The Joys of a DIY Coop

[Lizzy733]

Hello All,

I'm new to chickening, but looking at the size and cost of those tiny prefab coops was a big turnoff from the get go for me. Knowing I'd still have to tack on the cost of a run, I decided that checking materials and crunching numbers and dedicating hours to the coop and run would lead to a healthier and happier experience for my little flock of pullets.

I can't tell you how many 'versions' I went through on sketch-up and how many on-the-fly changes I've had to make, but I will have to say a big thank you to my father-in-law who has many more DIY hours under his belt than me and has greatly contributed to the build thus far.

There have been a fair few weather delays and the coop is running a bit behind, but we're almost there. Obviously, we're missing a roof and a few other essentials, but it's almost chook-ready. They even checked out the inside yesterday while they were having their outdoors time.

We've started a lovely garden for them which will hopefully have a bit more time to get established before the run is up and we unleash chookmageddon on it So far, they haven't seemed interested in destroying things, but they are still young. Hopefully it will have withstood the fury of 4 chooks 3 months down the road....

 

[Melky]

Your doing fine so far. When your done a little paint and voila! Some also recommend varnish or water seal over paint to weather protect. It’s easier to clean as well. When you cover openings like windows or if provide a covered run would recommend 19 g 1/2 inch hardware cloth to protect against predators. Also a 2 ft apron around base of coop/run of the same HWC is recommended to prevent digging predators. Space for run should be 10 sq ft per bird. Coop 4 sq ft per bird. I would put in 3 nesting boxes for four chickens if you have the room. Two would be ok if not. Many who start with two add more later so no one waiting in line. Love the garden. My coop is near the garden as well. Free composted manure. They will love the insects as well which will protect your garden.

 

[Lizzy733]

View attachment 1605631 Your doing fine so far. When your done a little paint and voila! Some also recommend varnish or water seal over paint to weather protect. It’s easier to clean as well. When you cover openings like windows or if provide a covered run would recommend 19 g 1/2 inch hardware cloth to protect against predators. Also a 2 ft apron around base of coop/run of the same HWC is recommended to prevent digging predators. Space for run should be 10 sq ft per bird. Coop 4 sq ft per bird. I would put in 3 nesting boxes for four chickens if you have the room. Two would be ok if not. Many who start with two add more later so no one waiting in line. Love the garden. My coop is near the garden as well. Free composted manure. They will love the insects as well which will protect your garden.

Cheers,

We're in New Zealand, so not much worry from predators, but I am still using very fine mesh (as on the windows) and bird netting over the top for the run; mesh will be buried. As far as size goes, the coop and run is sized for 7 1/2 birds, the city limit is 6 and one of the 4 is a bantam, so they should be fine for space. Hopefully, that will save the garden a bit. The run is 25sqm and the coop floor space is a full-sized sheet of ply.

Yes, the boxes are still coming. I do intend on having a bay of 3 against an outer wall with a door for egg collection, but not rushing for that as my girls still have 2 months+ before they are due to start laying.

 

[Melky]

I have a limit of six as well and started with four thinking in a couple of years when egg production drops may have to add two more.

 

[Lizzy733]

I have a limit of six as well and started with four thinking in a couple of years when egg production drops may have to add two more.

Same.. which is why I decided to go larger from the get-go.