OMG prices just keep going UPPPPPPP!

[STACEYH]

Yuck. When we built my coop we used things dad had around the family farm. For the frame we used Round Up cages. For the floor of the coop we used wood that we found at the rent house and for the tin sides we used tin that we found in the barn. We had to buy latches, hinges, locks, a door from the scrap yard, and chicken wire. Ended up being about $200 dollars when it was all said and done. It holds 4 Bantams. What kind of chicks are you getting? Is this your first time? Im sure you will love your coop however you build it. Have fun on your chicken adventure!View attachment 2985992

This looks awesome! I would pay for something like this. You did a great job.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I would expect that your chickens will stay outside the coop during the day (unless there are no other shade sources, or (if your coop is tall enough) stay close to the floor of the coop. Metal roofing, assuming its the galvanized stuff, reflects a lot of solar radiation back up. Yes, it radiates on the inside, but not significantly worse than a wooden roof (speaking as someone who laid insulation in an attic in FL in July (roof was shingles, paper, 2" XPS or EPS (the blue stuff), 3/4" ply. and plenty of heat radiating off the underside. That's been my experience, anyways.

I'm high humid environment, so all I can do is provide shade, and soil they can dig into to cool off - if you are hotter and drier, a combination of shade and misters may work for oyu to help your birds with the heat. Plus electrolytes and cool drinking water, of course.

I have a corrugated metal roof and it did get a little warmer inside than the outside temp, so I (DH) put a gallon of white flex seal on the top, much better now

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I have a corrugated metal roof and it did get a little warmer inside than the outside temp, so I (DH) put a gallon of white flex seal on the top, much better now

But I also have a solar powered exhaust fan and half of the front of my coop is open covered in HWC...just some things to consider

 

[3KillerBs]

We put a metal roof on our coop and hubby is thinking of insulating the underside to help eliminate some of the driving heat in summer. Good idea, bad idea? We are new to chickening, and I have researched things TO DEATH, but I don't know much about roofs. Ours has a vented cupola at the top peak, as well as ventilation all along the top of two walls (north and south walls), and lots of windows that can be opened or closed as needed.

I'm on the Chromebook at work so I don't have access to my photos, but check out my build thread and look at how we've ensured airflow under the roof to carry heat away.

Even though it's in the sun, my coop is the coolest spot in the yard on a hot summer's day because of that airflow.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/23969601

 

[SpicyDisaster]

Oh man, I feel ya!!! We started our coop around September and the prices just keep skyrocketing. Every time we buy more lumber, the cost of the coop goes up and up. I told my hubby we should have just bought EVERYTHING we needed back then, but he seems to love going to Lowes and/or Home Depot on the regular. We are STILL building and hope to be done by March. God only knows what the run is going to cost. We went with something that matches our house as we are putting it in our backyard, but quite frankly our eggs are going to be worth $100 each for a while. View attachment 2988608View attachment 2988609

That coop is adorable!!

 

[SpicyDisaster]

As for prices, same boat here! We've been looking at upgrading our coop to a larger one and the prices are just astronomical. Unfortunately we missed the small dip in prices back in the fall/early winter. Hubby and I are now looking at getting a pole barn built to be 1/3 coop and 2/3 shop as the cost to have a pole barn built is almost the same as doing a lumber job. Craziness.

 

[Saraalexis17]

LP smart side panels, why is that yuck??

 

[Poshlissa]

I'm on the Chromebook at work so I don't have access to my photos, but check out my build thread and look at how we've ensured airflow under the roof to carry heat away.

Even though it's in the sun, my coop is the coolest spot in the yard on a hot summer's day because of that airflow.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/23969601

That’s one long thread!! lol I will have to read it later. Unfortunately the roof is built so it is what it is now. There is wiggle room with adding more ventilation near the top of the coop in the peaked sides, the lower sides all have hardware cloth along the top connecting the walls, under the roof and eves. We may end up putting in more than that because I am not quite sure DH calculated the appropriate 24/7 ventilation required per chicken. One thing at a time.

Our very first chicks are ordered and will be arriving sometime end of March or early April. We have time to get all the kinks worked out.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Try going on craigs list for old coops, or even and old cubboard can work. If you could find one with doors, even better. check out free, and farm.

 

[Sara S]

OK We ripped everything out and poured a concrete slab and I've been obsessively planning and drawing and redrawing and pricing and repricing materials for our new coop for week and the new chicks arrive this week...

Every time I reprice things it's more expensive! I HAVE GOT to go to the lumber yard tomorrow and just firm things up. I wish I could build something beautiful, but it's gonna be a 8x10 shed with LP Smartside panels (yuck). Or????? Even that is gonna cost like $1,500 here in Los Angeles after all is said and done. Maybe I should just build something lovely? Argh. Meanwhile, those chicks are about to get dropped in the mail!

Ugh that’s horrible! gas was 4:47$ here A GALLON omg like Hello I’m not made of opmoney! Good luck though and hope you find something perfect!