Is anyone else in the process of building their coop for spring?

[shadowman]

I'm re-doing a 50 year old coop on our "retired" farm. It never had insulation so that's where I'll begin. I got 27 office wall dividers for free on kijiji, so, I'll be using the wood from those to cover the insulation. Since it's well below freezing outside, I'm refurbishing the windows indoors and will install those after the insulation is done. The exterior will have to wait untill spring. I also have to finish a 4x8 coop that I started building in the barn. It will be lugged outside in the spring for my silkies.
Lots to do!!

 

[the-bird-man]

let me ask you all something, when you started to design a small coop only to change you mind and go with a larger one? i started out saying i would build a 4'x4' coop then that soon changed to 4' 1/2 x6' then it changed to 4' 1/2x8 and then 6'x8' and now it may just change to 8'x8. i started off thinking i would build a tractor and now it has changed into a nice big walk in shed like coop. and it does not help that my neighbors keep telling me i should get more birds than i was planing on. well it should be fun for sure

 

[kurt s]

I just recieved the Dummies Guide and am busy reading and planning. Taking a trip to Home Depot tomorrow to price out materials and insulation is its cold in Maine. Looking to build an 8x8 shed type. Ventilation is a big concern in the winter so I am studying methods for winter ventilation when its below zero.

 

[diggergal]

I am not as far along as I planned to be at this date. Wanted my coop and run in place and completely done before ordering chicks this spring. So far: 8 x 20 ft shed purchased and finally in place behind our home; Run started, 2 ft clay dug out, clean rock placed with drainage pipe and topped with good twelve inches clean concrete sand; Electrical line dug and laid but not hooked up.
Still need the shed divided for a 8 x 8 coop area, the rest of the shed will be for chicken supplies and storage. Need to finish the run with fencing and cover. The weather has stopped us from doing much else so will spend the rest of the winter purchasing insulation, wood, fencing and supplies. Still plan to order chicks for spring delivery. Will try to post a few photos of the day we moved shed/coop in.

The first photo is where we are working on the run area.
The second is the coop but not in its final destination.

 

[Wink]

Wow, Diggergal, that still looks like quite a lot if progress for a good size coop!

 

[diggergal]

Thanks Wink, We had a lot of site work to get the coop to the area it is to be set. It was a wooded area and we wanted to save as many trees as we could for shade. But along with trees come predators especially coons. So we are planning an 8 x 32 foot covered run off the end of the coop. The shed was made at an Amish lumber yard. We asked them to make seven extra trusses so we could use them for the covered run. We have a lot of interior work to convert the shed to a coop. The ground froze before we could set post for the run.

I have learned so much from this site and still have a lot more to learn.

 

[Kansaseq]

I started coop # 3 in late August, and it's been slow going. It has walls and a floor, but nothing else. My dad will be out tomorrow to help me start the roof. Once that's done, I can finish up the door and windows myself.

 

[patandchickens]

LOL - I am at the stage of having *oughta* built it last summer and never actually did, so it will have to wait til springtime (actually, summer, because I need to get some roadbase fill trucked in first and so must wait til the ground firms up)

Pat

 

[HBuehler]

For Spring? We are nearly done with another house..mine all have foundations but I need it now ta heck with Spring

It's 8x16x8 with windows electric and water.4 inside dividers for 4x8 pens with walk through doors all the way through It may be Spring before the runs are finished but it's for the free rangers with runs just in case I need to use it as a breeding pen..you know never enough space.After this one is done another is in the works same size for my bantam house..that may take until next Summer though depends on if I can find more siding... my total building cost right now is under $200 and I plan to keep the next one just as cheap

 

[Schroeder]

I built my first coop, 6 x 6, single handedly. I just got a quote from a local contractor to start on my second coop. This one will be a 12 x 20 salt box style. I fbought 8 like new vinyl double hung windows on Craigs list for $25 each which will be used to give me a lot of light. He'll do everything except inside work and exterior painting. A poured concrete floor, 2 x 4 walls and rafters spaced 16 inch on center, asphalt shingles, ridge and soffit vents, Tyvex under barn siding, cedar trim and a metal door. The quote $7,800.

This sounds really high, but not terrible after figuring the retail cost of the materials and concrete. The problem I have is I just can't make myself cut any corners. If its not the Taj Mahal of coops I won't be satisfied.
It sure would be nice to have it standing within a couple of weeks after I lay down the cash. I ALMOST have DW convinced to go with it. Hopefully I can take a tax deduction from it.