Need help/suggestions on building a BASIC coop

[bnew17]

First off id like to say how great this site is. It seems each time i get on here i get lost in all the information. There are some really great coops on here that fellow members have made. I would like to make my own but i do not want to make one real fancy or with a theme like most of the ones i have seen here. Nothing against them i just want to start off with the basic one. I only plan to have 2 hens. Im thinking of going with RIR . Im just needing enough eggs for the soon to be wife and me. Id like to see some pictures some of yal may have of some basic built coops and maybe some with wheels. Or maybe somebody can point me in the right direction. I wouldnt think id need a real big one for just 2 hens. But what do i know. I usually have a big garden and have heard the chickens will do wonders for fertilizer. Thanks

 

[danielle82]

try looking in the "tractors" section of coop pages, there may be some there that you could get some ideas from (Mine is a 4x8, a little different than what you are describing otherwise I would post pics, I think the chicken tractors or small coops are so cool though)

 

[danielle82]

forgot to say

 

[Tala]

I would recommend a couple more chickens. Maybe 4. Because they are flock animals and if one were sick or injured, or got killed then you'd be left with a VERY lonely single chicken!

A chicken coop can be as simple as a "box" like structure, it doesn't have to be complex. Mine lived in a glorified dog house/chicken tractor that works out great for 4-5 chickens. For a small number of birds you could use a dog house or build something similar. I've seen large Rubbermaid totes converted over to a small shelter -inside a predator-proofed run.

 

[bnew17]

Tala i reckon i go up to 4 or so. Your right about if something happened to 1 id hate to have one by itself. I was kinda thinking of a coop made out of 4x4 and 2x4, with maybe a 4x8 piece of plywood for a roof. Also i would probably keep the chickens inside the coop the majority of the time as me and the soon to be wife both work 8-5. ....Since they would stay inside the coop the majority of the time is there anything special i should put inside for them? maybe something to jump on or sit on? heck i dont know!!! haha

 

[danielle82]

when chickens sleep, they like to "roost" meaning they jump on a stick (like a 2x2 or 2x4) and perch on it while they sleep) so you would want one of those in there, far enough from the wall so they don't have to worry about ruffling their tail feathers. They do love to be outside to dust bathe, eat grass, catch bugs etc. They enjoy pecking things so I have heard of some people giving them like a head of lettuce or something.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
If you keep the chickens inside the coop they need a combined total of approximately 14sq ft each. The recommended numbers are 4sq ft per standard sized bird in the inside/coop area PLUS 10sq ft per bird in the outside/run area.

Now. I squeezed mine in a slightly smaller chicken tractor (explained here https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=27985-chicken-tractor ) and got away with it mainly BECAUSE I moved the tractor to fresh ground and fresh bugs/grass every day. That took them away from their poop and gave them something fresh to scratch up every day. Something to do besides pick on each other.

 

[bnew17]

Is there a certain height that the roost area should be???

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

bnew17, check out page 3 of this guy's thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=292597

I posted some stuff about my current project, the best coop I could design/build on the tightest budget possible.

I'm at about $150 now and I'll probably finish at $200-225.

 

[louloubean]

if i had it to do over again, i would definitely built a moveable coop "tractor". we let our birds free range, and my husband HATES that the birds like his deck too. (poop issues!)

he does like the eggs though...

best of luck!