Local Coop Maker Wanted

you live in PA, isn't that 'Amish Country'? I'd imagine you could find just a shed and convert it into a chicken coop with minimal effort. They might even be willing to do it for you.

 

How far is Middletown? Here is one I see on craigslist a lot. I'm thinking about saving up for this one instead of building...depends on what my husband is willing to do

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/grd/2066874588.html

 

Pennsylvania girl here agreeing that the Amish built stuff is UBER-EXPENSIVE. How many birds do you want? I started with a free doghouse from craigslist, prettied it up a bit, slapped on a run and it's worked perfectly for my girls. I'm looking to get some more birds, so in my hiking travels one day, came across an abandoned playhouse, knocked, asked, and it's currently sitting in my driveway, waiting to be hauled to the back yard. So there are two morals to this story....one is that there are free sheds, playhouses and dog houses everywhere....just keep your eye open. Two is that soon I'm going to have a very nice insulated doghouse up for grabs. I'm about an hour from Gettysburg.

The old coop



The new coop

 

msbear is in sharpsburg md, that's not to far from you, made me a chicken coop and a pigeon loft

 

Dan, thanks for looking out

Terris, we are located in Sharpsburg, MD. and have been building coops for BYC members for a couple years now. We also deliver for 75 cents a mile. Right now we're having a Christmas special. 25% off your entire purchase price.

We don't have any finished coops ready as we build to order... hubby just does it on his spare time. Let me know if I can help.

http://designercoops.blogspot.com/

 

Are you planning to move the Converticoop? I ask because I built it, and it is pretty heavy, though it is easily moved by two adults, but if you have any muscle weaknesses or such, you will find it hard, if not impossible, to move.

I like the Converticoop, and I would recommend it for 3 birds, but not as a movable tractor, and honestly, depending on your disabilities, I wouldn't recommend it at all. If you do build it, I would definitely cut the long sides in half, as they are heavy and cumbersome to get in place.

I would also say not to make the sides out of treated wood, as mine have warped terribly in the sun and fall off. We had to put a row of nails under them to catch them when they fall. I can't swear it wouldn't be a problem with untreated pine, but I KNOW it's a problem with treated wood.

You can get a miter saw for under $100 at Lowe's or Home Depot, and usually you can get them to cut the plywood for you, which is about all you need a table saw for.

If you were able to purchase a miter saw and a sabre/jig saw, you can build it completely yourself, and just cut the plywood with the jigsaw. You will need a jigsaw to cut the plywood cut-outs for the legs, even if you have the lumber store cut the big sheet for you.

I really like my Converticoop, it looks really nice. I do have some complaints about the person who wrote the plans. If you make it, DO NOT follow the cut list, cut the wood as you go, because the measurements he gives in the cut list are NOT the same as you will find in the steps as you begin putting it together. I emailed him some questions over a month ago, and he hasn't bothered to respond, which I find to be poor customer service.

I was able to build mine for well under the $175. Definitely use screws and not nails to put it together.

 

do look at ALL the small coops and tractors under the byc coop section, one person uses one of those lil waist height rubbermaid storage sheds commercially available at home improvement stores and some fencing and a little creativity. You dont need fancy power tools, sure, they make things simpler, but with a tap more sweat and some borrowed ideas, u can do anything, remeber..... chickens dont care if its "ugly" and zip ties are ur friend!