Tell me I can do this... Please?

[amylou22]

Ok, I'm a girl. I have no building experience, but I can figure stuff out, I am intelligent, I am not afraid to try...
My dad agreed to help me build my coop and run. He gave me drafting supplies, said draw it to scale and make a materials list and he will help. I did that.
Now, he is telling me to make changes. Changes that will not work (ie, slant roof the other way; I can't, panels are either 8' or 12'. Stuff like that) I have a strong feeling he is just no longer interested in helping.
So.
What are the chances I can do this by myself?
I am planning a 6x12 total enclosure, 6x4 raised coop with a sloped metal roof. I have some fairly detailed plans that make sense to me at least.
Success stories, please?

 

[latebloomer]

i think you can do it.

i'm going to make my own with scrap materials.

if i mess anything up, i'll unscrew that piece and put it in the right way

 

[THINGUM]

The roof doesn't need to slant more than about 3" in 12" of length, so one can just use some blocking to raise the end the people door is on. There is a lot of info here and many knowledgable people. Don't be afraid to ask and please use pictures, as they may "show" rather than "tell" your question.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
I agree with latebloomer! You can do it, and I too will be using screws!

 

[galanie]

You can do it. You dad may be trying to help with his expertise and you're not getting what he's saying. Or maybe what he's saying really won't work at all, I don't know. What I do know is that you can do it. Don't be afraid of messing up, and don't expect it to look like the Windsor Castle. It might end up like that but don't be disappointed in yourself if it doesn't. Paint it

Paint can make some pretty messed up things look great, and some great things look incredible.

latebloomer mentioned screws. YES. Use a 18V cordless drill and screws (deck screws, usually) instead of nails. It will go together easier, be stronger, and as she said, it can be taken off.

To steal a phrase: YES YOU CAN. hehe.

 

[KazAnder Farms]

Well we are building an 8x8 coop with slant roof, raised, the run will come separate. it is do-able if you absolutely needed to build it by yourself, but it would make it much more difficult and the process would go much slower. roofing material that is available around here comes in 8, 10, and 12ft pieces, we should have gotten the 12' wood to the wise, remember to try to give yourself some overhang when possible. If i were in your position, since we don't have the whole story, make all your changes on paper before you actually have to put it all together. If you're going to buy all of the material be expecting to spend about $600 give or take for that size of encolure. possibly more depending on what your run will be made of. Just ask yourself or him why it would be so important for the changes he suggests would be necessary or just superficial for aesthetic reasons. Just my .02.

 

[Bi0s]

yeah not that hard learn as you go you can do it no problem

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Go for it!
I am a girl and I own more power tools than any guy I know (except for my dad who gave me most of them!)
I must also add I am not a carpenter; I am a seamstress.
Last spring I built a 3 x 4' coop with a slanted roof with minimal help from my room mates (both guys!) who mostly held things still for me while I screwed them together and helped me feed the large chunks of siding through the table saw. It isn't pretty, but its solid and servicable. As long as you are not trying for anything too fancy, I am sure it will be a complete success. Remeber- chickens don't care if there are little gaps, or the floor isn't quite level.
I am a perfectionist. I get obsessive about projects. Which is good for measuring and planning. But my challenge is letting go and adapting to what is going to happen in spite of my best efforts. Most of the valuable help I get from my roomies is reminders that it's okay not to be perfect. Usually I hate whatever I have made for at least a week, but once I have forgotten how much trouble it gave me, I am ok with it. I even get compliments on my built in DVD shelf, though I felt it was going horribly while I worked on it.
Just don't give up. I am sure you can do it yourself, and if you can't do ALL of it alone, I bet someone will take pity and hold stuff still at least. That's the biggest thing you will need.
Good luck!

 

[THINGUM]

Remember

Ya ain't buildin' a Gran Piana and your toughest critic is gonna be a chicken! (They do their own decorating!)

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I got a small light weight cordless power saw, a similar nail gun closer to my size hand, then I got busy.

It looked like heck, but it worked. As long as it shelters the chickens and protects them, its all good.

Chickens are not critical!

Neither are we. You CAN do it, and we would love to see your progress!