Lpsouth1978
Chirping
Hello everyone! As the title says, I am new to keeping chickens and am excited to be on this new journey, We decided it was finally time to get some chickens and start enjoying the fresh eggs they provide. Last weekend we started our journey by purchasing many of the materials needed to build the coop and run, and got 12 chicks at a local feed store. The plan was to build an inexpensive (relatively) coop and run and the first trip to the hardware store reflected that @ about $400.
We are not carpenters, and don't have a lot of skills in this realm, so please bear with me and don't judge too harshly.
We decided we would build a raised 4'x8' coop with an 8'x16' attached run. With the plan set and materials on hand, we began to construct the new coop. As we worked, the plans continually changed, extra bracing was added, new designs were implemented, and before we knew it, we were headed back to the hardware store for more wood and supplies. By the end of our second trip, the build cost was @ about $1200 total. This is what we had completed by the end of the day.
It is at this point that we learned that we has some flaws with our coop design and that it was not large enough for our 12 chickens. Now we needed to figure out how we could use what we had built and make it work. In the end we decided to go with an open air coop and not put a wall on the front of the coop. The 3 vertical boards will likely be removed from the front wall once we have attached the siding on top, to allow for a completely open front wall. This design should allow the space we have to support the chickens and help keep them cooler during HOT summers, by allowing maximum air flow. We are also considering adding solar powered fans on the sides of the coop and a misting system around the perimeter of the run before the temperatures rise again next summer.
After work today we were able to work some more on the build and got the door on the coop, installed the floor in the nesting boxes, got the siding on the sides (mostly), and got the structure for the run built and in place. We were only able to work for a few hours, so did not get as much done as we would have liked, but hope to finish the build tomorrow. Here are some pics of the progress we made today.
After calling it quits this evening, we decided to make another run to the hardware store to get a few more things to complete the build, like shingles, an additional sheet of plywood for the roof, paint and painting supplies, hinges for the nesting box door, etc. We are hopeful that we have everything needed now to complete the build, but I would not be surprised if we have to make another trip to the hardware store before we finish. At this point we have spent ~$1800 on our "budget" chicken coop and run. What a bargain!!
The first order of business tomorrow will be to build and shingle the roof. Once the roof is on we will finish applying the siding to the nesting boxes and upper portions of the coop, frame out and build the door for the run, and finally attach hardware cloth to the entire run. After we complete those tasks we will caulk and seal everything, paint the coop, install the nesting box dividers and roosting bars, and finally, prepare to move the chicks into their new digs.
We are not carpenters, and don't have a lot of skills in this realm, so please bear with me and don't judge too harshly.
We decided we would build a raised 4'x8' coop with an 8'x16' attached run. With the plan set and materials on hand, we began to construct the new coop. As we worked, the plans continually changed, extra bracing was added, new designs were implemented, and before we knew it, we were headed back to the hardware store for more wood and supplies. By the end of our second trip, the build cost was @ about $1200 total. This is what we had completed by the end of the day.It is at this point that we learned that we has some flaws with our coop design and that it was not large enough for our 12 chickens. Now we needed to figure out how we could use what we had built and make it work. In the end we decided to go with an open air coop and not put a wall on the front of the coop. The 3 vertical boards will likely be removed from the front wall once we have attached the siding on top, to allow for a completely open front wall. This design should allow the space we have to support the chickens and help keep them cooler during HOT summers, by allowing maximum air flow. We are also considering adding solar powered fans on the sides of the coop and a misting system around the perimeter of the run before the temperatures rise again next summer.
After work today we were able to work some more on the build and got the door on the coop, installed the floor in the nesting boxes, got the siding on the sides (mostly), and got the structure for the run built and in place. We were only able to work for a few hours, so did not get as much done as we would have liked, but hope to finish the build tomorrow. Here are some pics of the progress we made today.
After calling it quits this evening, we decided to make another run to the hardware store to get a few more things to complete the build, like shingles, an additional sheet of plywood for the roof, paint and painting supplies, hinges for the nesting box door, etc. We are hopeful that we have everything needed now to complete the build, but I would not be surprised if we have to make another trip to the hardware store before we finish. At this point we have spent ~$1800 on our "budget" chicken coop and run. What a bargain!!
The first order of business tomorrow will be to build and shingle the roof. Once the roof is on we will finish applying the siding to the nesting boxes and upper portions of the coop, frame out and build the door for the run, and finally attach hardware cloth to the entire run. After we complete those tasks we will caulk and seal everything, paint the coop, install the nesting box dividers and roosting bars, and finally, prepare to move the chicks into their new digs.
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to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
