Plug for a really helpful book.

[Captain Carrot]

I bought a book from Amazon last week because I was looking for some ideas building rabbit hutches, quail housing and chicken coops.

This book is fantastic, "SMALL LIVESTOCK HOUSING a construction guide" by Joe Jacobs ISBN 978-1-84797-188-3

He uses 9mm ply and 5x2 battens throughout, but really takes you through each project with diagrams, photographs and very detailed instructions. He keeps chickens himself, and writes in a very easy to understand way.

I went to the hardware store today and ordered some wood for the basic chicken house and also a bantam house which I modified from his plans. Will post pics when they're finished.

If you're like me and want to build your own houses for a fraction of the price you'd pay for one, but really have any idea where to start...get this book.

Plans inside include, Chicken ark, extended run for the ark, dog kennel, bantam house, dovecote, brooder box, rabbit hutch, quail house, duckhouse, goose house and ferret house.
There is also a plan for an avairy, but as he doesn't include the shed part, it's a tall outdoor run.

Well worth the money.

PS I am not Joe Jacobs, lol

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Wow, and to think all this time I was just getting a picture in my head of what I wanted and going with that. I suppose I could follow directions well enough to do the job but I never have used anything.
I just decided what I wanted and started building it.
I can't say it is as nice as what I would have gotten if I followed directions though.

Always nice to hear recommendations for good books. I will have to check on that and see if there is something I can use in there.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Captain Carrot]

it gave me some ideas, his recommended stocking numbers for the chicken coops are realistic too. It's more for the beginner, who wants to build their own coops.

 

[gryeyes]

There is also the increasingly-famous "Building Chicken Coops for Dummies," co-authored by our very own Nifty Chicken, Rob Ludlow. I have it and I really like it a great deal. I know one BYCer who has built the large, walk-in coop from the book: dsqard. There's a thread on it, somewhere.....

But both chicken Dummies books are wonderful. I got my Dummies Coop book SIGNED by Nifty at a Bay Area BYC Meet-Up! Wooooooooooooooh.