My coop is going to end up in a divorce!

[Stumpy]

I can relate. I thought my DH would pass out from embarrassment when I pulled some wood out of a trash bin at Home Depot.

featherbaby, very good post.

 

[This'l'do]

When we first built our coop my DH wanted new stuff, I won that debate and when he realised the entire coop cost us a box of screws he was very happy. Not sure the next, bigger coop will be as free though

A friend who is getting some of my chicks told me the other day he has spent $1200 on his coop

I can't wait to see it it should look like the Taj Mahal for that price!

I do agree that at least they're trying their best - there are plenty of other halves out there who won't lift a finger!

 

[mkwags]

I am so glad I read this post and everyone's comments. It is nice to know there are lots of others out there that have the support and help from their husbands in building, but that their hubby's take it too serious and build it to be SO sturdy and perfect! I just assumed I was alone in that, so it's nice to know there are others just like me and my spouse. Thanks for sharing everyone. It's just like volunteering in my sons school classroom- you realize that your child is just like all the other kids, no more obnoxious or lack of listening than the others!

 

[Whispering Winds]

My DH is/was an electrician, was a perfectionist by nature anyway, and then when he had to go out on disability, did things fall apart. Oh, he is still a perfectionist, but being Georgian he took "his little ole' sweet time" getting things done anyway, and no disrespect to any southernerns on here . . .but his whole family is like that!!! Now, he has to take it easy so it takes ten times longer to get things done. I have an 8 x 10 shed I am using, just has to be moved into position, and then I can work on it a little bit. . .I know how it needs to be done, so going to show him pics and articles to back me up, because he is also a know-it-all.

Hoping as soon as this bad weather patch passes and it dries up so we can drag it, or "skid" it over to the new spot I can start getting busy. Ordering chicks in about three weeks, so I figure I will have a good 6 weeks to get it ready.

 

[Penturner]

I notice that everyone that is not a builder thinks that recycled building materials are just fine. yet anyone that has someone that does build, that person refuses to use recycled materials. In my case I am both. I recycle as often as my imagination will allow me to. But I am also a builder. And I have learned the hard way to not recycle building materials.
Build with crap and that is what you will have. that pretty much puts it in a nut shell. but to be even clearer. I want a new shirt. any of you sewers out there want to make me one? I have a few old shirts you can get the material from so it won't cost nothing. Anyone getting a little different picture? I have had paying customers actually ask me to rebuild them a fence and use the materials from their old falling down fence to do it with. I used to ask them why they wanted me to just put back up a worn out fence. but they didn't get it. SO I changed tactics. Because it would actually require more than twice the work for me to take apart an old fence in order to use what pieces did survive. I simply started telling people I would only charge them double for using their old fence to build a new one. That they got.

 

[pokeytolman]

I have to agree With Penturner I am in the trades and some things should not be reused. if you see an old bard being torn down with some beautiful clear beams that have no rot by all means find a use. but old 2x4 or 20 yr old plywood? not so much. and please, please, please, be very careful about reusing electrical devices, they do and can wear out and are dangerous when they do. I think the reason that alot of us build everything so stout is we dont want to do this every 3 years we repair poor craftsmanship all the time and dont want to see it at our own homes.

 

[NWChicks]

My husband is a custom woodworker so nothing ended up being recycled except our arguments and we've had a few over our coop. I think it's part of the chicken process or something! Our first one was in the parking lot of the Home Depot where I asked him to look at sheds with me and show me how big our coop would be compared to the sheds. I'm visual and SO glad I did this even though we ended up arguing because he was planning a MUCH smaller coop than what I was thinking! After we stopped arguing we went back to the drawing board and finally got on the same page. Then it was just little skirmishes while it was being built. Although we argued a few times I've tried to make very sure he knows how much I appreciate all the work he's done. All ours needs is a few little finishing touches and it will be complete (chickens are already in it.) And it turned out so cute! Hang in there!

 

[cow_girl]

our coop is being built out of both old and new materials... all the framing / floors etc ( 2x4s / 2x6's ) are new, the roof we used old steel we had lying around and siding we used old barn boards we have ( they are probably 120 years old ) but they are solid.. the windows recycled from what we have laying around the farm as well... I think a good balance between recylced and new is good.. you want the coop to last but I dont see the point in spending 1000$ of dollars to do it ( especially for anything under 20 chicks )... I also agree w/ everyone when it comes to your significant other grabbing the ropes and running.. ( usually farrr away from you )... I gave my bf the written plans, but being a dairy farmer/handy man/self proclaimed mr. know-it all.. ( bless his heart lol ) he just looked at me, and said " yah well just build it as we go ".. not something I wanted to hear lol... but anyways... a few weeks later our coop is almost done, it needs windows, insulation etc, and needs to be moved from the shop to its permanent home... but Im thankful for his skills everytime I go down to check out our little babies... Even tho Ive been pulling my hair out from day one, wondering what our coop will look like in the end...

 

[sattoritx]

Quote:
I was reading this thinking, gosh I hope she doesnt have her chicks yet. lol Ours are flying out of their brooder. If I had to raise chicks to pullets again I would def. go with the red bulb.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
Sounds familiar

Beautiful coop!