Small recycled coop build and pen

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

So we finally bought a used rabbit hutch. Pretty cheap actually only 48 bucks. It had some great bare bones and I knew right away with some ingenuity and sweat it could really be a good coop. Of course it was really... REALLY rough to begin with.

The people we bought it from claimed to have housed hen's in it as is before... she insisted our girls would be happy in there as is... I smiled and thought to myself... no way! My girls need a cozy safe place to nestle down in. So I began envisioning what I wanted. I wanted an exterior nest box that I could access from outside the pen. I wanted small water and feed dispensers inside if we have a rainy day or something I want the girls to have food and water. I also wanted to be able to sweep out the box easily so a solid floor and a big door were in order. So I pulled up paint and came up with a few rough sketches

Now that I had a visual to share with my Partner in crime (aka the DH). I was about ready to get started, then the DH was laid off and we froze... how the heck were we going to do all that now? We turned to CL and CL produced some amazing people that really blew us away. We got a TON of supply's! It may look like trash but to me it look's like generosity, kindness, and an opportunity to renew my faith in my fellow man and woman. There is 3 LARGE rolls of wire, were short on wood but the DH is running to a lady's house today to pick up some lumbar and posts so hopefully that will take care of that and all we need to buy is screws, latches, .... and that's it we were donated paint, and even shingles!

And I was positively itching to get started so I took every one of the MILLIONS of staples out and all the wire from around the coop off (the floor wire was stapled under the frame work it's easier to just cover it) on Saturday, the day got rolling and my attention was called to other things so it was put off till Sunday to make more progress. On Sunday I was alone for 6 blissful hours to jam out to some good oldies, enjoy the sunshine and make every muscle in my body SCREAM today. But at least I made progress!

First I took our recycled pallet's and tore them apart (ps... umm how do yall take those thing's apart without splitting the wood? It was such a PAIN!) then I hammered out the nails then I used the bigger slats to cover the side. Then I took old wood and built the door is this too big for the girls to use? Will they not like that big door being open? Should I build a pop door into the bottom or something? We kinda like the door as is just add some tread poles and call it good...

The DH is going to trim up the edges to give it a better look on the sides and apply the shingles today I think, so I should be posting new pic's of our progress tomorrow. It won't be till this weekend that I'll have the space cleared out for work to begin on the pen but if we can at least build the coop that should be the hardest work besides digging those post holes and zip tying all the panels of horse fencing together. I think all we need for the pen is some fabric to go around the bottom and some sort of roofing material. YAY!!! Any suggestions so far?

 

[Imp]

Looks like a great find. Have fun and you have to post pix when it's done.

Imp

 

[CityChook]

Whatever program you used to draw in your plans to the photographs -- that's really cool!! Is it just Mac Paint?

Please consider using hardware wire instead of that chicken wire. I know that it was free, which is always a HIGH for me, but seriously, it doesn't have a great reputation for keeping the baddies on the outside where they belong. HW wire is expensive, but it looks like you've gotten a great start at materials and it would be an investment well worth your money.

Good idea on the solid floor.

Regarding putting in a pop door to the floor: I prefer doors in the walls and here's why - if you use litter, then every time you open that pop door the litter is going to fall out.

Your back door is probably too steep to use as a ramp, but the chickens will probably just jump up into the coop anyways.

Keep the photos coming! What a fun project--

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

Oh no that chicken wire was what was ON the coop in the beginning. I took that off and will use Horse wire to secure the pen. I will most likely use the chicken wire around the bottom to keep the chicken's from sticking their head's through the horse wire. You can see a bit of the horse wire roll in the picture of our material pile. My husband said they would most likely jump up and down seeing as how it's rather low to the ground. It looks really rough right now but it should shape up pretty nicely once it's all together and painted. Thanks for the imput!

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

Oh and it was just the standard Paint program I used. Just play around with it and you can have a great visual for those auditory instruction impaired.

My DH while I love him to pieces can't do a stinkin thing unless he can SEE what I want him to do so I either have to go out with him and physically gesture where and how and what or just draw him a picture... literally! lol

 

[St-Hubert]

Definitely looking good! I am glad to hear....while things aren't the best.....that there are still folk out there willing to help.
That coop is going to be a great home for your little ones!

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

While not as glorious as your coop St-Hubert I'm sure it will turn out to be a cozy little home for my small flock... it's when I start wanting some silky's and BO's that I may get into trouble lol. That's all a long way off though. For now I'm just amazed by how big my chick's are! They used to fit in the palm of my hand... now each one is almost too big to grab with one hand! But ohhh they are silky soft! For the life of me I never knew how super soft chicken feather's were! Any way's thanks for the complement. Your all too sweet.

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

And speaking of the generosity of my local community... one very kind woman went so far as to give us a BRAND NEW giant roll of horse wire AND then gave us 2 dozen egg's from her flock!

I was just blown away and it came just in time we are SUPER low on food supply's and I won't get paid till late today. All she asked for in return was that we bring back the egg carton's. Amazing.

 

[St-Hubert]

Mrs. Green Thumbs :

While not as glorious as your coop St-Hubert I'm sure it will turn out to be a cozy little home for my small flock...

Heh....."glorious"....thanks for that.

I didn't think so this weekend after the big rain when it turned into a mud-pit! Lesson learned....I need more overhangs to prevent the water from getting in!
It will indeed be a cozy home for your flock! May they prosper and produce many, many eggs!

I'm just amazed by how big my chick's are! They used to fit in the palm of my hand... now each one is almost too big to grab with one hand! But ohhh they are silky soft! For the life of me I never knew how super soft chicken feather's were!

I know what you mean! Our oldest three are about six weeks now, and the largest is our Light Brahma. She takes up a HUGE amount of space! Meanwhile, our two 2-week old Wellies will both fit comfortably in the palm of my hand.​

 

[nancypo]

Nice job with paint! You can get LOTS of free materials from your local Yahoo Freecycle folks. Just Google it. We have given away, and received, all kinds of building materials, plants, shrubs, you name it. Keep things going to people who want it and out of the landfills....

Here's our newly finished coop, made out of our old recycle bin garage (made from leftover lumber, scrap, etc)-