The DIY Kit Company Chicken Coop Bracket Kit

[thomgirlie]

Hello Chicken Tenders,

Has anyone built the chicken coop from The DIY Kit Company? And if so, do you know if there is an instructional video out there somewhere in cyber space? I can’t find one. I would have thought for sure someone would’ve made a YouTube on it. Any tips, suggestions or modifications on building it? Any add ons to it you’ve done to it? Any info, videos, pictures you can share would be greatly appreciated

 

[Debbie292d]

I didn't see anyone posting about those yet. Most of those DIY kits aren't much better than the prebuilts, which don't last, don't hold half the chickens they say they do, aren't built for cold or heat, and in a couple of years, you're building something else.

You could look through our Small Coops forum though and see if you see something similar there. It might inspire you to do something different.

 

[thomgirlie]

I didn't see anyone posting about those yet. Most of those DIY kits aren't much better than the prebuilts, which don't last, don't hold half the chickens they say they do, aren't built for cold or heat, and in a couple of years, you're building something else.

You could look through our Small Coops forum though and see if you see something similar there. It might inspire you to do something.

 

[thomgirlie]

It is a kit of only the brackets and instructions on how to build it. The kit does not come with any other materials other than a list of what materials/wood to buy. I think it looks like it’d be quite sturdy and a good size for @ 4 chickens.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Welcome to BYC

I haven't heard of the DIY kit company, but I have seen those type of brackets used for sheds. You might be able to search for a video of a shed build. I remember seeing on from Gold Shaw Farms on youtube a few years ago.

Or I could look it up and post the link for you

FWIW, this coop has only a little over 9 1/2 sq ft of coop space. This is really only appropriate for 2 large chickens or 3 bantams. If you haven't already cut the wood, you could still use the brackets and make the coop larger. This would make life much easier for yourself and your flock. Also, unless the far side is hinged like a door, cleaning a coop through the pop door will be a nightmare!

 

[thomgirlie]

Welcome to BYC

I haven't heard of the DIY kit company, but I have seen those type of brackets used for sheds. You might be able to search for a video of a shed build. I remember seeing on from Gold Shaw Farms on youtube a few years ago.

Or I could look it up and post the link for you

FWIW, this coop has only a little over 9 1/2 sq ft of coop space. This is really only appropriate for 2 large chickens or 3 bantams. If you haven't already cut the wood, you could still use the brackets and make the coop larger. This would make life much easier for yourself and your flock. Also, unless the far side is hinged like a door, cleaning a coop through the pop door will be a nightmare!

Thank you so much! I was thinking to increase all the sizes of the wood cuts to make it bigger. Id like it to be at least 12 sq ft. I plan to cut out and make a door for cleaning it, adding an outer nesting box plus more ventilation. I also will modify the lift and crazy long pop door ladder. Now if I can just figure out the proper cuts of wood to make it bigger …Math was never my cup of tea… unless it’s chicken math. I will watch the video. Thank you so much for sending it.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thank you so much! I was thinking to increase all the sizes of the wood cuts to make it bigger. Id like it to be at least 12 sq ft. I plan to cut out and make a door for cleaning it, adding an outer nesting box plus more ventilation. I also will modify the lift and crazy long pop door ladder. Now if I can just figure out the proper cuts of wood to make it bigger …Math was never my cup of tea… unless it’s chicken math. I will watch the video. Thank you so much for sending it.

12 square feet? Does this mean that you have 3 chickens, all standard-sized (not bantam nor giant) breeds? This isn't going to allow you any wiggle room at all during bad weather (endless rain, heavy snow, bitter winds) when they might want to stay in the coop. Bad weather confinement needs more square foot per bird.

And then there's chicken math, the apparently inevitable addition of more chickens. We joke about it, but it's very, very real!

Anyway, if you're going to do any adaptation of existing plans, try as much as humanly possible to make your measurements in multiples of four, assuming that you're in the US and don't use the metric system. Many common cuts of wood and so forth come in 4 and 8 foot lengths, and you'll get better room for less money if you can use that.

 

[thomgirlie]

12 square feet? Does this mean that you have 3 chickens, all standard-sized (not bantam nor giant) breeds? This isn't going to allow you any wiggle room at all during bad weather (endless rain, heavy snow, bitter winds) when they might want to stay in the coop. Bad weather confinement needs more square foot per bird.

And then there's chicken math, the apparently inevitable addition of more chickens. We joke about it, but it's very, very real!

Anyway, if you're going to do any adaptation of existing plans, try as much as humanly possible to make your measurements in multiples of four, assuming that you're in the US and don't use the metric system. Many common cuts of wood and so forth come in 4 and 8 foot lengths, and you'll get better room for less money if you can use that.

I currently have a huge 8 x 12 coop and run down the road from me. This coop is for my little backyard therefore plan to only have 2-3, regular sized. Thank you. I am definitely keeping in mind the space. I’m in the south, so weather is pretty moderate compared to other places. I reached out to the company about wood cuts to make theirs larger. Hoping they will send me some cut sizes for larger.