Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Werforpsu]

I like it I can't wait until I start building the new coop hopfully we get started on it soon it should be 8x10 minimum we'll see what we come up with but I don't want nothing smaller than I want because then I am just going to have to rebuild if they outgrow it again. How much money do u have into only for the stuff you bought new? And how many sheets of plywood did you have to buy roof and floor? Thanks

The platform floor is 3 sheets of plywood on top of 6 pallets and purchased lumber to secure it all together. There are 2 more sheets for the one walled off area and we have 6 more on our deck waiting to go on. The back wall is pallets plus wire fencing. If we plywood the roof, it will take about 4 sheets and that leaves us with 1 more window plus 2 more sheets of plywood for more walls. In that case, we are probably 1 or 2 sheets short. We were talking about using tin or shingles for the roof....didn't you say that you had tin to use for the roof?

My husband decided to buy more lumber instead of using pallets in more possible ways. He didn't enjoy using the pallets and wanted to use lumber instead. if you are willing to take apart pallets and use the wood that way, it will work well, but it is time and labor intensive...more then he had time for. The plywood is fairly thin. We probably spent around $400 on supplies. Still, the 6 sheets of plywood on the desk show that we didn't need it all to start with. All of the fencing and wire mesh we had sitting around, we didn't buy any fencing.

 

[Werforpsu]

looks nice, you might rethink the culling a bit, I too have a small backyard deal....I had my only Rooster taken by a fox and it can really set you back(like six months +) if you want fertile eggs...might want to keep a backup hanging around....my two cents

We already have some fighting going on and they are less then 2 months old. I know some of it is pecking order stuff, but I am worried about the lower ones getting hurt. I am hoping that some of the fighting / flapping etc at each other will be less now that they are in the coop with more room. We have 11 chickens so it is all about numbers. 2 roos and 9 hens (with 1 roo being the clear alpha) might be fine but 3 roos and 8 hens seems like too high a ratio. fertilized eggs is kind of an added bonus and not a requirement. plus, I can get a roo from the amish farms in Belleville if needed.

Where are you in Malvern? I'm surprised that you have a roo there at all. We lived across from Immaculata college when I was a teenager.

 

[BullChick]

The platform floor is 3 sheets of plywood on top of 6 pallets and purchased lumber to secure it all together. There are 2 more sheets for the one walled off area and we have 6 more on our deck waiting to go on. The back wall is pallets plus wire fencing. If we plywood the roof, it will take about 4 sheets and that leaves us with 1 more window plus 2 more sheets of plywood for more walls. In that case, we are probably 1 or 2 sheets short. We were talking about using tin or shingles for the roof....didn't you say that you had tin to use for the roof?

My husband decided to buy more lumber instead of using pallets in more possible ways. He didn't enjoy using the pallets and wanted to use lumber instead. if you are willing to take apart pallets and use the wood that way, it will work well, but it is time and labor intensive...more then he had time for. The plywood is fairly thin. We probably spent around $400 on supplies. Still, the 6 sheets of plywood on the desk show that we didn't need it all to start with. All of the fencing and wire mesh we had sitting around, we didn't buy any fencing.

 

[BullChick]

We already have some fighting going on and they are less then 2 months old. I know some of it is pecking order stuff, but I am worried about the lower ones getting hurt. I am hoping that some of the fighting / flapping etc at each other will be less now that they are in the coop with more room. We have 11 chickens so it is all about numbers. 2 roos and 9 hens (with 1 roo being the clear alpha) might be fine but 3 roos and 8 hens seems like too high a ratio. fertilized eggs is kind of an added bonus and not a requirement. plus, I can get a roo from the amish farms in Belleville if needed.

Where are you in Malvern? I'm surprised that you have a roo there at all. We lived across from Immaculata college when I was a teenager.

You sound like you have a good ratio. There are a few of us kinda close to you. Closer than Belleville.

 

[BullChick]

Hey, Superman!

 

[Chaos18]

Hey, Superman!

Hello

 

[fisherlady]

The platform floor is 3 sheets of plywood on top of 6 pallets and purchased lumber to secure it all together.  There are 2 more sheets for the one walled off area and we have 6 more on our deck waiting to go on.  The back wall is pallets plus wire fencing. If we plywood the roof, it will take about 4 sheets and that leaves us with 1 more window plus 2 more sheets of plywood for more walls.  In that case, we are probably 1 or 2 sheets short.  We were talking about using tin or shingles for the roof....didn't you say that you had tin to use for the roof?

My husband decided to buy more lumber instead of using pallets in more possible ways. He didn't enjoy using the pallets and wanted to use lumber instead.  if you are willing to take apart pallets and use the wood that way, it will work well, but it is time and labor intensive...more then he had time for.  The plywood is fairly thin. We probably spent around $400 on supplies.  Still, the 6 sheets of plywood on the desk show that we didn't need it all to start with. All of the fencing and wire mesh we had sitting around, we didn't buy any fencing.

An impressive build, especially for that price! That design should allow you a lot of versatility with your layout inside.

When we tore apart an old trailer we took all the siding and roof tin to a recycling scrap metal yard. You can do a yellow pages search to see if there are any in your area, some will sell you stuff for whatever the scrap value is + a bit for profit. I also have hit up that scrap yard for the wire shelves from freezers and fridges, they make great dividers for blocking off small areas and work perfectly as ramps to help little chicks navigate onto porches and other high places.

 

[BullChick]

An impressive build, especially for that price! That design should allow you a lot of versatility with your layout inside.

When we tore apart an old trailer we took all the siding and roof tin to a recycling scrap metal yard. You can do a yellow pages search to see if there are any in your area, some will sell you stuff for whatever the scrap value is + a bit for profit. I also have hit up that scrap yard for the wire shelves from freezers and fridges, they make great dividers for blocking off small areas and work perfectly as ramps to help little chicks navigate onto porches and other high places.

Reeeeally? I know we have a recycling place nearby. I am surprised that you can use the shelves as ramps. I REALLY need to do that! I have several refrigerators and freezers sitting around.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

The coop is done!!!!! We were really running out of time and money so we made sort of a summer coop. we are going to work on enclosing it before winter. Also, we don't need nesting boxes until this fall. We put a small shelter inside the coop with a tin roof for when we have thunder storms or hot sun. I think the small shelter will be perfect when we get more chicks in the future, we can partition it off and use it as a brooder within the coop. It is 8x12 and we have 11 chickens in it. We will be culling all but 1 rooster as soon as we figure out who all are roosters. The floor is a platform of sorts made out of pallets, some lumber and thin plywood. we painted it with a waterproof paint to help keep the floor from rotting. We used bird netting over the roof joists until we can put in a roof and fencing along all the walls except 1. right now it has a window which is an old skylight. We have a second one to put in this fall when we enclose it.

Looks amazing! Looking forward to building/installing our new coop once we are settled. New flooring going in today for our house. Hopefully we will be ready to put it on the market by the end of June.

 

[fisherlady]

@MotorcycleChick

I think one grate was from an old grill, one from a fridge and the littlest one from a freezer maybe? Can't remember for sure. We either tie or screw them into place dependingon the need.

And Atlas is my White Rock buddy who is modeling the new dust pit tire.