Technical coop building question.

[Merrymouse]

Just for reference to any newbie who might be reading this post now or in the future and so you can learn from my mistakes, here goes. So I intended to make my doors yesterday but I bought 1x3 strapping to frame out my people door to the run. Well, that wood is crap. Plus I really think 1x4 is better not only is it more substantial it gives you more room to attach the hardware. So I couldnt make my doors yesterday but it was relatively nice out so I got more of my support framing done on the coop itself and got three of the four walls up. So back to lowes early this morning and I bought 1x4, not only wider wood but way better quality. It is more expensive $6.16 each compared to the 1x3 strapping which was like $1.48 each but this door will be used alot and needs to hold up. After all the money I spent on this coop the door is not a place to scrimp. Plus the wood is much better quality, more rigid and straight which will make it alot easier for a newbie like me to build a decent door, I hope. We'll see. Ill try to post some pictures later of my progress to help other people starting out. The roof is still not on over the run because of weather and I was traveling but this weekend is the ROOF weekend!!! I need help with that so hoping my DH and DS will be available, plus the weather is supposed to be decent

25 days until my chicks hatch!

 

[Merrymouse]

So I got a bit more done this week. Couldn't finish my people door because I needed one more 8' 1x4 than I planned because I messed up again. I cut all the pieces for the door perfectly. It was a ton of math but is came our perfect. One problem.... my door is wider than my 24" hardware cloth so I had to go back to lowes and buy another piece which I'm going to put down the center to attaché the hardware cloth. Oh and I made it a Dutch door. I'll post a pic.

Also I got the floor to the coop down and three walls up with just a little at the top to fill in. My hubby promises roof tomorrow now that he dog shows are done and no snow this weekend!!!!

In the second picture you can see my pop door into the woods framed out under the coop. Inside the coop you can see where I framed out for my nesting boxes on the right approx 9" off floor and on the left back corner my pop door from coop to run framed out. You think you're going to be gung ho and get so much done but every little thing is so time consuming. I spent the better part of an hour figuring out how to place my people door into the run. How big? Where to put the header? How to attach it on coop side? How much space to leave between door and frame on all side for proper opening and closing and hardware attachment? I just stood there staring at it, measured, stared some more, pondered a bit, measured again, and again...this door better fit!

 

[Merrymouse]

@Talkalittle I did the door like you suggested using 1x4 that will be sistered together with hardware cloth between. I made it a dutch door. Here is pic before it is fastened together. I realized I needed some more wood down the middle to secure the HC. I bought that tonight and will make the center pieces tomorrow. Also after much debate we are going with staples and a pneumatic staple gun to attach the HC. We will then overlay all edges with more lumber and screw in place to make it more secure. I had to get two differed sizes of staples. One for the 1" thick panels on the door and one for attaching to the 2x4's of the rest of the run.

I'm also going to start posting a lot more pictures because if there is one thing I learned is looking at everyone else's builds and their pictures, like step by step is super helpful. So I'll try to do my part so other folks can refer to my build for what it's worth. I should have had Wichita in the title to help people out. Oh well...

P.S. I am also going to add corner bracing in all the corners of my door frames. Do you think it will be ok to use 1x2's for the corner bracing?

 

[Merrymouse]

Ok another issue. I haven't started with the hardware cloth yet but if we get the roof done I may start it this weekend so my question is about the apron to keep out the digging predators. If I attach the hardware cloth to the inside of my coop like this:

Do I just take another separate piece and attach it to the outside of my base and lay it like 2 feet out from my coop? If I do it that way I'll have to add another strip of wood to the base to hold it secure and not cut myself on it constantly.
I can't find any pictures of coops with another piece of lumber to "cap" off the HC that is fanning out from their coops. So how did everyone do it?

Also, I borrowed this picture from here from @stormrider1 I hope thats not against the forum rules

Thanks all for once again walking me through this adventure!

 

[aart]

Do I just take another separate piece and attach it to the outside of my base and lay it like 2 feet out from my coop? If I do it that way I'll have to add another strip of wood to the base to hold it secure and not cut myself on it constantly.

Yep, that would work. ...you could use those 1x3 'strapping' pieces that didn't work out for the door to screw over sharp edge.
If you run out of HC for the apron, another less expensive mesh/fencing would work too.....14ga 1/2" x 1" would work well.

 

[Good Enough]

I like the hardware cloth because it keep everything out- even mice or weasels or mink. Ordering on Amazon was almost half the price for us- be sure you compare the size of the roll so that it's the same dimensions.

 

[Pats Poultry]

Merrymouse,
I have subscribed to this thread solely for the fact that you remind me of my daughter. I have three adult children, two boys and her and she is the youngest. She is the only one out of the three that knows how to use a table saw, chop saw, drill press, pneumatic nailers and what ever else I have for her to borrow. Just like you, when she decides to get something built it is go big or go home. You are doing a fantastic job on your coop and cant wait to see the finished product with the chickens in it. Keep up the good work

 

[Merrymouse]

Quote:
Sounds good! Let see if I run out of HC I bought two rolls of 1/2 HC 24" by 100 feet off amazon. They had the best price I could find.

 

[Merrymouse]

Quote:
Agree! And yes I bought it off Amazon, best price I could find plus we have Prime so free shipping and that stuff is heavy.

 

[Merrymouse]

Merrymouse,
I have subscribed to this thread solely for the fact that you remind me of my daughter. I have three adult children, two boys and her and she is the youngest. She is the only one out of the three that knows how to use a table saw, chop saw, drill press, pneumatic nailers and what ever else I have for her to borrow. Just like you, when she decides to get something built it is go big or go home. You are doing a fantastic job on your coop and cant wait to see the finished product with the chickens in it. Keep up the good work

@Pats Poultry Thank you! I happen to be the youngest of 5 so maybe that has something to do with it, although no one would use the word "young" to describe me

I made alot of progress yesterday and my hubby helped. I do know my limitations and know I could not do the roof all by myself, mostly because I'm so short and also those big sheets of plywood are awkward and super heavy. We got all the sheathing down for the roof and I started staining.