Need help with coop plans.. why so expensive for so basic??

[jeaucamom]

I am getting ducks in May so trying to prepare early for their housing... I am trying to make this as BASIC as is humanly possible... seriously... 4 walls, a floor, and that wavy roof stuff... And still for just a 4x8 it is going to come out about $200.. (probably more knowing me and my carpenter skills.

These are my plans:

My questions are:

1. Is there a simpler way to do this?

2. Is there a cheaper place to buy supplies than Home Depot?

3. Is 1/2 inch plywood thick enough for the floors?

4. Can you cut the wavy roof stuff (sorry, don't know what the name is)... because there will be NO overhang, unless I get the 10 foot, but if I don't cut it, it will be waving from side to side not slanting down the back... Hope that makes sense..

Any input would be GREAT!!

I need to build two of these and that is going to be 400 bucks.. YIKES>>>> I so can't do that...

 

[jeaucamom]

Anybody with any ideas?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Anybody with any ideas?

Building materials are expensive no matter where you buy them.

You need overhang on the roof to keep water off the walls.

1/2 inch is fine for flooring if you space supports no more then 24 inches apart​

 

[Gospel_Bird_house]

1/2 inch is big enough for floor in a coop if you space your floor framing 16 inch on center.

you can cut corrugated roofing with saw zall, skill saw with blade turned backwards, or electric sheet metal nibblers.

 

[MamaChic21]

last summer, I cut the plastic corrugate with sizzers. If you want to cut your cost, you may want to get one of those plywoods that are around $7 or $8 for 4x8 at Home Depot and use shingles $1 each. Currugates can be expensive.

 

[Gospel_Bird_house]

Quote:
wasn't thinking of plastic, it would be easier for an unexperienced person to cut.

Some of the metal building suppliers around here have seconds metal roofing for 1.25-1.85 per linear foot and will cut to length for you.

 

[jeaucamom]

Yeah I was thinking I would do 2 of the 10 footers and cut in half. That still only gives me 6 inches front and back for overhang. Is that enough??

WOW... here is a dumb question... do I have to put plywood underneath it? If I have to do that anyway.. I will just do the shingles. I was thinking I could just use the corrugated for the roof.

 

[Katy]

How many ducks are you getting? I have a dog house in my call duck pen for their shelter and they very rarely go in it.....even in the midst of winter.

 

[jeaucamom]

I am getting 4 runners that will go in with the chickens... and 6 gold Welsh Harlequins that will be in one pen and 6 silver harlequins that will be in another.. so I need to build two for the Harlequins.

I have to have something that will make them secure at night.. I have way way too many critters around here to not put them up at night.

 

[Katy]

Mine aren't free range so their shelter is in a secure pen.