small flock coop idea

[chickmamato7]

Does anyone else look at used loft beds on CL and think they could easily be converted to an awesome small flock coop for far less money than a prefab from TSC!?

 

[black_cat]

Depends how large that is.....but you'd need to treat the wood to hold up outdoors. With a less complicated one, you could probably use it for a run frame.

 

[chickmamato7]

Agreed, but the general idea could be easily copied/adjusted using pressure treated lumber that is cut to size at a hardware store (Home Depot does 2 free cuts per lumber piece). I'm thinking for people like me without proper tools, lots of money, or the woodworking skill to follow purchased plans.... as a better alternative to the prefabs that cost $250 or more and are useless.

My run is a covered, under-deck situation, so I could just add some hardware cloth and wainscot paneling and be good to go. I would adapt it to look something like this, since it would be a coop within an existing weatherproof coop:

 

[deidreg]

Intriguing. I like seeing how people get creative, and I see possibilities in the bed frame you posted. If I were taking this path, I'd keep in mind the essentials every coop needs and design/ build to meet those essentials. (Form follows function.)

Keep us posted!

 

[chickmamato7]

Another loft bed with
potential for coop conversion:

 

[aart]

"I see chicken things"
A disorder of all new chicken keepers, most often they are not practical.

 

[rosemarythyme]

"I see chicken things"
A disorder of all new chicken keepers, most often they are not practical.

God yes. I saw an extended truck bed camper cover on the side of the road and tried to convince hubby to help me take it home, to use as a little rain shelter, until he pointed out that 1) we probably couldn't even fit it in the run with the way the gates are (though throwing it over the fence was an option) and 2) it'd eat up a ton of floor space, then what?

There's also half assembled piles of wood framing of some sort at my in-laws, and I'm dying to go snag them, but I don't actually know what I'd DO with them...

 

[RojoMarz]

God yes. I saw an extended truck bed camper cover on the side of the road and tried to convince hubby to help me take it home, to use as a little rain shelter, until he pointed out that 1) we probably couldn't even fit it in the run with the way the gates are (though throwing it over the fence was an option) and 2) it'd eat up a ton of floor space, then what?

There's also half assembled piles of wood framing of some sort at my in-laws, and I'm dying to go snag them, but I don't actually know what I'd DO with them...

Yes, it would eat up floor space, but think of the fun the chickens would have sunning on the "roof top" deck you just gave them.

 

[RojoMarz]

I seem to remember a thread about a bunk bed conversion...or maybe it was a crib?

 

[aart]

I seem to remember a thread about a bunk bed conversion...or maybe it was a crib?

I've seen several of both, they were too small for grown chickens but might work as brooders.