It.....BEGINS! [updated on page 4!]

[Desirai]

thanks everyone!!

I have it in my yard now... but no one to help me. I'm getting impatient.
I don't have anyone in my life that really knows how to use tools.

I'm probably going to have to hire help..

 

[NovaAman]

Listen... If I can build one from scratch, with no directions, and never having built a dang thing in my life, you can too. ONLY you have directions! So, one thing is already in your favor. You can do it. You don't need a guy, get a girl friend to come over and help hold things in place while you screw stuff in. Really, you can do it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Let me tell you a story. Many years back, I noticed one of my sons did not know how to swing a hammer properly. Since I needed to replace my lawn mower storage shed, I got one of those kits, 8' x 10' if I remember correctly. My sons, ages 10 and 12, put it together for me. They read the instructions and did all the assembly, including the shingle roof. Everything was precut and the hardware was all included.

When it was finished, one corner did not fit perfectly, but so what, it didn't leak. And later on they impressed the other Boy Scouts when they were helping on the Eagle projects because they knew how to swing a hammer with one hand and hit the nail instead of their hand.

If they can do it, you can do it.

I'll admit the ventilation and the window can be a bit harder. What I'd do for ventilation is cut the boards that go on the sides maybe 8" short under the overhangs and cover that opening with hardware cloth to keep things from climbing in.

For a window, you can maybe get one off Craigslist or something like that, but an easy way to make a window is cut a hole out of the siding between two studs. Put a horizontal piece of wood across the top and bottom of that opening between the studs so you have a flush surface, then cover that with hardware cloth. You could get a piece of plexiglass to cover that opening in the winter if that were a problem for you.

In Alabama, you could proably leave off a whole sheet of the wall panel and just cover that with wire. That would need to be on the downwind side, probably east, and put the roost near the opposite wall where they don't get rained on and are pretty much out of any breezes. In Alabama, your danger is not going to be from the cold in winter. It will be from the heat in summer, even if you live in the north, like the Huntsville area. You need lots of ventilation.

I know it can feel overwhelming, but you may surprise yourself at what you can accomplish just by trying.

 

[Desirai]

thanks for your kind words.
Tomorrow I'm off work and I plan on getting out there and starting on it myself, even though I have no idea what I'm doing. It's all I could think about today.
And also, your idea of leaving off one wall is an interesting idea because what you say is true.. my chickens will bake if they don't have ventilation.
I have basic tools.. a power drill, hammers, wrenches of various flavors, screw drivers.. but we don't have a ladder, and we don't have a sawhorse. We do have a small hand saw

 

[afveteran88]

Just go to youtube and type in "shed window installation" You will find all the help you need.

 

[3forfree]

Take a chair and acouple of beers out to where your shed is and sit down. Start looking at the shed and you will start getting ideas of how you can do this. Don't hurry, it might take a couple of sessions in the chair. Maybe even sit inside. Don't laugh this works.

 

[Dukeofhawg]

Take a chair and acouple of beers out to where your shed is and sit down. Start looking at the shed and you will start getting ideas of how you can do this. Don't hurry, it might take a couple of sessions in the chair. Maybe even sit inside. Don't laugh this works.

That's probably the best advice... relax, picture what you want... Or better yet, buy a case of beer and your friends will suddenly develop skills you never knew they had...

 

[Ole rooster]

That's a deal. If they have another one let me know. I'll hookup my trailer and come get it. I'm not kidding either.

 

[horseshowmomnv]

That's probably the best advice... relax, picture what you want... Or better yet, buy a case of beer and your friends will suddenly develop skills you never knew they had...

Awesome advice, I will do that, just sit and stare at something til it makes sense. Eventually you will have clarity. You will be so proud of yourself when you accomplish your plan! Sometimes I will wake up at night and a new plan will just come to mind. That is usually the one I go with. It happened the other night on where to build our coop. We thought we wanted one place, but I have completely changed my mind, and it makes more sense and I am much happier. Patience. Keep us posted, pictures of your accomplishment if possible!

 

[Desirai]

Well I've already taken your advice.. that's what I've been doing the last 3 days. Just going and sitting and trying to picture it.
I have the general area picked out, but the ground slopes. Not badly, but enough where water can stand.
I don't want my babies to be in standing water.

I could completely not put it right there and put it over on a flat ground, but it'll be right against our woods. (2 acres of our land is just woods, underbrush and stuff)
I have a fear of creatures climbing the trees and jumping down on top of them.
Of course, on their run it's going to have a cover. But.. still. I fear that a fat raccoon jumping down on top of the run and being so fat it breaks through the hardwire and into my run and.....