Need some inexpensive inspiration

[New chicken family 2017]

Hey chicken fan, I need some inspiration. I will be receiving my polets shortly. I have a 10 x 6 chain-link enclosure. Currently have a doghouse for a coop but I know that that is incorrect. Trying to figure out how to make it a run/coop in the most inexpensive way possible, we all know chickens will end up destroying it anyway. The chain-link is the top and all sides. The total height is approximately 8 feet tall. We use the chain-link in order to keep the big predators such as coyotes, bobcats, possums and fox out. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated and consider. I know I need to put roosting bars and nesting boxes as well. Currently the hens ( I have 5 now) can sleep in the doghouse, but they also lay eggs there, so I’m trying to fix it up

 

[nuthatched]

Hi, can you post pictures, please?
There's a coop section of the articles with thousands of coops, ifyou're on mobile, it a little icon of a page, if on computer, it's brown tab, right of the logo at the top of the page.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's your climate like? If it's fairly mild in winter and hotter in summer, an open air coop (edit: originally said coop/run combo but I thought there were going to be 5 birds total) should work just fine, so you'd really only need a climate protected area for the chickens to roost in (i.e. 2 half walls and a roof around the roosting area).

The doghouse can serve as a nest box, that's what I used to use.

 

[citymeetscountry]

Hey chicken fan, I need some inspiration. I will be receiving my polets shortly. I have a 10 x 6 chain-link enclosure. Currently have a doghouse for a coop but I know that that is incorrect. Trying to figure out how to make it a run/coop in the most inexpensive way possible, we all know chickens will end up destroying it anyway. The chain-link is the top and all sides. The total height is approximately 8 feet tall. We use the chain-link in order to keep the big predators such as coyotes, bobcats, possums and fox out. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated and consider. I know I need to put roosting bars and nesting boxes as well. Currently the hens ( I have 5 now) can sleep in the doghouse, but they also lay eggs there, so I’m trying to fix it up

How many more are you getting? With 5 hens already the “coop” area (for standard size) should be 20sqft and your run area should be 50sqft. It seems you have a 60sqft are, so you could fit 1 more standard size hen. Are you planning to expand the run as well?

I’m not sure what all predators you have but I’d imagine if you have raccoons they could reach through the chain link fence and if you have monks or weasels they could fit through the chain link fence as well.

Hard wire cloth/welded wire seems to be the best recommendation when it comes to predator proofing (but it isn’t cheap).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How big is the doghouse? If it is too crowded they won't sleep in it, they will sleep on top of it. We generally recommend a coop have a door you can close at night for protection from predators, and have room enough for each chicken to have 4x4 sq ft of floor space and one foot of perch space. In addition, it needs one linear foot of ventilation per bird, that a predator cannot get into, and it should be above the birds' heads while roosting, not blowing on them.

I don't know what you mean when you say the chickens will destroy the coop. My chickens have lived in their coop for 11 years and other than a little weather wear, it's still perfectly fine. Good luck!

 

[New chicken family 2017]

Hey chicken fan, I need some inspiration. I will be receiving my polets shortly. I have a 10 x 6 chain-link enclosure. Currently have a doghouse for a coop but I know that that is incorrect. Trying to figure out how to make it a run/coop in the most inexpensive way possible, we all know chickens will end up destroying it anyway. The chain-link is the top and all sides. The total height is approximately 8 feet tall. We use the chain-link in order to keep the big predators such as coyotes, bobcats, possums and fox out. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated and consider. I know I need to put roosting bars and nesting boxes as well. Currently the hens ( I have 5 now) can sleep in the doghouse, but they also lay eggs there, so I’m trying to fix it up

Thank you all for the fast responses. I know this needs a much-needed makeover, some trying to make it functional. I have a lot of that aluminum left but I plan on putting around the top one to protect from rain and provide shade. We are in central Texas so it’s hot here most of the time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd recommend walling off one wall (the one facing your primary wind direction) and then a little on the two sides flanking that, and put a few more panels over the top, and that'll form a shaded shelter area for the birds to spend the night in. Take a look at these to see what I mean:

- https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thoughts-open-air-coop.1382020/

 

[New chicken family 2017]

Awesome. We made some modifications….. before I got these photos….. but I see more in the near future…..

 

[New chicken family 2017]

 

[3KillerBs]

That's a great space to be working with and in your climate an Open Air coop is an excellent choice.

A roof with a good overhang and a 3-sided shelter at the windward end should be all the weather protection you really need. Not a flat roof though -- something that will encourage airflow.

Hardware cloth backing on the chain link would keep smaller predators like rats and weasels out if they're a problem in your area.

Here are some additional open air coop inspirations for you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-open-air-coop-in-central-nc.1443812/

If you put your location in your profile it will always be there to reference. Climate matters.