Okay...help boost my confidence....

[cherylcohen]

We never built anything and we did it...one wall at a time! check out my BYC page

What tools did you need, where did you get your lumber?
You'll need a circular saw and an electric drill/screwdriver FOR SURE. We screwed everything together instead of nails so that we could "remodel" (which we've already done twice since septmeber!!)

Look on this sight for many great ideas about nest boxes, roosts/dropping boards etc. Make sure to put chairs out by the coop so you can spend time with them.

If you are a care-giver the taking care of chickenks will come naturally. They are so fun and sweet.

 

[meezermom]

Bantybev;
you started my day off right! With a big laugh at myself & my husband (who does have building knowledge, but hates plans & organization!). We had a few "words" with each other, but it was mostly on building the predator-proof yard. Our coop is big - 8x10 - and now has exterior next boxes (be still my heart!)

So our next project is a breeding pen, or some area seperate for cocks. Think I may use an old dog run with a "recycled" coop....

To mountainfarmpeeps: Daunting doesn't begin to describe how I felt! Thought I was gonna throw up...and then to build it cheaply! We were lucky to have wood that my husband had saved from an outbuilding he had torn down, and initially I used an old ladder for a roost, and "recycled" recycle bins as nest boxes.
Good luck, keep on laughing & you'll get through this & beffore you know it your chx will be here!!!

 

[Daidohead]

I have 30 years construction experience. Here are some tips.

It's not magic, just plain ole common sense.

Use the K.I.S. principal always. ( keep it simple )

It's way easier to cut more off, than to put it back on.

Hand tools work fine, power tools are faster. an 8' cut thru 1/2" ply with a hand saw will wear you out.

Nothing beats a sharp saw.

Measure twice, cut once.

A mistake made in the beginning will haunt you through the whole project, fix um when you make um.

large complicated projects are built with small steps, small steps are easy.

Good used tools work just as well as new ones, sometimes even better.

Have a carpenter to answer your questions, [email protected].


Enjoy your build. Mark

 

[MountainFarmPeeps]

Thank you so much...yes, we know how to get through stressful projects! The trick is for me to stay reaaaally quite during the "tense" portions. I tend to be the planner between the two of us and we are both spacially oriented, we can make and hold a picture in our mind...so I think we'll be alright.

He is less stressed than I am about this (which is VERY weird), he is actually getting really excited for our chickens to come, so I think he views this as "every board and screw is one step closer to having a real home for our chickens" and seems to be very energized by that.

I too, have become overwhelmed by the ventilation holes and proper space and roost heights and on and on....all the things to take into consideration are what makes me feel like maybe I'm in over my head. When it was just a box with some chicken wire in my mind, I was easy breezy about the whole thing. Now that I've been doing more and more looking at actual coops and I see what it CAN be....man, I WANT that, I WANT a really really awesome home for my flock. So....that's where my anxiety lies I think. Some of you have coops beyond anything I could even DREAM of. There are some very lucky chickens in the world!

I really appreciate how lovely this community of people is...I'm so glad to have a place to go where everyone is as nuts about chickens as I AM!!! WOOHOOO! Or, should I say CLUCK CLUCK!!!

 

[MountainFarmPeeps]

Quote:
Thank you so much. Really...where is a big hug smilie when you need one? (((hugs))))

 

[elmo]

Sure, you can do it. I did, and I'm such a big klutz I didn't dare use a power saw, just a small hand one. This meant no ripping boards, so I either used stock sizes of plywood (figure on that as you do your planning) or got the box store (Home Depot, Lowes) to do the cutting for me. They'll do a certain number of cuts for free, too.

Take your time, do your project in stages, you'll get it done and you'll be very proud of your accomplishment!

 

[wildorchid053]

so where are the pic?????? we love pictures

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

You can do it!!! (I feel like Bob the Builder saying that!

)

Check out my coop page. I am only moderately skilled and I'm a middle aged woman. I built the Blue Coop by myself. Just my two hands and some clamps. I am leary of power tools, but this one was easy. Like someone else said, Home Depot will make a couple of cuts for you. I built the Blue Coop with mainly a chop saw. There were a few cuts made with a circular saw, but as I really hate using that one it is mostly designed to be made with as few cuts as possible. The chickens have been in it since August and it has worked out great!

PM me if you have questions or just need encouragment. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! And it will be great fun.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
LOL. It happens, it's okay, and it really *isn't* IME a good predictor of actual doom once the project is begun

If it makes you feel any better, I am fairly handy in the stickin'-things-together department (although I am not a fan at ALL of plumbing work

), have built a 24x40' horse shed 14' tall, etc... but am currently in Deep Avoidance Mode about using a hammer-drill to fasten a ledger board to the block foundation wall for rebuilding the back deck. I have been putting this off for several months now, because I just have this horrible worry that I will somehow split or shatter the foundation cinderblocks and cause major structural damage (I've never used a hammer drill on block wall before). I have talked to about half a dozen people, all of whom have assured me that nothing will go wrong and it is dead-easy... and I expect they are right, and after we get back into town after the holidays I *will* put that ledger board on darnit. However, my point is, I *totally* sympathise on the whole feelings-of-doom thing. Join the club

But build the coop anyhow

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Go for it Pat! It really is easy! I had DH buy me a hammer drill for one of my birthdays and I love that thing! We put our deck up in no time.
MountainFarmPeeps, if you two are already DIYers, then it will be a breeze! Go to your local building center and get a book on basic shed construction. They have a bunch of them and the pics and graphics make any do it yourself project a breeze!
Daidohead is right you will wear yourself out with hand tools. Some stores even rent tools by the day if that is cheaper for you but I would buy the book first and put your plan on paper including the materials list to make sure you like what you've planned (harder to change mid-stream). Buy everything you need and do all the prep before renting, it's much cheaper that way.
Seriously, your stressing because you haven't done the planning yet and the unknown is scary! You're coop will turn out awesome, I feel it!

Oh, a flat, tilted roof is easiest (higher at one end). You can check out tons of ideas in the books I mentioned and see lots of coops here on BYC.
Good luck!!!

 

[cnjtnt]

Drill with bits, chop saw, and a table saw ought to be about all you need. My wife and I built an A frame tractor with just that.

As a frame of reference, I had shop class way back in Jr High. My auto experience was changing my shifter on my mustang, and changing out the air intake. That is it. You guys should be fine. I was timid at first, but now the saws and things don't scare me one bit. Eye protection and gloves are a must.