Need Recommendations for 100% idiot-proof coop for 24 chickens

[Ewe Mama2]

Hi everyone!

My DH and I are trying to find the most idiot-friendly plans/kit/whatever to make a nice sturdy/predator-proof coop for the chickapoos. (They are still chicks and they poo a lot!). I am handier than my honey (which is not saying much), but he wants to be a part of the process.

If you can recommend a coop/shed kit, it needs to come with 100% easy to follow instructions for a homemaker and an accountant (there's the real challenge! No offense to any other accountants out there!

) to handle without any extra trips to the Home Depot or Lowes...or the emergency room (either through accidental injury or the bickering that always occurs between two idiots engaged in a building project of any size.)

If it is a set of plans, all of the above need to apply (with the exception of the trips to the home improvement store for supplies), but there needs to be a very specific/detailed shopping list, so we don't have to spend hours tring to figure out what we need.

Please help! The chickapoos are already four weeks old and are getting way too big for their brooders.

This doesn't have to be done on an especially tight budget...we don't want to go crazy, but we are willing to pay more for something that has minimal aggrivation/frustration for us.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Cetawin]

well first off...do not panic. A coop is not something that requires you to be an engineering specialist.

Floor, four walls, roof, ventilation, doors that lock and a safe run for them to be outside in.

Let me think on this because I saw some great plans online awhile back.

 

[fshinggrl]

I don't know where you live but we were looking for old ice fishing houses to convert. Wish we could have found one of them for a reasonable price. We searched Craigslist for sheds & ice houses. That is how we got our coop.

 

[patandchickens]

What about looking for a secondhand (or new, if you're in that price range) shed to convert. Try craigslist etc etc. For 24 chickens you want something probably in the 8x10 or larger range -- maybe less if you have beautiful weather all year round, more if you have lots of nasty weather when the chickens may not want to be out.

It is a lot easier to convert an existing yard shed to chickens than it is to build one in the first place. Not that building one is soooo difficult, but if you want easy, go with conversion.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[xtremevermonter]

I would definitely look into buying a shed and converting that into your coop. Many places will deliver free if you buy from them.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

Based on your needs, I'd strongly consider hiring a contractor to build one for you or buying a shed. I'm 3/4 of the way through building my coop and based on the time, effort, and money expended thus far it's going to be about break even for me.

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

Just an idea..we're converting an old play house (that the original owners of our house built for their children) by making a large cut-out in the back wall and putting hinges on top (lock on bottom) for easy access/cleaning. Then we're cutting out a 12" x 36" hole on the side and attaching nesting boxes that we're building ourselves. It's already got two windows and the roof line has ventilation also. Then add fencing and fence posts for the run and WOLA = chicken coop!

 

[Ewe Mama2]

Quote:
I love the idea of converting a playhouse, but is there a style that would be large enough for 24 chickens?