- Oct 13, 2013
- 1
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I just finished my 5th coop. What I built is really very simple for the summers in North Michigan. Nothing fancy but has worked great for me for over 5 years.. I buy the 1/2" by 1" wire fence from tractor supply & cut it into a 10 or 12 foot length. I then built two frames for the 1/2" by 1" fence with the 2" by 4" up. One is my base and the other is the top. I use a 10 or a 12 foot treated 2" by 4". for the length. Next I staple the 1/2" by 1' to one of the frames. I use poultry staples. The other is the frame for my top. My chickens then tramp the manure through the 1/2" by 1" screen.so I never have to clean it. I then cut 2" by 4" five feet long to make the legs and sides with.
Next I buy 48" high chicken wire to wrap it all with. My uprights leave the screen about 1 foot off the ground. I put two extra cross members in the base and one in the top. I hang my feed from the top one and set my water on one of the bottom ones. In about the middle I make a 2" by 4" door and screen it with chicken wire. I cut the back legs 6 inches longer so I can put a roof on that is angled so the rain water runs off.
I build two nests, side by side, cut holes in the chicken wire and nail them outside on one end with a horizontal hinged door to open to collect my eggs from the outside.
For shade, wind break and warmth I drill 3/4" holes in the top corner of plywood and put drywall screws in the frame to hang or remove the plywood as needed. I make the top from what ever is the cheapest material I can find.
I've had three for over 5 years and just finished two more that I hooked back to back for my meat birds this year. I find good sturdy branches to make perches and nail 2 x 4 standing up to support them. Total cost about $100 to $150 plus labor. The best part is I hose any piles of manure off the about once a year and move them once a year to rototill under them and that is all the clean up. Two people can carry them anywhere once the hanging sides are removed.
Next I buy 48" high chicken wire to wrap it all with. My uprights leave the screen about 1 foot off the ground. I put two extra cross members in the base and one in the top. I hang my feed from the top one and set my water on one of the bottom ones. In about the middle I make a 2" by 4" door and screen it with chicken wire. I cut the back legs 6 inches longer so I can put a roof on that is angled so the rain water runs off.
I build two nests, side by side, cut holes in the chicken wire and nail them outside on one end with a horizontal hinged door to open to collect my eggs from the outside.
For shade, wind break and warmth I drill 3/4" holes in the top corner of plywood and put drywall screws in the frame to hang or remove the plywood as needed. I make the top from what ever is the cheapest material I can find.
I've had three for over 5 years and just finished two more that I hooked back to back for my meat birds this year. I find good sturdy branches to make perches and nail 2 x 4 standing up to support them. Total cost about $100 to $150 plus labor. The best part is I hose any piles of manure off the about once a year and move them once a year to rototill under them and that is all the clean up. Two people can carry them anywhere once the hanging sides are removed.
