My 1st Coop Build

[CelticOaksFarm]

You can always close off the "extra" nest box space and use it for storage. Then you can have two hinged lids, one for nest boxes, one for storage. A bale of bedding, feed anything could be kept in there.

 

[MonsterClucker]

Its starting to take shape! Chooks will be in there in no time!

 

[BGinVA]

After 2 days of rain we finally got the side walls up today. While we'd have liked to have moved on to the roof rafters, the scrap lumber we have left is not long enough and we will have to go buy some, so I think we are to the point that the money will start flying out the coop once we start buying lumber, sheathing, roofing materials, not even counting the run yet. But so far we have worked primarily from re-purposed materials.

 

[BGinVA]

After a busy week and less than desireable weather, we didn't get as far as I'd have liked to. I managed to score a roll of tar paper off of Freecyle and we got the roof plywood and paper down. The two plywood panels laying behind the coop we already had, but we are going to have to buy some more panels, some hardware cloth for the windows and ventilation areas, plus some more nails & screws. As of today we've only spent around $60, but have $150 budgeted for today's trip to the hardware store, we'll see how close we come.

 

[MonsterClucker]

Everything looms nice and sturdy! That's gonna be a REALLY nice coop for under $200!

 

[BigRooNTN]

Looking good. Keep doing what you are doing. You will be up and ready in no time. There also is a lot of great advice on here, so take advantage of all the pointers give by the BYC'ers. I am addicted to this site.

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I will soon be starting on mine. I have an old barn type shed that I am going to use.

Good luck

 

[clucky3255]

Yeah, those dips in the pool dip into coop building time, don't they??? LOL It's looking good! Keep in mind that you only need one nest box for every 3-4 hens (I like one box per 3 myself).

i do too..........

 

[clucky3255]

Got the front wall up today with the help from number 4 son and his friend (pictured). Seems to be going slow to me, but after working all day we only have a couple of hours in the evening in what is still 90+ degree temperatures before it gets too dark to see what we are doing. Plus a lot of our time is spent breaking down the old playhouse walls and removing nails, time consuming but money saving. So far we have bought 4 new 2x4's, a box of nails and a box of screws, probably around $30 spent, the rest has been recycled (or reclaimed) from what we had around the house.

The plan here is on the left will be a 12"x18" high chicken door, on the right is a 36"x36" opening that will be covered with barn style doors to allow me access to the coop to clean and tend to the chickens as needed.

nice !

 

[BGinVA]

Thanks for looking and all of the advice, I have indeed convinced my hubby that converting two of the planned nesting areas to a storage area is a great idea, yay! Keep the pointers coming.....

 

[BGinVA]

Didn't get very far today, between catching up on other household chores and running after a 3.5 year old all day (as ususal) and entertaining guests that wanted to swim. But we did manage to get two sides of the siding up today. Probably won't get much progress over the next week, as I'm off work this coming week, but have to gear up to take my Girl Scout troop on a camping trip for 4 days, and seriously doubt anything will get done in my absence. So far we are in about $210, but still so much to do; shingles, vented facerboards, trim, doors, windows, chicken walkway, paint, roosting poles, poop boards, nesting boxes, storage boxes, and then the pen, that's practically a whole nother project;-)