Hi everyone,
I'm a first time chicken owner, who is trying to build a chicken coop cheaply, with what I have. We are getting 15 chicks (laying hens) either next week or the following week. Here's what I have:
2- 4' x 8' shipping crates. They are 2' high.
5- 8' long 2" x 2" wooden boards (posts)
4- 6' long 4" x 4" posts
2- rolls of 3' x 50' chicken wire.
Paint, really any kind that I want (my husband is a painter).
3# tar paper for the roof.
Some scrap 2 x 4's, plywood pieces of various sizes, and some other wood scraps, all from an old shed that we tore down.
I live in SW Michigan, so our winters do get cold, but not super, duper cold. Our typical temps in winter are in the 30's. It can get below 0, but it usually does not last long. I saw a coop design from Minnesota, where she had a large, fully enclosed run, that she covered in thick plastic sheeting, during the cold winter months. The chickens could use this during the cold winters and it sort became part of their coop. I like that idea.
Anyway, my original idea was to plop one of the shipping boxes on top of the other, open sides together, to make a 4' high, 8' x 4' box. Then I was going to cut out the necessary doors and vents etc. This would be 32 sq. ft.
Now I'm concerned that this will not be large enough for 15 chickens. I was only going to get 10, figuring a couple might die and we'd end up with 6, which was our original number. 15 was the minimum order at our local hatchery. Since it is June, and we're picking them up, they could all live...which is great! But...now I don't have space. And, I really don't have more money to put into this. Either way the chicks are coming and I need a coop! I'd appreciate any help that you could offer.
I did think about putting both crates on their sides and stacking them...open sides facing frontward, and then filling in the gaps with smaller boards, the run would come off of the front and be 8' x 18'. That would give me 32 sq. ft. of coop. also, just a bit less cutting. I'm guessing that 32 sq. ft. would not be enough for 15 chickens, even with access to a large run right? And, will chickens separate into two separate boxes or would I need to connect them somehow?
Or I could leave one crate with the top open and facing up and then turn the other one and pull it forward and then close the back gap with plywood. This would give me a two level coop, where I have to cut doors and such in the front as well as sides/back, but it would a little bit more sq. footage. I figured a combined 48 sq. ft. which probably would be enough, right?
The point is that I need help. Thank you so much. I have 7 children and the chickens are being paid for by my 10 year old son. He was given a gift of $50 and really wanted chickens. He is going to do a lot of the care and he paid for the chicks. He wants to give eggs to our family and then sell whatever is leftover. We would use the meat later, after the prime laying period is over. We might breed in the future too. Any advice?
I'm a first time chicken owner, who is trying to build a chicken coop cheaply, with what I have. We are getting 15 chicks (laying hens) either next week or the following week. Here's what I have:
2- 4' x 8' shipping crates. They are 2' high.
5- 8' long 2" x 2" wooden boards (posts)
4- 6' long 4" x 4" posts
2- rolls of 3' x 50' chicken wire.
Paint, really any kind that I want (my husband is a painter).
3# tar paper for the roof.
Some scrap 2 x 4's, plywood pieces of various sizes, and some other wood scraps, all from an old shed that we tore down.
I live in SW Michigan, so our winters do get cold, but not super, duper cold. Our typical temps in winter are in the 30's. It can get below 0, but it usually does not last long. I saw a coop design from Minnesota, where she had a large, fully enclosed run, that she covered in thick plastic sheeting, during the cold winter months. The chickens could use this during the cold winters and it sort became part of their coop. I like that idea.
Anyway, my original idea was to plop one of the shipping boxes on top of the other, open sides together, to make a 4' high, 8' x 4' box. Then I was going to cut out the necessary doors and vents etc. This would be 32 sq. ft.
Now I'm concerned that this will not be large enough for 15 chickens. I was only going to get 10, figuring a couple might die and we'd end up with 6, which was our original number. 15 was the minimum order at our local hatchery. Since it is June, and we're picking them up, they could all live...which is great! But...now I don't have space. And, I really don't have more money to put into this. Either way the chicks are coming and I need a coop! I'd appreciate any help that you could offer.
I did think about putting both crates on their sides and stacking them...open sides facing frontward, and then filling in the gaps with smaller boards, the run would come off of the front and be 8' x 18'. That would give me 32 sq. ft. of coop. also, just a bit less cutting. I'm guessing that 32 sq. ft. would not be enough for 15 chickens, even with access to a large run right? And, will chickens separate into two separate boxes or would I need to connect them somehow?
Or I could leave one crate with the top open and facing up and then turn the other one and pull it forward and then close the back gap with plywood. This would give me a two level coop, where I have to cut doors and such in the front as well as sides/back, but it would a little bit more sq. footage. I figured a combined 48 sq. ft. which probably would be enough, right?
The point is that I need help. Thank you so much. I have 7 children and the chickens are being paid for by my 10 year old son. He was given a gift of $50 and really wanted chickens. He is going to do a lot of the care and he paid for the chicks. He wants to give eggs to our family and then sell whatever is leftover. We would use the meat later, after the prime laying period is over. We might breed in the future too. Any advice?
