Suddenly single w/4 kids, 22 3 wk old chx,&no building skillz-links pl

[lady feathers]

Not sure where you would find them.... but you could also try to contact your local boy scouts or girl scouts and see if they would come out and help create a coop to ean some badges (if they still do that-it's been a while). Or see if a local business or group of some sort would be willing to make a "donation of time" to your 4-h club!

And, remember yes you can build a box.(that's all t is don't let it defeat you!)... don't worry about insulating, most of the time it's not really necessary many people on here in northern areas don't bother with it. I'm in Northern Michigan and my coop isn't insulated (just built it shorter and put the roosts closer to the top so the chickens body heat got trapped nearest them. Besides super easy to run an electrical cord and plug in a bulb of some sort for that first winter or two!

 

[lady feathers]

Oh and when you are done, please post pics so we can see your masterpiece!

 

[Carols Clucks]

What about building an A frame one that fits the sheets of plywood you have?

 

[jeaucamom]

It sounds like you have all the materials you need... advertise on craigslist for someone to just build it for you.. that will NOT cost very much at all.

Someone mentioned boy scouts.. but even better is Eagle scout candidates. They are always looking for someway to help.

The next best thing is to contact your nearest farm bureau or feed store and put up flyers looking for either a coop or someone to build one for you.


I have NO doubt you could do it yourself, but there are probably lots of options still to look at in getting some help with this and then you can concentrate on taking care of you and the kids.

Best of luck, and don't forget to post pics.

 

[aggie9296]

Pick up those tools and lumber and get to work! Don't need no man to build a coop! An extra set of hands is nice but not required. It's not rocket science, after all. It doesn't even have to be plumb and square. Build a box with 2x4's and cover with the plywood. A premade run (dog pen) is nice if you can find one free or cheap. You could even build a couple of smaller coops if a larger one is too unwieldy. Some people get dog pens and cover one end with plywood or even tarps. There is no ONE right way. You go girl.

 

[chiknranchr]

I've been reading your post ,and have seen a lot of good advice,so I'm going to throw my two cents in! A coop merely has to be pretty,nor do you have to spend money on materials that you could be using to buy poultry feed,all you need is a small shelter to keep your peeps dry and protected from any predators.If you look in this forum you will find many different coop designs and the use of free stuff is infinite! look in craigslist under free stuff for wooden furniture, maybe an old pickup truck camper ,sometimes people are wanting to get rid of an old pull behind R.V. ,anything can be used,the only thing that you need to add is imagination,remember most of us on this blog like independence and although we may encounter stones in the road we must overcome them ,just like you will overcome what has just happenned with your partner,remember independence,you can do it!