Too many chicks - need cheap ideas to add on to coop and run

[hac1224]

Okay, we *just* built this chicken tractor a week and a half ago for no more than 6 hens. Well, we ended up with 9!!!! I have no extra money to spend but am trying to find as many scrap pieces of wood and such as I can for an "addition". I need ideas and suggestions. It would be nice if it was something removable because we are renting and need the coop to be able to be moved on a small trailer once we buy again hopefully after the first of next year. Here is my current tractor (which is too heavy to move):

I have access to quite a few free 2x4s and have been looking for/picking up scrap plywood and such that people are sitting out for trash. I also have an entire galvanized steel floor frame kit (minus screws) that I can use the pieces from for a lightweight daytime run frame. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=92728-25-FB1014&lpage=none
I really don't have any fencing let for a run, but am hoping to pick up some in the next week or two if I can't find it free. My chicks are only 4 weeks old, so they aren't tight on space quite yet, but I know they are growing quickly.

HELP!!!

 

[Emzyyy]

FreeCycle and Craigslist has free wood all the time or get a dog house and attach it somehow.

 

[ducks4you]

I'm giving you a copy of plans for my temporary coop because we bought double the supplies in order to construct a tractor. I think that you can substitute materials. Certainly YOUR summer is longer than mine, and the intent was to give cover for warm weather. ONLY. If you add some hardware cloth or chicken wire, you can build this and enclose the birds in a couple of hours, at least until you get a better solution. Here goes:
DH suggested MY temporary coop design. Took 2 hrs to build 'cause we're SLOW, and longer to finish 'cause I put 3 coats of paint on it. If YOU build it and slap one coat one, it'll be done really fast. I like this design because it's airy, but protects against rainstorms. You only need:
(1) 4 x 8 3/8 in OR 1/2 in piece of plywood (or siding)
(1) 2 x 2, 8 ft long support, left long for roosting
(2) 6-8 ft 1 x 2's
(4) 4-6in, 2 x 4 scrap pieces (to support the 1 x 2's

Here are my pics in the posting:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=185353

You could take a small used piece of plywood, put it on bricks and have floor to keep the birds feet dry. Nothing fancy, just practical
Any questions? PM me.
Good luck, and have fun with your chickies!

 

[PeepsInc]

Quote:
Smart kid,Thats what I did. Even the lumber stores in your area have wood that's considered damaged or scrap. They'll usually give it to you,if you talk to the guy in the yard. A cup of coffee & donuts will usually make them a bit more generous.

 

[hac1224]

Quote:
Thanks! I actually have a medium size plastic dog house (not igloo) sitting beside my house waiting for me to actually get around to trying to sell it. I said something to my dh about using that, and he basically told me "I don't think so!". I may have to try that angle with him again. LOL!

Oh, and I'm browsing Craigslist right now, but no luck yet.

 

[Judy]

Some have had good luck scrounging scrap from local construction sites.

 

[farmerjill]

How big is the actual coop? Because I kept nine hens in a coop that was only 4 x 4 x 4 and they did just fine. They just went in there to sleep and lay their eggs. I just had to make sure that they didn't overheat in the summer. (Parked it under a shade tree). During the winter, I covered most of the run with plastic and they hung outside then, too. Looking at your tractor, it seems to me that you could build an additional extension onto the run by building a frame and covering it with hardware cloth (the expensive bit), so that the chickens have more room to range. And having the coop in two parts like that will make it lighter to move around your yard, which is VERY important, and easier to take with you when you leave. (Now I have a much larger coop and mine still only go in the new coop to sleep and lay eggs).

 

[tackyrama]

A freezer will save lots of space in the coop & run.

 

[hac1224]

Quote:
The coop part is 4x4x2½ & the run is 4x8x2. I was considering just mostly adding a run that I can attach & remove where the small side door is. Plus, the nesting boxes will be additional space added on to the back or side of the coop in a few weeks when I get the chance to build them. I just scored a piece of plywood this morning sitting with someone's trash by the road that is the perfect size for building my nest boxes. I think it's approx 4'x18", but I haven't measured yet.

 

[hac1224]

Quote:
A freezer? You mean like a non-working chest freezer or something else?