Local Coop Maker Wanted

[Msbear]

I agree with CountryFried, if you do make that coop, use pressure treated framing and either cedar, oak or even heavier pine siding and treat with weather seal.. The heavier stuff would hinder movability though But, this coop, as it is, I would doubt it will last much longer than a season. Being that it's touching the ground, that will speedy up the process.

as for easying it up, you could not miter the framing but rather offset them then stick a piece of plywood on the end and trace out the triangle. Cut out the triangle with a circular saw or jig.

I would suggest building a dog house type coop with a slanted roof. It's just two sets of square framing boxes instead of triangles and one top board to support the highest wall. You could also make the triangle structure then close it off to make it a house. Then, make a detachable run so you can move the two pieces seperately. Either put a set of wheels on one side of the house and a handle on the other or add a pressure treated board on the bottom to use as a sleigh though this method is a bit more difficult to move around

The wheel just get bolted directly onto the framing and they are super cheap.. like $5 ea.

Here you can see the top board to suppor the higher wall

BUT, this coop does require bending over to clean which can be a hassle if you're not up to it... maybe don't do the hinge on the top and just make a door on the side.

I wish we could be of more help, Erin

 

[terris]

Quote:
Thanks for the info. When you say cut the long sides in half, do you make the coop 4' long rather than 8'? How many chickens could I put in a 4 x 3' area?

This coop was perfect because I could access it from the top, it is beautiful which is the ONLY thing that will please my neighbors, I can move it as I cannot afford to get a "pretty" compose pile going for the bedding if the coop was stationary, etc.

There was a better similar one on a video from the UK but no plans and no way to contact those folks. A third A frame tractor out there is way too flimsy for all of the Predators around here and we have everything but bears.

 

[terris]

Quote:
Thanks, Erin. This is cute though to my neighbors would look a more chicken coop-y. But the ideas on how to make adjustments to the converticoop might be really helpful. It goes back to how do I move it around? If I chop it back to 6' instead of 8, I could have maybe 3 chickens?

I plan on painting it white to make the shed so it will blend. Should I seal the wood after I paint or before?

 

[chrissum]

Another suggestion would be this shed kit from Northern Tool:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial
No angles to cut, pretty easy to build, read the reviews, generally is would cost half to build yourself as having someone build a shed for you.

 

[terris]

Quote:
I have looked at every coop and tractor here in books and on the net for 3 years. The only one my neighbors would be OK with is the converticoop or a similar design. There are 2 options. One is in a video from the UK and no contact info. The other is so flimsy it would not take the predators. Those who can do this easily are lucky but my HOA is specific about things with chicken wire and no "junk" in yards. I can get away with the converticoop because I can use bunny wire and it looks like furniture. I really can't even have a standard run. Last time I had chickens I put them into my kittywalks. It was very hard to get them out at night. I had to collapse the whole thing but for our purposes it worked. The coop was all wrong as I said in my original post and so I kept it in the garage which gave my asthma. This time I want to do it right. Thanks to everyone helping. I know I will get there with all of your ideas.

 

[Msbear]

Painting will work just as well as sealing... just keep up with it. If you see the paint beginning to wear, reapply. I would actually be tempted to use the cheap wood up top and just use pressure treated on the bottom row if you plan to keep up with sealing.

And, even the ugliest of coops look cute with a paint job! This one will look darling

 

[kgriffith]

I am in eastern pa. Warminster to be exact. I can build a coop for you. Email me at [email protected]. I based my coop from the amish coops at horizon structures. We slow down in the winter so i can take on more carpentry projects.

Thanks,
Kris

 

[terris]

Quote:
Wow! That's pretty cool. I wonder how hard it would be to put windows in it for the chickens. What do you think?

 

[chrissum]

Quote:
Wow! That's pretty cool. I wonder how hard it would be to put windows in it for the chickens. What do you think?

I am by no means a builder, that said, I built this shed with the help of my teen age daughter, I put 2 basement type windows in it and I found building this to be pretty east, only instead of nails I used all screws, my camera is out of town right now and maybe later I can add pictures. Another thing about this shed is there are no angles to cut. The windows, with screens, were pretty easy, you just cut a hole where you want the window, a little smaller than the window itself and there are screw holes to attach the windows to the shed side. Next year I may use this same system but build the barn style shed.
This is the window I used, cheap, has a removable screen:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_13328-78360...pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=basement+window
Hope this helps!

 

[terris]

Quote:
Wow! That's pretty cool. I wonder how hard it would be to put windows in it for the chickens. What do you think?

I am by no means a builder, that said, I built this shed with the help of my teen age daughter, I put 2 basement type windows in it and I found building this to be pretty east, only instead of nails I used all screws, my camera is out of town right now and maybe later I can add pictures. Another thing about this shed is there are no angles to cut. The windows, with screens, were pretty easy, you just cut a hole where you want the window, a little smaller than the window itself and there are screw holes to attach the windows to the shed side. Next year I may use this same system but build the barn style shed.
This is the window I used, cheap, has a removable screen:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_13328-78360...pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=basement+window
Hope this helps!

Got it. Hmmm. So what did the whole thing cost to make?