I am a failure at chicken coops....

[csummer8882]

This is our coop that my hubby built for under $150, all new materials. It fits our 6 chickens.

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I think there are several factors to think about before building a coop... obviously how many birds, how long you plan on living at that place, if you free range and tons of other things... I cannot free range as I live in a city and the neighbors dislike the chickens in their yards. So I recycled a doghouse and then secured it to one end of a 3 walled 'building' which I wired off the front and built a door for easy entrance to feed, clean, etc... their house is small but they only spend the night in it and go inside to lay... I may trust the strays and other animals too much but the birds are inside from about 10pm to daylight... they are usually out before I get out to feed them...
And I bought the majority of the materials I used to build my 'coop' but I really like the ideas of using recycled wood and whatever else to build things... good luck with your coop and just remember to think about exactly what you want and need... then adjust from there according to cost or materials obtained. Just be sure its easy for you to maintain and predator proof...

 

[claudicles]

If you have tried three times and your efforts fall apart then good plans aren't going to fix the problem. It is a big shame craigslist is not helping. Is there any chance you can find a woodwork class to help you gain some basic skills? I can't speak for where you are but where I am there are very cheap community run courses and the local hardware chain even runs DIY short sessions. I'm pretty lousy building but the thing that makes a difference for me is good tools, including a few choice power tools. That puts your costs up lots though. If you can't find a class is there a chance you can help someone out on a small handy man job and in the mean time pick their brains about basic skills? You can learn lots from watching someone who knows what they are doing.

 

[namastemama]

Ok today marks the day I am going to start the coop. I think it will take some time because I am supposed to be resting for a crazy pregnancy, but I am going to take it slow and it get done. Will be back with pics soon.

 

[urban escapee]

Here are the basic plans for the coop we built. It is very sturdy and well ventilated, yet easily secured against the weather. total cost for new materials 150.00 including hardware cloth. only thing that has ever gotten in or out without our knowledge was a mouse.

 

[namastemama]

Would it be easier to do a pitched or a gabled roof?

 

[geoff40]

Nail the frame of your coop. The studs/beams holding things together, holding the roof up, holding the weight, should be nailed.
Screws hold tighter, meaning board to board, but their shear strength-the ability to hold weight-is nothing compared to nails. A tight grip and strength are 2 different things.

Use screws to attach your walls to the frame, be they plywood, or barnboard, etc. You screw them in to the frame.

Keep it simple. Do a pitched roof.

 

[carladababe]

I know my limitations as a carpenter, I bought pre-made. Over all cost to labor ratio, worth it. I've had it for over a year, and has stood up to all kinds of weather.

 

[namastemama]

I wish I could afford a pre-made coop, but with Christmas around the corner its not going to happen.

 

[auto5man]

I am glad you found the tile crates, they work GREAT, that's what I used for my first coop. They are stoutly built and work great as a framework for starting your coop. My coop took me about 4 hours to slap together, nothing fancy, and the girls spent their first night in it. I had just bought five chickens that day...was very funny b/c I was finishing the coop right at dusk and the birds started flying up in the shrubs looking for a place to roost. Got done a few minutes later and had to catch them outa the shrubs to put them in the coop.

Anyway, I used two sawhorses to put the crate on, screwed boards in the bottom to make the floor solid, wrapped and screwed chicken wire around it, and just rested a plywood 1/2 sheet I had laying around on top for the roof. I have since tarped over two sides and the roof for wind and rain protection. I also cut a hole and put together a very crude pop door that slides up and down. Cost less than $15 and has worked very well for the last five months. I think you posted that you had two crates, you can easily make a larger coop by joining two of them together.

Are your crates solid walled out of plywood or with gaps between boards like a pallet?