Quote:
For the coop itself, find a do-it-yourself shed or playhouse book with lotsa step by step photos. There are a lot on the market, if your library doesn't have one they should be able to do interlibrary loan, or try bookstores or
Amazon. You can adapt dimensions to some extent from what the book has.
For the pen, it depends whether you intend it to be roofed. If you want a roof, basically you will be building another shed with only wire mesh on the walls (or an extension of the shed that is your coop, so that it's a BIG shed with only part of it being solidly-enclosed). This is actually better done post-construction style than stud-wall-construction style, but you can use stud walls as long as you are using pressure treated wood for all portions near the ground and have it VERY STRONGLY anchored down so it don't blow away in a storm.
The sizes of wood you use in a shed will depend on the engineering, which is why I'm really recommending you work from plans in a book. If you make it up yourself, you can run your detailed plans by us and we can suggest appropriate dimensions and spacings, but adapting a book plan is really much easier for you
OTOH if (like most people) you do not intend for the pen to be roofed (although you can stretch netting over top to discourage hawks), it is just building a fence and putting wire on it. Use wood posts (p/t or cedar posts at least 4x4" or 4" round) for at least the corners, preferably for all posts, and to help you stretch the wire flat you may want horizontal members (2x4 or 2x6) along top and bottom. Consider adding an apron on the outside for digproofing too.
Also, does anyone know anything about spray insulation, and if it is chicken safe? I was thinking about using it to insulate the coop. Thanks.
Isn't rigid panel insulation or fiberglas insulation *cheaper*? I'd suggest using the cheapest thing, frankly. It is okay to have teensy air gaps here and there, it isn't a house
If you do use spray insulation it will have to be covered by plywood or something else peckproof, same as if you used any other insulation material. In principle you might worry about fumes offgassed from it but in reality your coop OUGHT to be built well enough ventilated that after the stuff cures and is boarded over it won't be an issue. Do build sufficient ventilation, though, not b/c of this but because you will NEED it. Shed or playhouse plans will have to have (much!) more ventilation added, not a big deal to do.
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
