, too! He knows how to cook and can (still working on "cleaning"

) and I know how to use a chainsaw, split wood (still working on that:/), change a tire, etc. We both manage the finances. While it would not be pleasant for one of us to be temporarily unavailable (like when he had a family situation that kept him away for nearly 2 weeks), either one of us would manage alone. Too often, when a spouse is not available (temporarily or permanent) it's then that the other spouse realizes just how many things they had relied on the other to do; how many things they don't know how to do for themselves. In times of unpleasantness (or upheaval or grief), there is no need for the added distress of realizing you can't start up the tiller or that he can't cook the foods that comfort him best. For that nearly 2 weeks, the only thing that I had real trouble with were the jar lids that he put on too tight

Go figure!

My husband has been deployed to Iraq three times now.. each time was for about a year.. lol.. good thing I can handle living alone just fine and know how to do the plumbing, electrical and carpentry jobs that spring up

 

[secuono]

An A frame would be the easiest and not hard to do. I don't get how they can escape.
Can you check Craigslist for cheap or free hutches, dog houses, sheds, etc?

 

[namastemama]

We are in a very economically depressed area, theres rarely anything goof on craigslist cheap or free. If there is it goes fast, in minutes of posting. I have done an A frame and they kept escaping from it. Not matter how hard I tried I could not get the chicken wire tight enough.

 

[vebyrd36]

Quote:
There is something to be said for knowing how to do something on your own - not necessarily by yourself, but knowing the processes and procedures. Does that make sense? I really do appreciate it when my hubby offers to do something for me, but I much prefer that he just help. Not just because I enjoy working with him, but also because I don't want to be reliant on him being where I need him, when I need him. The same goes for him, too! He knows how to cook and can (still working on "cleaning"

) and I know how to use a chainsaw, split wood (still working on that:/), change a tire, etc. We both manage the finances. While it would not be pleasant for one of us to be temporarily unavailable (like when he had a family situation that kept him away for nearly 2 weeks), either one of us would manage alone. Too often, when a spouse is not available (temporarily or permanent) it's then that the other spouse realizes just how many things they had relied on the other to do; how many things they don't know how to do for themselves. In times of unpleasantness (or upheaval or grief), there is no need for the added distress of realizing you can't start up the tiller or that he can't cook the foods that comfort him best. For that nearly 2 weeks, the only thing that I had real trouble with were the jar lids that he put on too tight

Go figure!

My husband has been deployed to Iraq three times now.. each time was for about a year.. lol.. good thing I can handle living alone just fine and know how to do the plumbing, electrical and carpentry jobs that spring up

I understand that, I have strived to stay on top of how to do things. That is is a good thing since DH will be at the west house for awhile since there is a Parvo outbreak out there. NO coming to this South house for awhile until he and the vet gets a handle on the problem. Sad thing is the shots are not working on the new strain. SO Byrd is lossing some of his high dollar Rotts.

The funny thing is I meet him in twon and give home things he misses from the South house, like homemade cookies every weekend.

 

[epeloquin]

If you go to my page you can see some pics of the building of my coop. It was my own design and my boys helped me build it.

I am willing to send drawings and a materials list if you send me a SASE.

By the way, we had a VERY rainy Summer and Fall plus an October snowstorm of 18" and it has never leaked at all.

 

[3forfree]

I like using old pallets, I've found some with 3/4in plywood for tops, some with 4x4 inside. Most of the pallets are 1/2-3/4 in pieces, some that I've got look like they've never been used. I find them piled up on the street near manufacturing places. The best part is they're FREE