keeping cost down

[folmar25]

I just wanted to start a thread on how people kept there cost down when building there coop and have people share some pointers on what materiel they used to shave a few bucks I think it would be beneficial to allot of people including myself so my question for you guys would be I have my base down and two walls up and all of the materiel so far used was free because I tore down my old chicken coop at my parents house my new coop will be an 8x10 lean two style coop what did you guys use to cover the outside I was thinking osb but any suggestions would be great

 

[henless]

OSB is a pain in the butt to paint!

I used osb last year for the North end of my coop/run. I put a coat of kilz on it and then painted it since it would be out in the weather. If I ever put up solid walls on a coop/barn/shed again, I will spend the money and buy siding or use plywood.

Where do you live?

I'm in Texas, and redoing my coop. I'm putting up hardware cloth for all the walls, and plan on putting up a tarp or clear plastic this winter for a wind break. Our heat is more of a problem then our winter.

 

[folmar25]

I live in Pennsylvania and lately our winters have been pretty cold and our summers are not to bad maybe every once in a while they will get up in the 90s

 

[wlantry]

I used OSB on mine. People told me "oh, you can't do that, you'd have to wrap it with tyvek and then add siding, blah blah blah..." It worked fine. The OSB was seven bucks a sheet, compared to 16 bucks for the cheapest plywood I'd consider using. Picked up some 'oops' paint at home depot for five bucks a gallon... it was actually 'porch and floor paint,' but who cares? Rolled it on before I started building... both sides, and the edges. Seven sheets of the OSB drank up two gallons of paint. Worked like a dream, saved a fortune. Used it for everything but the roof.

When the time came to build the run, I used 2x4s. Got the base done, then realized I'd under-bought. Told my darling bride I needed to go get some more 2x4s. She said "You are NOT buying any more wood!" Scratched my head for a while, then realized I *might* have enough, but only if I ripped the 2x4s lengthwise on the table saw. Took a while, but it worked! Built a 28' run. The key was realizing I was just trying to hold up wire, not frame a house.

The windows came from the habitat for humanity Restore. 7 bucks each. So what if they don't open? Framed them up, put hinges on the frame, and now they do.

The coop door was a head scratcher. Then I realized we had a doggy door that we'd never installed. It had been sitting around for ten years. With just a couple modifications, I was able to frame it up, and now I have a vertical sliding door, raccoon proof and chicken sized, from the coop to the run. There's always a way...

 

[folmar25]

I was thinking about that for the paint and I agree with you on the run the chicken wire isn't that heavy and you don't need 2x4s and we have a local habitat for humanity around here I have never been to looks like I might be making a trip this week

 

[dheltzel]

I'm in PA also and use henless's method of mostly open wire sides and a clear tarp when it's cold. It give a greenhouse effect and it's quite nice in there even when sub-freezing outside.

OSB is not worth it for anywhere it might get wet, imagine replacing it every year and then the tougher siding seems like a good investment.

One of the largest expenses is flooring, so I skip that and use deep litter on the ground. Works great as long as the drainage is good. Picking a well drained area and not having a floor will save you a lot.

 

[folmar25]

how do you fasten the tarp do you use just staples and I live in the suburbs but in a small town and didn't want the coop to be an eye sore how does the tarp look

 

[21hens-incharge]

I used reclaimed metal roofing that we bought on the cheap for the roof and reclaimed crate pieces for the long sides. New siding adorns the front and rear since I did not have enough reclaimed pieces. I made the windows out of some smoked lexan 1/4 inch thick we had sitting around for years. My coop is considered huge so still cost a lot to make. The run is out of chain link we had laying about since I decided to privacy fence one side of the yard. (bad neighbor harassing my dogs)



This is what we came up with. Total cost is something I do not share with DH. Given that it is 8x14 and has 11 windows as well as electric run to it I think it came in pretty good at 1300 or so including the new run posts and bottom framing.

inside during construction

 

[folmar25]

that's a pretty nice coop im defenitaly not looking at spending that much I have the money but my goal is to keep the coop and pen under 400 and so far I have the base and two walls up and I only spent 70 bucks

 

[21hens-incharge]

Most of my cost was in the 2x6 framing for the roof and the 2x8 framing for the floor. We put the coop up on deck blocks and the base is all pressure treated.
OOPS paint is awesome. I got lol cow poo green/brown and added white to make the color you see on my coop.
Depending on size under 400 is totally doable.