Rookie Coop Building Mistakes?

[ScottM]

Here's my two cents to add,

Chesty puller asked about ventilation, there is a ventilation page, search for "go out and cut more holes in your coop" to find it. When you 'add' up all the cracks around doors, soffit vents, windows etc it should be one sqft of holes per bird.

And no one had mentioned the number one rookie mistake: buying your chicks before the coop is built

 

[3forfree]

Michael, Does a galvanized coop hold alot of heat? I'm going to make a coop out of wood that I got from breaking down pallets, and was going to use roofing steel for the roof, this is galvanized and could be put on the sides as well. What do you think?

Over here we build chook houses out of galvanized iron with a wooden frame- but we dont have your severe cold to worry about - quite the oppossite, we need something light and airy that loses heat quickly.

Just a note off topic - I notice a couple of people on this thread called chickens "chooks" - I havent seen that on this forum before - I always
thought it was a strictly Australian word for "chicken"?

Cheers

Michael

 

[teach1rusl]

3forfree - Our galv. roofs are insulated (well - the ceilings). I would think at least a barrier of plywood would be needed. I'm building a small "scrap" coop right now, mostly made from old pallet wood. I have half the ceiling insulated and half not yet. I tested it the other day - a sunny, 80 degree day. I could feel heat radiating down several inches below the bare metal section, but could feel nothing below the insulated half (even when touching it). Personally, unless I lived in a cool area, or the coop was set in a very shady area, I would never use metal alone as a roof.

 

[a123andpoof]

When we built our first coop it was 8x12 the max we could build without a permit. Insulated the floor, walls, and ceiling. It stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We live in MN so it works perfect for us and I would reccomend it.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

Wow, tons of great advice guys!
We are about halfway done the coop after this weekend, and will continue working on it. We already made one mistake by failing to think about the fact that we'd have to level the ground where the coop will be, LOL That ate up a little time, but not much. Other than that, we are doing okay so far I think.

I dont really agree with the whole "dont buy the chicks until the coop is built" concept. If I cant build a coop, in an already erected run, in 6 weeks (which is how long I'll have to wait in total before my chicks can go outside.) Id have to be retarded! Im a grown woman for heavens sake, and I can make the pretty obvious connection between properly caring for and housing ANY animal in my care, and respond adequatly regardless of errors or unexpected mishaps. I have 6 other high maintenance animals under my care that have not suffered as a result of my decision making skills, so I imagine the chicks waiting for thier coop wont be any different. LOL

 

[Cargo]

Coop before chicks - Just a great idea.
Some folks may pull it off.
Most of the time we hear panicked pleas for help designing and building a coop with only a week to go.

 

[mebberry4]

And no one had mentioned the number one rookie mistake: buying your chicks before the coop is built

oops....well, at least mine haven't hatched yet!

 

[tweetysvoice]

This made me giggle! I too "bought before I built" and we are building our coop on Wed. Took off 3 days of work to get it done. I'm ready for my girls to get outta the house! LOL. This is a great thread though. It gave me a few good ideas. You'll have to share pictures during construction!

 

[ScottM]

I dont really agree with the whole "dont buy the chicks until the coop is built" concept. If I cant build a coop, in an already erected run, in 6 weeks (which is how long I'll have to wait in total before my chicks can go outside.) Id have to be retarded! Im a grown woman for heavens sake, and I can make the pretty obvious connection between properly caring for and housing ANY animal in my care, and respond adequatly regardless of errors or unexpected mishaps. I have 6 other high maintenance animals under my care that have not suffered as a result of my decision making skills, so I imagine the chicks waiting for thier coop wont be any different. LOL

Yes dear.

But seriously, just "dont buy the chicks until the coop is built" if you want to avoid a long list of "next time I would . . Items

 

[mebberry4]

Hi tweetysvoice!
I am glad to know that I'm not alone on this one! Although, I agree that I would sleep much more soundly at night if my coop was already complete.
I loved looking at all of the pictures of your chicks during the first few weeks of life. I would love to see pictures of the girls now that they are older and especially coop pics once you finish your three day coop building marathon!
I imagine there is a coop building marathon in my near future as well...