what do you all think of this ?

[MamaChic21]

Quote:
Why not buy a basic 8x8 or 8x10 shed (prefab ones of that size, made of wood products not aluminum, are generally in the $1000-1500 range up here, especially if you get leftovers or sales, and it is hard for me to believe they're any much more expensive in NJ since things are generally more expensive in Canada) and that will give you $500-1000 left over for the run? That is perfectly doable.

Not portable, but I truthfully do not see how you can do what you want AND have portable too, anyhow, nor does it seem like you really NEED portable even though I can certainly see why you would *prefer* it if it were magically possible.

Pat

I found 8x12 shed for $1,100 A-framed with 2 windows and double doors.
Chicken coop package that has 12 nest boxes, 3 roosting bars, a chicken door and a man door by the side of the coop for $300.00
More ventilation $20.00 each x 2 = $40
Delivery and taxes it's around $1,923 and it comes all assembled so not too worry about missing parts and such.

However, I did find same size sheds but no windows for $749 but they all say it will take a professional to assemble it plus $400 more materials and that would cost $1,149 plus windows, vents, extra door, delivery and taxes so that will be more then A-framed one.

 

[crj]

Well, I read some and skimmed some. Mamachic21 you have a wonderful piece of property for your chickens and ducks. I think some of this is being over thunk. Put the building where it's easiest for you to get too for cleaning, feed and such. Once you have that figured out think if it's a good spot. Which I'm sure it will be. Most coops are off the ground at almost a foot or more. That will solve the flooding problem.

I do think Patandchickens has some great ideas. Have you driven around to see if anyone makes storage sheds in your area? Forget Lowe's and Home Depot because they over charge for them. There must be places around your area or even google to see if there are any sheds made near by. Check CL also. I see a lot of shed and play houses for sale. $2000 is a nice chunk of change for a chicken set up.

What about building your own coop? Ever think of giving that a try? Do you have a friend that builds? Sometimes that can work out for you too. I made mine. They are nothing fancy but it works. I don't have the room you do and I have 4 coops and 3 of them my husband and I made. Loved doing it too. I do have a playhouse that I got for free. It cost me $100 to get it to my house.

Remember, chickens only stay in there at night, to lay eggs and once in a while to hide or go broody. All the other time is spent outside. My coops but up against the woods and so far so good. I do have pens around my coops as well. Here is what we made. They are very easy to clean as well. I have laminate on the floors to make it easy to clean. I also put empty feed bags down with shaving and hay over it. That really makes cleaning easy!!! Just pull the bags out to a wheelbarrow and off to the compost pile. For the most part.

BTW, I think they cost around $100 to make plus whatever scraps I had laying around.

This is a 4x8 coop where both doors open. No window (yet) but I do leave a door open during the summer. Winter it stays closed. In this picture the roof isn't on yet. This is very basic and very simple and does the job.

This is the same design for the ducks. It's just a tad smaller by a few inches. Ducks can't go up a ramp so I couldn't put it very high. I did build a separate step to make it easier for the ducks to get in and out. They don't spend any time in the coop other then to lay an egg. They prefer being outside.

 

[MamaChic21]

My friend is a web designer and she found this run and found a picture I had of my side yard and put it together But I can't upload the other picture with a coop and run due to saving it as.

 

[MamaChic21]

Quote:
your set-up looks great, very good ideas

and good job on your & your hubby's part, very creative. Thank you for sharing

You're right about chickens spending more time outside and during the cold weathers in and sleeping time or laying time

I did check out the local shed's but I haven't check them all since the snow or rain never stops in these day and with a 2 year old, it's no picnic

But I will. My husband and I discussed it and looks like that corner close to the house and also neighbors is the best location for them and for us. By law here, it has to be 75 ft away from neighbors, I think we have that covered b/c it's more then 100 ft or so between where the coop or shed would be and their property line, maybe more. But anyways for privacy, I would use 5 or 6ft trees.
Thank you once again for sharin your ideas, pictures and your suggestions

 

[wolfandfinch]

Quote:
Why not buy a basic 8x8 or 8x10 shed (prefab ones of that size, made of wood products not aluminum, are generally in the $1000-1500 range up here, especially if you get leftovers or sales, and it is hard for me to believe they're any much more expensive in NJ since things are generally more expensive in Canada) and that will give you $500-1000 left over for the run? That is perfectly doable.

Not portable, but I truthfully do not see how you can do what you want AND have portable too, anyhow, nor does it seem like you really NEED portable even though I can certainly see why you would *prefer* it if it were magically possible.

Pat

I found 8x12 shed for $1,100 A-framed with 2 windows and double doors.
Chicken coop package that has 12 nest boxes, 3 roosting bars, a chicken door and a man door by the side of the coop for $300.00
More ventilation $20.00 each x 2 = $40
Delivery and taxes it's around $1,923 and it comes all assembled so not too worry about missing parts and such.

However, I did find same size sheds but no windows for $749 but they all say it will take a professional to assemble it plus $400 more materials and that would cost $1,149 plus windows, vents, extra door, delivery and taxes so that will be more then A-framed one.

So the A frame sounds great, what's the worry there - having to choose between locations?

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

Quote:
I like this picture and design your friend put together for you. I can't see the other pics on your profile page (or whatever its called). They wouldn't open for me. Sounds like you and your hubby have decided on a spot. My hubby and I built a 6 X 12 coop with a 6 X 6 shed connected to it, to store food & supplies. We picked up some windows at a yardsale (check the flea market), and got the metal roof for free from a contractor friend that had some left over from a job. We only spent $600 on ours. We don't have the run done yet, but will get to it this month.

Take a look at a bunch of the different coop designs on this forum and pick and choose what you want to have in your coop and run before starting. There are alot of great ideas, and you can definately build it yourself, cheaper than buying one, or having it professionally put together, or having those tiny ones shipped to you.

I think you may be wanting to create something that is appealing to the eyes as well, right? Check this out, After we build the run, I'm going to put a stone wall (just about 12 inches high) accross the front of it and fill it in with good growing soil or compost. I'm going to get my stones from the creek bed down the road. Then I'm going to plant a blend of small schrubs, rose bushes, herbs & spices, and some fresh lettuce & veggies for the chickens. You could also get some flat stone and lay down a small patio and put a bench out there so you could hang out and watch them. No harm in dressing it up a little bit. I currently have those solar powered lights in front of mine. With the money you will save by building it yourself, you could afford to dress it up a little.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
You could save yourself a quick $300-$340 (plus the tax on it) by skipping the "chicken coop package" and "more ventilation" and doing them yourself, net cost would be somewhere between free and trivial.

Roosts: scrounged 2x4s or dead tree branches, on two 79cent shelf brackets or screwed atop two small cleats made of scrap 2x4

Nestboxes: scrounged buckets or milk crates or plastic tote boxes, or about $30 worth of plywood and that's IF you buy it in cut pieces rather than a whole sheet. (You massively do not need 12 nestboxes; for 20 chickens, 5 is plenty, 6 is lavish)

Popdoor: borrow someone's drill and power jigsaw, cut a hole. Hinges $2 if you don't have any lying around and must pay full retail. Wood for popdoor, scrounged or scrap or $5-10 if you pay full retail.

I am not clear on why you would need an extra people door, as presumably the plain vanilla shed comes with a door already

More ventilation: cut the holes while you've got the drill and power jigsaw on loan, then apply $5 worth of hardwarecloth. Staple plastic over them initially, then wait til you come across free-or-for-cheap plexiglass type material, e.g. from picture frames at garage sale, and use that for a hinged cover.

Not sure what you have against the plain ol' normal Home Depot type sheds, but, whatever, they are in the same general ballpark although generally a bit cheaper.

Pat

 

[MamaChic21]

Quote:
it comes with the chicken coop package.

I have nothing against it but I'm not a professional carpenter either. I'm going by that particular product review. The 7x7 shed I already have is from home depot and I'm there like everyday (before it started to snow/rain/severe cold) Almost everybody knows me there by my first name

Quote:
I have jigsaw and drill

 

[MamaChic21]

Alabama Chicken Lady ; Sounds great, can't wait to see your finished project

I would love to build my own, seriously I enjoy it very much. It's like a puzzle to me

However, I have 2 small children ages 2 1/2 and 8 and that doesn't give me much time to do anything else. God knows I've tried

. I've made a pavement walkway from garage to the backyard man entry door abour 70 ft last summer and I would work on it for 1 or 2 hours a day when my little one went to sleep and it took me 2 months to finish it. The chicken coop I've made 3x4 and 6ft talk took me 3 weeks to finish the rough labor and many many hours of labor. It's not that I'm slow, It's because I was learning as I was going and the distraction of my kids, when he slept the limited time I had, so it was hard.

 

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

Hey MamaChic21. That is a beauty. If you can spend it go for it. Have you checked out places like Craigslist, classifieds etc. for used sheds? I have been on this mission of chicken coops too, but wanted to keep it some what easy on the wallet. I found and bought a really nice built 8x12 wooden "barn" type shed in wood with barn doors on one side,vents, and a shingled roof for 500.00. It sold new 2 years ago for 1800.00. It will be an awesome coop for 12 birds with some basic modifying, and needless to say I am excited. You can also look at auctions and flea markets for accessories. I found nesting boxes, with slide down doors, made of heavy wire, with 7 boxes in row ready to go for 15.00 each. They were 11 feet long, and fit perfectly in my shed. I will have to make a pop door for my girls to enter ther 12x25 run, set up a poop board and roost, and I am in buss. Sounds like you have the same fever I, (and alot of others here), have. When you get it up and going, share some pics. All the best...........