What would be the easiest coop to build?

[Soon2BChixMom]

You cover the outside with 1/2 hardware cloth on the bottom 2' and 1" x 2" welded wire on the top then toss a tarp on top. You would need to frame a square opening on one end for a door. Make the whole thing night protection. The cool thing is you can start with one panel the add more as needed for more room.

JT

I would be nervous with that set up. We have weasels around here, so the whole thing would have to be covered in hw cloth to keep my mind at ease and that would get pricey I think.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

View attachment 1256520

That's awesome! Love the branch on top!

 

[Chelseyb123]

Yes ask around! I got lucky an found a recycling place that give brand new plywood away but it was slightly off so a saw was required an decent pallets. And the base of my coop are these double side pallets that have plywood attached so far its worked great an they were all the same size so it made a good floor. Also when looking for pallets try an find ones that have a nice gap that are all the same. You can either break down a pallet that has the same wood measuments or just buy the right size wood. An if you plan to use plywood get the pressure treated or it needs to be painted Also watch videos that are actually helpfull.here's my couch before adding cushions. I used a twin mattress for the bottom covered it with a sheet and took out all the old back cushions from our old couch it was still good. An that took a comforter we no longer use made it into like a sleeping by bag before sewing it all up than stapled it to that back pallet. Worked great until we got a real couch lol. Second pic is a stand I made. With no help or knowledge just a vision lol made from all old hard wood from the pallet place.so there's hope. But also remember SAFETY I had a drill bit go through my nail it hurt like hell an my hands always got cut up.

 

[JesusHChicken]

I did a rectangle 4 by 8 by 4 then put two of those together as the needs arise, soon with the new babies I will add a third one...

I used 2 by 4s in the corners, and a support one in the middle I only used 4 plywood pieces to make it cutting one in half for the sides at 12 dollars a piece it's really economical

You can get shingles for the roof in the clearance pile for cheap at diy stores

You can see how it looks in the link in my signature I have vids on there, best ones is when I show Dina laying a egg video, and maybe the 360 enclosure if you are curious about how it looks
Basic but cheap

A hoop coop using cattle panel(s) looks like the simplest way to get a coop up and going. Most of the examples you find on the web are overly complicated for such a simple structure. After searching for a while I finally found a sane example of a simple cattle panel (hoop) coop.

JT

Check out roofing supply stores. They also have clearance items that are high quality and cheap.

The cattle panel idea is probably the cheapest and quickest coop design. Seriously, people go a little overboard, myself included. Go with slanted / shed roof at minimum 3/12 pitch if you plan on shingles. Gable style complicates things.

Good luck.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, I have thought of that, but you still need to build something inside it For night protection?

Thanks for the thread, I will check it out.


Thanks for the input! I am hoping to figure this out, or go back to my original plan and convert a shed.

Hoop coop would be a super simple build. I covered the entire structure with 1/2" hdw cloth, including a skirt. Then the top can be weatherproofed with a heavy duty tarp.

An other super easy build would be a shed style coop, and you could modify the shed style to make it a wood's open air coop.

We have tools, I just don't use them. We have saws and drills. I have used a drill. Lol. I'm just not sure about using a saw. I am a little nervous learning to use it. I know how to use a tape measure too.
I have a prefab now and am looking into other prefabs, but then I dont want to spend the money on another one that is useful, but lacking space. I am also considering a shed conversion. But, we have a lot of miscellaneous scraps - wood, siding, shingles, etc. I just keep thinking that I should give it a try. As well, I think if I got in a jam, my husband would relent and help me out.

You've learned from experience that a pre fab is a poor use of your $$$!!! Any thing you build will cost less and yield much more usable space for a fraction of the money.

I'm a 61 year old biddy, and would much rather be working in the shop with power tools than pushing a vaccuume cleaner (see, I can't even spell it, let alone use it well!) In the last 5 years, I've built a hoop coop, 2 tractors, a green house, helped hubby build a big coop. And, I also spend time using my chain saw. If I can learn how to use power tools at my age, you can do so. A positive note: I still have all of my fingers!

I would be nervous with that set up. We have weasels around here, so the whole thing would have to be covered in hw cloth to keep my mind at ease and that would get pricey I think.

Yes, HDW cloth is expensive, but it's no where near as expensive as the poorly designed, cheaply made, over priced pre fab coops. Why don't you sit down and price out the materials for a 8 x 8 hoop coop. I'll get you started. You're gonna need: (2) 16' cattle panels, (2) 2 x 4 x 10' and (2) 2 x 4 x 8' studs for bottom framing, (1) 2 x 4 x 10' for center ridge pole, extra 2 x 4's for end wall framing. Your choice about how you make the door, and whether you close in one or both end walls with plywood or corrugated panels, or leave them open with just the HDW cloth covering. Then you will need to figure out how much hdw cloth to buy. It comes in 2, 3, and 4' wide rolls. Cheapest sources are on line. Miscellaneous screws, and other hardware.

If you go with a shed style building, check out "Sunset sheds and garages". Plenty of designs there that you can adapt.

You can buy windows and doors at Habitat for Humanity Restore for a very good price. I can pick up free windows and doors at my town dump on a regular basis. Get those before designing your building.

 

[cholland]

I've built a few small coops. Any kind of shed style is fairly strait forward, just stick with standard dimensions and there isn't much waste.
Hoop coops are pretty simple, and not very expensive. I've always used mine as just a run attached to a wood coop. But you could put a wood floor in the back, about 2 ft off the ground to keep space available underneath. It could all be closed in to make a nice secure and weather proof roosting and nest space.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hoop coop would be a super simple build. I covered the entire structure with 1/2" hdw cloth, including a skirt. Then the top can be weatherproofed with a heavy duty tarp.

An other super easy build would be a shed style coop, and you could modify the shed style to make it a wood's open air coop.



You've learned from experience that a pre fab is a poor use of your $$$!!! Any thing you build will cost less and yield much more usable space for a fraction of the money.

I'm a 61 year old biddy, and would much rather be working in the shop with power tools than pushing a vaccuume cleaner (see, I can't even spell it, let alone use it well!) In the last 5 years, I've built a hoop coop, 2 tractors, a green house, helped hubby build a big coop. And, I also spend time using my chain saw. If I can learn how to use power tools at my age, you can do so. A positive note: I still have all of my fingers!



Yes, HDW cloth is expensive, but it's no where near as expensive as the poorly designed, cheaply made, over priced pre fab coops. Why don't you sit down and price out the materials for a 8 x 8 hoop coop. I'll get you started. You're gonna need: (2) 16' cattle panels, (2) 2 x 4 x 10' and (2) 2 x 4 x 8' studs for bottom framing, (1) 2 x 4 x 10' for center ridge pole, extra 2 x 4's for end wall framing. Your choice about how you make the door, and whether you close in one or both end walls with plywood or corrugated panels, or leave them open with just the HDW cloth covering. Then you will need to figure out how much hdw cloth to buy. It comes in 2, 3, and 4' wide rolls. Cheapest sources are on line. Miscellaneous screws, and other hardware.

If you go with a shed style building, check out "Sunset sheds and garages". Plenty of designs there that you can adapt.

You can buy windows and doors at Habitat for Humanity Restore for a very good price. I can pick up free windows and doors at my town dump on a regular basis. Get those before designing your building.

Thanks for the vote of confidence! We actually have access to a lot of extras as we live next to my inlaws farm. I just need to come up with a plan.
Honestly, my prefab has some positives. I just worry that someday I am going to go out there and a racoon, fox, coyote, or whatever has found its way in. That is why I am looking at other options.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Yes ask around! I got lucky an found a recycling place that give brand new plywood away but it was slightly off so a saw was required an decent pallets. And the base of my coop are these double side pallets that have plywood attached so far its worked great an they were all the same size so it made a good floor. Also when looking for pallets try an find ones that have a nice gap that are all the same. You can either break down a pallet that has the same wood measuments or just buy the right size wood. An if you plan to use plywood get the pressure treated or it needs to be painted Also watch videos that are actually helpfull.here's my couch before adding cushions. I used a twin mattress for the bottom covered it with a sheet and took out all the old back cushions from our old couch it was still good. An that took a comforter we no longer use made it into like a sleeping by bag before sewing it all up than stapled it to that back pallet. Worked great until we got a real couch lol. Second pic is a stand I made. With no help or knowledge just a vision lol made from all old hard wood from the pallet place.so there's hope. But also remember SAFETY I had a drill bit go through my nail it hurt like hell an my hands always got cut up.

Looks like you have more skills than you think!

 

[LamarshFish]

We have tools, I just don't use them. We have saws and drills. I have used a drill. Lol. I'm just not sure about using a saw. I am a little nervous learning to use it. I know how to use a tape measure too.
I have a prefab now and am looking into other prefabs, but then I dont want to spend the money on another one that is useful, but lacking space. I am also considering a shed conversion. But, we have a lot of miscellaneous scraps - wood, siding, shingles, etc. I just keep thinking that I should give it a try. As well, I think if I got in a jam, my husband would relent and help me out.

Give it a try if you have the tools. If you get plans to build yourself, or a kit to assemble yourself, it is honestly as simple as following directions. Practice basic power tool safety and you should have no problem. Before using things like power saws, perhaps have somebody demonstrate the proper way to use it. Obviously, always wear safety glasses and make sure you don't have any loose clothing or strings dangling from you that could get caught in a power tool. In my experience, women are a lot better at following directions than men are.

 

[kwhites634]

That might be above my skill level with a roof like that.

Nah, it's not as complicated as it looks; don't let it spook you. Once you get one end cut, the rest pretty much falls into place. Although, I had the original for reference, which you don't, but you can buy detailed plans to guide you along, or print out a picture of one you like, draw it up on graph paper, and copy it.
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