Just about ready to give up :(

[Zuesdude]

If you keep, I'm assuming two chicken in a safe area night and day, you and yours will do just fine.

Remember chicken are stuck-on-stupid and they only want food, water, and a safe place to live.

Don't give up, You will fine it fun.

Also when the Maga Depresstion really it us you'll be better off then your neightbor.

 

[Zahboo]

Ah, I've been there. I'm just a kid, well a teen and short fused. I love building coops, but am a perfectionist with a very small budget. Don't worry if it isn't square. It's your first coop. My first coop wasn't even framed! It was 4 plywood boards held together by L brackets with a sheet of plywood for the roof weighted down with cinderblocks. Yours is WAY better than that. Don't just throw away your time and money. I personally use a jiggysaw because I can't see where I'm cutting with the skill saw. Plus the skill saw is really loud and throws stuff at me. You can do it!

 

[Monk]

That frusrated, QUIT! Then get a comfortable lawn chair, cold drink and just sit there relaxing, pondering on it all. Even if it takes a day or two, look at it, get that image in your head of what you want to do, plan it out and then get back to WORK! And remember it's suppose to be fun!

 

[cattbird]

Thanks everyone, Feeling a bit more positive now!

I'm keeping 2 or 3 miniature silkie bantams. I was planning on building them a sheltered run for the daytimes.

My main problem is I'm stuck on what to do next with the boxing in of the second floor. I dont know whether it needs to be framed more, and if so how? I tried to put a plank width ways either side of the existing one (on the middle) but I have a long screws going in to hold the other length ways planks so cant see how I can put screw another one in. It's really hard to explain.Or do I get plywood now and put it on.. but then I don't know how to put it on! Just nail it to the frame or is there a better way?!

Aghhh It's really doing my head in! It doesnt help that I only have an hour a day to work on it while the babies sleep! I have millions of drawings/plans of what I want it to look like, but putting it in to plan (especially all this framing!) is prooving difficult

Like someone said though, it doesnt have to be perfect.. or straight!! I think I may look in to getting a jigsaw and table.

Thanks so much.

 

[mstricer]

Hey I think you did a great job. keep building your almost done.

Yeah for you. Your doing better then myself. can't get past the planning part. know somewhat how i want to build it just can't seem to get'er done.

 

[Bellasmom]

I agree with the rest! Don't stop you are doing what I would like to do as we need another small coop to seperate my hens! Keep going. I like the sitting and pondering idea too, that's what my hubby does when he needs to think something through!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Well now it looks like you've get that middle piece wrong. You should take that middle 2x4 out or put 2 more on each side. Then take a piece of plywood and notch out the corners. You might have to cut that piece in two, so you can get it in or try to put it in at an angle.
Otherwise you could start over. Build it from the ground up. It looks like you started at the top and that could be the problem.
Now remember your friends are counting on finished pics so we can cheer. Or you could post progress pics. Yeah that's the ticket, progress pics.

 

[ducks4you]

Quote:
DON'T GIVE UP!!!!
I like the idea about college students the best, because you seem so unsure of yourself. I'll tell you what I have seen amongst farmers and THEIR chickens.
Most use light wood--1 x 2's wrapped in chicken wire. Many have housing Just big enough for their birds. ( NO!!!! They don't abuse their birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Then, they free range them, too---like 30 to 100 at a time. (WE also live near and buy from the Amish.)

Then, there's the other extreme, the farmers who raise 1,000's of birds. Their buildings are open air with rows of feeders and waterers. In the winter, they hang tarps on the outside to block drafts, leaving a gap of about a foot for good ventilation. My hay man used to raise "kosher chickens," that were harvested for market at 6 weeks of age. He had plenty of room for them in an open air environment.

I found THIS site several months ago from the University of Tennessee. It might help, if you get a visual idea, and don't get hung up on the blueprints:
http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/extension/extpubs/planlist97.htm#Poultry Plans

You could buy a book on basic construction at the hardware store. You might EVEN buy some popsicle sticks and practice build your coop. Not like the public school system ever taught us anything Practical.....like HOW to build something!?!?!?!?!?!?

It is SO gratifying to see your finished work after all of the frustration. Keep us posted!