Topic of the Week - Building a Chicken Coop

[R.J.]

Wish I would have seen this earlier. I received a chicken for father's day and some money so instead of building a coop and run I decided to order the $98 one from Wal-Mart. Big mistake I received it yesterday and put it together.i think it was meant for rabbits because my red doesn't fit in there so now I'm having to add on to it. Going to stop by Home Depot after work today and pick up some wood and welded wire fence. That's what I get for being lazy.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Example of ad for cheap or free second hand coop I see a lot:
"Beautiful chicken coop for 4 to 6 chickens. Used for 1 year and kept under cover. Comes with nesting box that opens outside to get eggs, chicken door, people door, perches, feeder and water bowls. Paid over $1000. Just asking $$$ obo. Will add almost 2 whole leftover bales of hay we didn't use up for their nests. The chickens are already gone to new homes. Need it moved this weekend. " Attached will be photo of a colorful Victorian dollhouse of a coop, or maybe a mini-barn type.
I've answered several local ads from folks giving away or selling cheaply their now unwanted coops. Every single one was flimsy crapola from China. Looked great in photos, but made of lightweight materials, some kind of heavy cardboard, with brittle plastic and bendable metal fittings. Can't even call that stuff hardware, as there was nothing hard about it. Already melting and falling apart, even after sitting under covered patio or deck. And TINY! Chinese chickens must be smaller than bantams. The "fits 4-6chickens" might fit 2-3. Seriously. People that think they want backyard chickens then get birds into these. Their pretty birds die from overcrowding, disease, inadequate protection from the elements or predation. Heartbroken, out a lot of money, they vow never to do it again. It makes me so angry and sad. I could build these folks the Taj Majal of coops for $1000.

Ok I feel better now. End of rant.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Will be building a new coop this year too. For the number of birds we need to hatch we'd have to cycle through chicks all summer long and that just doesn't work for us. A big new coop will be done by winter for next year. Will have a chicken wire removable wall to split in half for two breeding groups and then be used as grow out coop and later bachelor pad. Will need lighting to get the birds in lay early in spring and cockerels fertile.

Large and stationary so will definitely be based on the Wood's style southern exposure, open air.

 

[RonC]

Wish I would have seen this earlier. I received a chicken for father's day and some money so instead of building a coop and run I decided to order the $98 one from Wal-Mart. Big mistake I received it yesterday and put it together.i think it was meant for rabbits because my red doesn't fit in there so now I'm having to add on to it. Going to stop by Home Depot after work today and pick up some wood and welded wire fence. That's what I get for being lazy.[

One chicken isn't going to be a happy chicken, they are flock animals. Depending on your local predators hardware cloth might be a better option.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

We have plenty of snakes in my area, in addition to the usual predators of raccoon, possum, raptors, stray pets, and such. Can't source any 4 foot x 25, 50 OR 100 foot rolls of 1/4 inch hardware cloth. Y'all think 1/2 inch will do? Think any snakes able to get past the 1/2 inch will be big enough to eat eggs from my standard pullets? I know for a fact mice can get through the 1/2 inch mesh as I have sat and watched it. I'd hate paying for a couple of rolls of 1/2 inch just to find I wasted my time, money, and a pile of losses. I won't be having anything but layers in that coop and run, so no tiny chicks beyond the ones I'm starting in the brooder.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, 1/2" is preferable b/c it is heavier ga.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Make it bigger than you think you need

For all beginners.. Make it big! Real big. If you get "CHICKEN FEVER", you will want a few more hens. It is easier to build one house than build another later. You will see breeds that you desire or want a couple of the breed your friend has. If you get the fever for Chickens, you will want to expand your hobby.

 

[jeria]

/
Think any snakes able to get past the 1/2 inch will be big enough to eat eggs from my standard pullets? I know for a fact mice can get through the 1/2 inch mesh as I have sat and watched it. I'd hate paying for a couple of rolls of 1/2 inch just to find I wasted my time, money, and a pile of losses. I won't be having anything but layers in that coop and run, so no tiny chicks beyond the ones I'm starting in the brooder.[/QUOTE]

Can't comment on the snakes but in hunting for hardware cloth the 1/2 inch is a heavier gauge so would be tougher for critters to get through. Coons and possibly fox are my concerns.

 

[jeria]

Roofing question. Opinions all helpful. So building a coop from scratch, new at this, my own design so no directions. Never built a building before. The reviews on pre-fab were scary.

If I build the entire coop and run prior to putting on the slant roof of plywood and metal roofing over that will that work? The reason is I'm doing this alone, but no way can this gramma can do the roof with no help. My 15 yo triplet grandsons will help me put the roof on but they have no time due to baseball and jobs for another couple weeks. Coop and run roof is 8x 10 with an enclosed 4x6 raised coop. My 4 chicks need to get into their coop by mid July before they outgrow a brooder that I can fit in my small laundry room. They were born May 30.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I have found it easier to do the roof first, before siding but after framing. The walls gone makes it easier to get around and pass stuff as needed. I also found it easy to build the roof (of small projects) on the ground, then lift and set as a completed unit. YMMV.