Vent - I am terrible at coop making

[Cyneswith]

I've been working on my coop for almost a month. It is maybe 10% done. My chicks will be here mid September. My mom came for a visit and tried to give me a full afternoon just to work on the coop. I got... one wall half framed. Running back and forth to the kids, my coop being about a football field away from where I can saw anything, the fact that I didn't know what I was doing when I set my posts (none of them are square! I'm glad my carpenter grandpa isn't around to see this mess), I only just figured out that the laser guide on my saw was off kilter (by a saw blade's width) after framing in the floor, which is why I've either had everything a smidge too tight or a smidge too loose, I didn't notice the saw blade was slightly bent until it got bent to a more extreme J shape ("hmm, I'm really bad at cutting these straight. Oh well, it's been decades since I've done this sort of thing..." *hrk* "Uh, that's a semi circle cut into that board. I, uh, don't think that's user error.")

Why did I think this was a good idea, and why are pre-fabs crappy enough for this to be a better option?

 

[Chickiemom25]

I made a hoop coop for that reason. Cost me $350 labor to build my primary chicken coop, so when I added enough poultry to require another coop, I opted for something that didnt require as much sawing

 

[paneubert]

Any Amish people in South Carolina? They would be the go to source for good carpentry! I have heard of and seen some pretty awesome and affordable coops built by them on site.

 

[dunnmom]

My husband built coop and run mounted on heavy duty wheels with tires like the kind you see on some garden carts. I think he bought them at Harbor Freight. Made it easy to move when we needed to get it out of the way, and then when they were both finished he wheeled them out to their permanent spot, removed the wheels and connected the run and coop together.

 

[Ohmyheart]

Hey don't be so hard on yourself. Just don't give your chicks a level or a measuring tape and they wont notice any imperfections. Your coop will still be better built then the prefabs.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hey don't be so hard on yourself. Just don't give your chicks a level or a measuring tape and they wont notice any imperfections. Your coop will still be better built then the prefabs.

Those is so beautifully stated!

Deep breath, @Cyneswith ..... you've got this.

 

[junebuggena]

Yep, birds don't care if it's perfectly leveled. As long as it's secure enough to hold up against racoons and weather, it will be just fine. Safe is far more important than perfect.

 

[BYChickenAl]

Hey don't be so hard on yourself. Just don't give your chicks a level or a measuring tape and they wont notice any imperfections. Your coop will still be better built then the prefabs.

 

[RUNuts]

Saw blades are cheap. What size do you need?

Just keep telling yourself that this is fun. After you finish, the pride, the knowledge and the pleasure you will get showing off your accomplishment is worth the little bit of aggravation.

Just like sewing. Each imperfection proves that it is yours!

Lasers are set to cut on the edge. Figure out which edge, then that is your keeper. On mine the left is the setting. The saw blade cuts to the right of the laser.

I had a blast making my coop. Took me 5 weekends and 3 days of vacation. So I moved them in at 4 weeks.

We are rooting for you!

 

[tigger19687]

Don't feel bad, you should see MINE !!
Mine is so bad, I built out of used pallets, that I feel bad for them having to go in it
I am going to buy the Rubbermaid shed and go from there. I figure the 7x7 is $550 and is more solid then those pre-fab coops from China. Then cut holes for Windows (cover iwth screen and make a slide for plexiglass or glass), Pop door and I am good !
They are easy to put up so long as you read the directions.

Lucky you that you are doing this before chickens arrive. I started mine and 1/4 way thru Free chickens were available so I jumped on it

Have any friends that have someone that is Handy?