Where to begin?!?

[missmorgan]

There is entirely too much good information here. I thought I had my coop design narrowed down, but I guess not. But now I'm looking for materials suggestions.

We're looking to build a 6'x10' (approximate footprint) fully covered run + coop. 2 nesting boxes, looking to accommodate 3-4 hens. I'm hoping maybe someone wouldn't mind sending me their materials list? I'm just trying to budget the whole thing out, and need a place to start.

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

for coop use plywood.

 

[Cattitude]

A good place to begin would be the coop and run contest thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-new.html

There are so many incredible designs there, and most have a BYC page with step by step pictures and a materials list.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=54546
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26701
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=59325
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=54950
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=58078

A lot of thought, caring, and work by these folks. I appreciate all of those who posted pictures!

 

[95yj]

a more detailed explanation of what you are planning would be very helpful.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

The only materials I used in mine are 2x4's, plywood, hardware cloth, composite shingles, and of course screws, hinges, staples, etc.

 

[MissJenny]

I have no idea what mine has cost (I did not want to know) but I have spent between $40 and $140 each week since the beginning of time... or June. I am guessing, on average, a nice coop runs between $400 to $700.

The biggest cost, if you ask me, isn't the basic materials, but the materials you don't even think of -- tar paper for under shingles, hardware cloth, hinges, gravel and sand, vents, pulleys.

The one expense I am more than happy with is the cost of insulation, about $60, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind that my girls won't roast or freeze. However, with insulation means covering it up so the chickens don't eat it -- We used half inch plywood for the walls and some kind of coated masonite for the ceiling. So having my coop insulated added about $150 to the total. Reason might suggest insulating later, but it would be much harder to do in a very small space. We built from the inside out when we could actually get the materials inside.

I would suggest going to the lumber yard (Home Depot, Lowe's) and price out plywood, 2 x4's, hardware cloth, hinges, clasps -- and then look at alternative materials -- sidings you hadn't thought of, windows... ask if there is a sale bin, cull bin for 2x4's. Go to salvage yards and see what's available...

Let us know how you this goes,
Jenny

 

[drdoolittle]

My hubby owns a glass business, and we use wood from the packing crates the glass comes in-----it's a commercial glass company, so these are good-size crates. We have also used wood we kept from an old shed we tore down this summer. You could probably also use pallets that people give away for free----just make sure if you disassemble them to remove or hammer down flat any existing staples/nails.