My coop build - a raised coop with an enclosed run underneath. PIC HEAVY - still in progress

[ImportTheBest]

Well, I'm building this alone for the most part, so it's very slow going. Also I can generally only build during the baby's nap once a day...VERY slow going!

The coop will be above and the run below. Coop is 6ft x 3ft, front is at least 4 ft tall and back is at least 3 ft tall - I don't have a roof yet so final measurements will come eventually! The run below is 6 ft x 4ft. and 3ft tall minus height lost to 2x4 framing etc.

*By the way none of these are consecutive days as some days I can't do anything - some days I only had time to run out for screws / 2x4s etc*


Frame for coop floor - NOT secured to the OSB.


This day I had hubby's help to hold while I did the cutting and building (it really is more my thing than his

)




Got a jigsaw! Hello pop door opening!



The ladder will go half way down toward the back and then go down to the left to the coop floor. So basically a 2 stage ladder.

And I need to update pics from adding the sheet vinyl for the floor and starting on the wall frames.

This has taken me almost a month

I am definitely at the point where I am feeling like I will never get done and get my ladies. I am overwhelmed, worried about the costs, and feeling like I've made this way too complicated for my own good...

Will I ever get done and get my ladies?

I know that my coop will be more spacious, stronger, more likely to survive a move (be it being sold or moved with us), and more predator proof than the little expensive ones in the feed store...and so I am just repeating that to myself over and over again to keep myself going.

 

[gramakoko]

KEEP GOING...YOU'VE DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB......PY

 

[Joe.G]

So far so good, How many chickens do you plan to have.

 

[ImportTheBest]

KEEP GOING...YOU'VE DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB......PY

Thank you!

I had a chat with my husband yesterday and apologized for the added costs etc. And basically he smiled, told me not to worry and gave me my birthday present early, 2 super light and super sturdy saw horses! Woohoo! It's going to be so much easier to make the frames now, no more kneeling or going down on my haunches and all the pain that comes with that, yay!!!

 

[ImportTheBest]

So far so good, How many chickens do you plan to have.

Thanks!

We're going to have 2 LF and 2 bantams. I am pretty set on a Black Australorp and a White Rock (sadly the growers I am buying from are all out of Welsummers etc), and the 2 older kids will choose a bantam each, probably a Frizzle and an Easter Egger. No fighting about which chicken is which, and they will be able to keep track of which bantam is laying easily, and have a little 100 egg celebration etc!

I am feeling a bit better this morning and I can't wait to finish!

Now to figure out the run floor. I imagine having 1/8" or 1/4" gaps between boards would be good for drainage. I thought about using the pine fence pickets for the floor but they are really rough. I wonder if they can be sanded easily enough and used???

I pulled an old shoe/storage shelf unit out of the garage yesterday and changed it from a 3 section to a 2 section unit. Now to cut off the extra pieces on the sides and finish turning them into nest boxes! Hopefully with a good prime and paint they'll be ok as exterior nest boxes. I want to make sure the chickies have as much floor space as possible inside.

I will eventually make a PVC or lighter wood tractor for use in the yard once a day. But they will spend most of their time in the coop and run. We are renters and military, so this coop has to come out when we move (I suspect a lot of screws removed or a crane to get it out!). And the run will have a floor so stop too much damage to the ground under from ammonia, as we have to replace any grass damaged right before we move.

Anyway, enough chatter. Hopefully I'll be back later with some new pics!

 

[ImportTheBest]

Front and back wall frames up!

There are thin wood strips screwed to the frames to keep them straight (they are screwed into the floor) while I make the sides. Also if you left near the left in the coop part, you will see the roost sitting on some supports. It's not screwed in yet, but that will be it's final resting spot.

Nest boxes from old closet organizer - not done yet of course!

Supports screwed in underneath to the sides and back area - the support pieces sticking out will be screwed to the wall frames and then based on it's weight I might need to add a little more support before they're used.

Taking a break from the nest boxes for now and working on the side wall frames now that I have to find pieces to finish off the nest boxes so that the kids can help me prime and paint.

 

[ImportTheBest]

Oh and the vinyl flooring is on, you just can't see it in the top pic!

 

[chickenfu]

I built my coop at naptime too Mama You will get it done. Mine took me about a month but I already had chicks so there was an incentive for me to finish and get them out of my house!

 

[Bullitt]

It looks like your coop is coming along nicely.

Just a suggestion. If the bottom will be a run, you won't need those two 2x4s in the middle. Those boards are not supporting the coop. They will just make it more difficult for your chickens to walk around and scratch at the ground. As I said, just a suggestion.

I look forward to seeing it when the coop is finished.

 

[sodamancer]

This is so funny. I have been building our coop myself too. Really my thing and not hubbys. Thankfully he takes charge of the kids for 3-4 hours at a time. You can see mine in other posts. Yours looks GREAT!!!! i dont know what i am doing AND i am using all scrap and piecing it together