My husband and I have finally finished all the details on our coop. This whole thing started as a homemade doghouse (made by my husband) that our dog just didn't use. Once we decided to get chickens it only seemed fitting to convert the doghouse so we wouldn't have to start fresh. So he built a front door, a nesting box, cut out windows and a second door to go into the run and also the run itself!
When he initially built the doghouse, we did purchase supplies for that, including pressure treated lumber, plywood and the already treated siding material. Everything else (including the shingles and chicken wire) came from relatives and our own supplies that were just sitting around otherwise taking up space! We were the epitome of crafty and frugal with this creation.
Here are some photos:
For the nesting box, we wanted a good way to keep it latched without using a padlock, so we got a typical slider clasp that I then attached some chain to. The chain allows us to drop the clasp while we're collecting eggs without having to worry about setting it somewhere.
And we built little windows near the top of the coop to allow a breeze on warm days. Through the eves of the roof there is some screening up to keep out predators but should be perfect ventilation on both really hot and really cold days.
To keep costs down, all of the hardware pieces (latches, hinges, etc.) came from local discount stores where they cost a fraction of what they would be at a big box store. My husband also found a nice, large branch to use as their perch instead of a dowel, which are fairly expensive. The other big money saver was the paint. My choice on color was going to be decided strictly on what was in the "oops" paint between Home Depot and Lowe's. Over the course of a couple days I would stop in the stores when passing through and ended up finding this shade of brown, which I think works just fine! Total cost for a gallon of Behr Premium Exterior? A whopping $7.00!
So far the chicks seem to love the transition - they have a lot more space and get more time outside!
When he initially built the doghouse, we did purchase supplies for that, including pressure treated lumber, plywood and the already treated siding material. Everything else (including the shingles and chicken wire) came from relatives and our own supplies that were just sitting around otherwise taking up space! We were the epitome of crafty and frugal with this creation.
Here are some photos:
For the nesting box, we wanted a good way to keep it latched without using a padlock, so we got a typical slider clasp that I then attached some chain to. The chain allows us to drop the clasp while we're collecting eggs without having to worry about setting it somewhere.
And we built little windows near the top of the coop to allow a breeze on warm days. Through the eves of the roof there is some screening up to keep out predators but should be perfect ventilation on both really hot and really cold days.
To keep costs down, all of the hardware pieces (latches, hinges, etc.) came from local discount stores where they cost a fraction of what they would be at a big box store. My husband also found a nice, large branch to use as their perch instead of a dowel, which are fairly expensive. The other big money saver was the paint. My choice on color was going to be decided strictly on what was in the "oops" paint between Home Depot and Lowe's. Over the course of a couple days I would stop in the stores when passing through and ended up finding this shade of brown, which I think works just fine! Total cost for a gallon of Behr Premium Exterior? A whopping $7.00!
So far the chicks seem to love the transition - they have a lot more space and get more time outside!
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