I need a cheap chicken coop...

[Scoop]

I just got started with baby chicks last April and what a thrill! I love the doghouse idea. Sometimes I see them in the paper for free. Also, maybe you could lay one or two trash cans on there sides for cheap housing. You could always improvise with the door. I am in central Pa. and we had -12 degrees on Saturday and my chickens we're unphased and still laying eggs! You could make an agreement with your parents that if it don't work out that you will give them away (which wouldn't be hard) but if you are really dedicated to them you will fall in love with them and when your parents see all the great eggs you'll get, they won't want to part with them. I have a child, 13, who is committed to them as I am and we are getting more this spring. We have 7 right now. She helped me build our coop and everything! Good luck to you! I hope you get chicken soon!

 

[morelcabin]

find out if someone in your area has a doghouse they aren't using and see if they might give it to you. Build a fence around it with a top and voila...you're in chickens:>)

 

[FractalFarmer]

Check Craigslist in your city, and look under "For Sale" and "Free". There are usually pallets being offered up, and often things like shipping crates and even spare building materials. You will very likely be able to collect plenty of usable lumber and other materials for free or very low cost if you can take a bit of time to collect stuff. You might also have luck dumpster diving near construction sites.

One of our coops is made from a 4'x4'x8' wooden shipping crate we got free from CL. All we had to do was add feet to elevate it off the ground, then put in hinges and latches for the door, and nest boxes and a roost pole. We also added corrugated plastic for the roof, and cut some vent holes and covered with h/w cloth. It was very cheap to build.

 

[FractalFarmer]

Here are some links to free stuff on CL in NJ that you might be able to use:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/zip/978531063.html
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/zip/998582774.html
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/zip/976404240.html

I don't know what area you're in, but you get the idea. Chickens aren't picky, and people get rid of tons of usable materials. Somebody on this board made a really nice coop out of some old furniture like a dresser or bureau or something.

 

[chickenlover50010]

I really like the dog house idea, I see them on the curbs for the trash men alot. How big of a dog house do you need to house two or three chickens? I think my parents will be more willing if we use a free dog house

 

[WalkingWolf]

For a few chickens find a dumped washer or dryer. You will have to put a back on it and a access door. I had not done this and my wife gave me dirty looks as I eyed a dryer on the side of the road. I promised I would paint it and it would look good but that only resulted in my whupping. People are dumping these all the time you will help rid of junk and recycle at the same time. Beware your parents might give you a whupping too, like my wife did me.