Official Coop Thread

[FranciscoR]

My second "cull-haul." Got 3 pressure treated 4x4x8, and 5 (cedar) 7/8x6x12. Total cost was $49. Only 1 4x4 was in cull bin. I asked for other 2.

 

[FranciscoR]

Somebody stop me!...lol Seriously, I don't know why I never looked at the cull-bin before?!?!? This is what i found at Home Depot at 6:30am. They had literally just unloaded all the culled 2x4x16 boards. I picked up 15 of them, plus a few 8ft boards. Total cost was $29.

I had the 16ft cut down to 8ft to fit in jeep. So, 33 - 2x4x8 boards for $29, making each board only 88 cents. That's a total savings of 65%...NOT TOO SHABBY! I officially have ALL the material needed to frame my coup, as well as make nesting boxes, and some fancy window framing. Now I need run material, and floor,roof, and siding. Running tally for entire coup framing is only about $98! Not bad for a 8x8 with material to spare.

 

[Spartan22]

Wow! I could have save some$$$ if I knew too. Too late now, unless I build a 2nd mansion for them LOL, considering I rob my kids of some tech gadget to build my coop

.

 

[aart]

I was thinking yesterday you must have cleaned the bin out by now...but I guess not!
Hopefully the lumber is straight and sqaure enough not to cause construction problems... even on 'just' a chicken coop.

 

[FranciscoR]

Wow! I could have save some$$$ if I knew too. Too late now, unless I build a 2nd mansion for them LOL, considering I rob my kids of some tech gadget to build my coop

.

lol...It really is a huge savings. The sections that are REALLY warped will make great cut-down sections for window framing. I am hoping to start construction next weekend after guy who's doing brush removal grades a plot with his bobcat.

 

[PapaChaz]

Been really busy without much to update. Been doing a lot of work / school stuff. Anyhow, was out with my 2yr old at Home Depot looking for a chainsaw chain. Came across the "cull lumber" bin. Found 6 - 2x8x16 boards (but in half). Some are warped, but most are still pretty good condition. They went for 70% off. Got all this lumber for $20.37.

I know I wanted to mill my own wood for coop. It is still my plan to mill lumber for coop (or future fence posts). However, this is solid lumber, at a great price. It'll save me a lot of time. I can use 4 of these to construct a 8x8 base, and use the other 8 to split into 32 2x4x8. Honestly, all that lumber for $20.37 is NOT a bad deal.

I absolutely love the 'purple paint' bin at Home Depot. I bought enough 2x4x16 to completely frame my coop walls and roof for $51......

the kids haven't complained about warped boards yet........not even the two I used for the roosts

oh yeah, now that I am looking at the pic, the PT 2x4x12 was in that too, that was used on on the porch framing

 

[FranciscoR]

So I was thinking about starting my coop this weekend. I have been looking at some builds and despite having the space / materials for a 8x8, I am starting to lean towards a 4x8. I know it would only hold 10 versus the 20 (max values) the 8x8 could. However, I just am starting to REALLY like a smaller barn-style 4x8. It would be cheaper, still look great, and 10 chickens is still a solid flock I think.

 

[FranciscoR]

Here is one style that REALLY caught my eye...

 

[aart]

Go big, you won't regret it......barns are cute but the roof line doesn't offer a good ventilation configuration.
Plain peaked roof with deep open eaves and gable vents is the best (after windowed clerestory) IMO.

 

[GardenHen]

My sister's coop has a mesh wall down the center and she keeps her layers separated from the broilers (ones she eats). The broilers only take 6 weeks to slaughter so they are a lot bigger than layers and peck them like crazy. Also she can get chicks and keep them on the one side with full-grown hens on the other side. Or she can separate out injured or broody hens. In the winter she opens up the mesh inside door and they have twice the space. (We're in Canada so there's not much chance for the hens to go outside once the drifts pile up.)
My last coop was a single room and I really wished for two rooms. Just saying.